Key Points Question What are US breast cancer incidence and mortality trends at the state level and in each racial and ethnic group, and are metabolic and lifestyle factors correlated with these trends? Findings This cross-sectional study using US Cancer Statistics data on more than 4 million patients with breast cancer found a significant reduction in breast cancer incidence and mortality from 1999 to 2017, with a large racial and ethnic disparity at the state level. Obesity, physical inactivity, and mammography screening were associated with the observed trends and disparities. Meaning These findings suggest that interventions targeting metabolic and lifestyle factors and screening access may help reduce the incidence of breast cancer and related deaths, particularly among women who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups.
IntroductionIt is essential to protect cancer patients from contracting COVID-19 through vaccination. A majority of cancer patients are recommended by international health authorities to take up the vaccines. COVID-19 vaccine refusal among cancer patients during the pandemic period is under-researched. This study investigated factors of vaccine refusal based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among female breast cancer patients, male/female thyroid cancer patients, and gynecological cancer patients in Shantou, China from April to August 2022 (n = 1,115). Multinomial logistic regression analysis adjusted for socio-demographics was conducted to test factors of COVID-19. Adjusted odds ratios of the two models comparing vaccine refusal vs. “vaccine non-refusal” and vaccine refusal vs. ever-vaccination were derived and presented.ResultsOf all the participants, the prevalence of vaccine refusal, “vaccine non-refusal,” and ever-vaccination was 25.9, 22.2, and 51.8%, respectively. In both multinomial logistic regression models, significant factors of vaccine refusal included socio-demographics (age, education level, employment status, monthly household income, cancer type, duration since cancer diagnosis, current treatment status) and some vaccine-related HBM (perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cue to action, and self-efficacy). Perceived severity of COVID-19 was significant only in the vaccine refusal vs. ever-vaccination model. In neither model, perceived susceptibility to contract COVID-19 was statistically significant.ConclusionAbout ¼ of the participants expressed vaccine refusal. Interventions are warranted. Future longitudinal studies are needed to verify this study’s findings. Pilot interventions should also be launched to test effectiveness of interventions modifying the significant HBM factors found in this study.
Background State-level racial/ethnic and age differences and the temporal trend of thyroid cancer (TC) incidence in the USA remain unknown. Our research purposes include: Characterizing state-level temporal variation in TC incidence; examining the disparities of TC incidence by state-level race/ethnicity and age; performing an ecological correlation between TC incidence and obesity/physical activity. Methods TC incidence data during 2000–2017 were extracted from the United States cancer statistics. Using joinpoint regression to evaluate TC incidence trends. Annual percent change (APC), average APC (AAPC) and incidence rates were calculated. The obesity prevalence and physical activity level at the state-level were extracted from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the association between state-level AAPC of TC and obesity/physical activity was tested by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results We found that the TC incidence had shown an overall downward trend in recent years, but 10 states continued increasing. There were significant differences in state-level race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic Whites as a reference) and age group (45–59 age group as a reference) incidence: Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) was 0.4–1.2 for non-Hispanic Blacks, 0.7–1.6 for non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islanders, 0.4–1.2 for non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaskan Natives, and 0.5–1.3 for Hispanics. High IRR in young people were distributed in northern USA, while in older people were distributed in south. The state-level obesity/physical activity level and AAPC had a weak correlation (r = 0.34, P = 0.016) and inverse weak correlation (r = -0.29, P = 0.037), respectively. The AAPC of states with a consistent increasing trend had an extremely strong correlation with obesity prevalence (r = 0.80, p = 0.006), and an inverse strong correlation with physical activity level (r = -0.65, P = 0.04). Conclusions Thyroid cancer incidence in 10 states continued increasing. State-level variation in race/ethnicity and age group incidence were found. Lifestyle and environmental factors may interfere with the incidence trend of TC in the USA.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.