John R Condon1, Xiaohua Zhang2, Karen Dempsey3, Lindy Garling2, Steven Guthridge2. 1. Health Gains Planning Branch, Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, NT john.condon@menzies.edu.au. 2. Health Gains Planning Branch, Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, NT. 3. Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess trends in cancer incidence and survival for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of population-based cancer registration data. SETTING: New cancer diagnoses in the NT, 1991-2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-adjusted incidence rates; rate ratios comparing incidence in NT Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations with that for other Australians; 5-year survival; multivariable Poisson regression of excess mortality. RESULTS: The incidence of most cancers in the NT non-Indigenous population was similar to that for other Australians. For the NT Indigenous population, the incidence of cancer at several sites was much higher (v other Australians: lung, 84% higher; head and neck, 325% higher; liver, 366% higher; cervix, 120% higher). With the exception of cervical cancer (65% decrease), incidence rates in the Indigenous population did not fall between 1991-1996 and 2007-2012. The incidence of several other cancers (breast, bowel, prostate, melanoma) was much lower in 1991-1996 than for other Australians, but had increased markedly by 2007-2012 (breast, 274% increase; bowel, 120% increase; prostate, 116% increase). Five-year survival was lower for NT Indigenous than for NT non-Indigenous patients, but had increased for both populations between 1991-2000 and 2001-2010. CONCLUSION: The incidence of several cancers that were formerly less common in NT Indigenous people has increased, without a concomitant reduction in the incidence of higher incidence cancers (several of which are smoking-related). The excess burden of cancer in this population will persist until lifestyle risks are mitigated, particularly by reducing the extraordinarily high prevalence of smoking.
OBJECTIVE: To assess trends in cancer incidence and survival for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of population-based cancer registration data. SETTING: New cancer diagnoses in the NT, 1991-2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-adjusted incidence rates; rate ratios comparing incidence in NT Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations with that for other Australians; 5-year survival; multivariable Poisson regression of excess mortality. RESULTS: The incidence of most cancers in the NT non-Indigenous population was similar to that for other Australians. For the NT Indigenous population, the incidence of cancer at several sites was much higher (v other Australians: lung, 84% higher; head and neck, 325% higher; liver, 366% higher; cervix, 120% higher). With the exception of cervical cancer (65% decrease), incidence rates in the Indigenous population did not fall between 1991-1996 and 2007-2012. The incidence of several other cancers (breast, bowel, prostate, melanoma) was much lower in 1991-1996 than for other Australians, but had increased markedly by 2007-2012 (breast, 274% increase; bowel, 120% increase; prostate, 116% increase). Five-year survival was lower for NT Indigenous than for NT non-Indigenous patients, but had increased for both populations between 1991-2000 and 2001-2010. CONCLUSION: The incidence of several cancers that were formerly less common in NT Indigenous people has increased, without a concomitant reduction in the incidence of higher incidence cancers (several of which are smoking-related). The excess burden of cancer in this population will persist until lifestyle risks are mitigated, particularly by reducing the extraordinarily high prevalence of smoking.
Authors: Emma V Taylor; Margaret M Haigh; Shaouli Shahid; Gail Garvey; Joan Cunningham; Sandra C Thompson Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-04-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Matthew J L Hare; Federica Barzi; Jacqueline A Boyle; Steven Guthridge; Roland F Dyck; Elizabeth L M Barr; Gurmeet Singh; Henrik Falhammar; Vanya Webster; Jonathan E Shaw; Louise J Maple-Brown Journal: Lancet Reg Health West Pac Date: 2020-07-24