Exploring the relationship between cancer incidence, social deprivation, and territorial typology: An ecological analysis at the sub-municipal level of three cancer types.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to capture, at a fine geographical level, disparities in cancer incidence and to provide insight into the link between these disparities and social disadvantage, while taking into account territorial typology.

METHODS

The analysis, conducted at the sub-municipal level, examined data from a French cancer registry that is part off the Francim network (the French network of cancer registries) regarding lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The European Deprivation Index (EDI) was used to measure social deprivation. Hierarchical Bayesian models were employed to estimate, for each sub-municipal unit the posterior mean relative risk (RR) of cancer and to examine the relationship between cancer incidence, social deprivation, and rurality.

RESULTS

The study revealed significant geographical disparities in lung cancer incidence, as well as minimal disparities in colorectal and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cancers. For lung cancer, these disparities were closely linked to social deprivation. Including a typology of territories categorised by rurality and population density in the models had little impact on the geographical disparities in the incidence rates of these three types of cancer.

CONCLUSION

The results highlight the importance of analysing these disparities at a fine geographical level while taking into account territorial deprivation, to produce actionable maps that can guide targeted public health measures in the most affected areas.