INTRODUCTION: Although the racial disparity in breast cancer mortality is widely discussed there are no studies that analyze this phenomenon at the city level. METHODS: We used national death files, abstracting those cases for which the cause was malignant neoplasm of the breast (ICD-10=C50) for the numerators and American Community Survey data for the denominators. The 25 largest cities in the US were the units of analysis. Non-Hispanic Black:non-Hispanic White rate ratios (RRs) were calculated, along with their confidence intervals, as measures of the racial disparity. Seven ecological (city-level) variables were examined as possible correlates. RESULTS: Almost all the NHB rates were greater than almost all the NHW rates. All but 3 of the RRs (range 0.78-2.09; median=1.44) were >1, 13 of them significantly so. None of the RRs<1 were significant. From among the 7 potential correlates, only median household income (r=-0.43, p=0.037) and a measure of segregation (r=0.42, r=0.039) were significantly related to the RR. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that we have been able to locate which examines city-level racial disparities in breast cancer mortality. The results are of concern for several cities and for the field in general. A strategy for reducing this disparity in Chicago is in place and may serve as a model for other cities wanting to initiate a similar process. Clearly it is time to take action. Copyright Â
INTRODUCTION: Although the racial disparity in breast cancer mortality is widely discussed there are no studies that analyze this phenomenon at the city level. METHODS: We used national death files, abstracting those cases for which the cause was malignant neoplasm of the breast (ICD-10=C50) for the numerators and American Community Survey data for the denominators. The 25 largest cities in the US were the units of analysis. Non-Hispanic Black:non-Hispanic White rate ratios (RRs) were calculated, along with their confidence intervals, as measures of the racial disparity. Seven ecological (city-level) variables were examined as possible correlates. RESULTS: Almost all the NHB rates were greater than almost all the NHW rates. All but 3 of the RRs (range 0.78-2.09; median=1.44) were >1, 13 of them significantly so. None of the RRs<1 were significant. From among the 7 potential correlates, only median household income (r=-0.43, p=0.037) and a measure of segregation (r=0.42, r=0.039) were significantly related to the RR. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that we have been able to locate which examines city-level racial disparities in breast cancer mortality. The results are of concern for several cities and for the field in general. A strategy for reducing this disparity in Chicago is in place and may serve as a model for other cities wanting to initiate a similar process. Clearly it is time to take action. Copyright Â
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