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Mogensen H, Erdmann F, Mader L, Vrelits Sørensen G, Talbäck M, Tjørnelund Nielsen T, Hasle H, Heyman M, Winther JF, Feychting M, Tettamanti G, Kenborg L. Early mortality in children with cancer in Denmark and Sweden: The role of social background in a setting with universal healthcare. Int J Cancer 2024; 154:1719-1730. [PMID: 38259167 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Socioeconomic differences in overall survival from childhood cancer have been shown previously, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to investigate if social inequalities were seen already for early mortality in settings with universal healthcare. From national registers, all children diagnosed with cancer at ages 0-19 years, during 1991-2014, in Sweden and Denmark, were identified, and information on parental social characteristics was collected. We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of early mortality (death within 90 days after cancer diagnosis) by parental education, income, employment, cohabitation, and country of birth using logistic regression. For children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), clinical characteristics were obtained. Among 13,926 included children, 355 (2.5%) died within 90 days after diagnosis. Indications of higher early mortality were seen among the disadvantaged groups, with the most pronounced associations observed for maternal education (ORadj_Low_vs_High 1.65 [95% CI 1.22-2.23]) and income (ORadj_Q1(lowest)_vs_Q4(highest) 1.77 [1.25-2.49]). We found attenuated or null associations between social characteristics and later mortality (deaths occurring 1-5 years after cancer diagnosis). In children with ALL, the associations between social factors and early mortality remained unchanged when adjusting for potential mediation by clinical characteristics. In conclusion, this population-based cohort study indicated differences in early mortality after childhood cancer by social background, also in countries with universal healthcare. Social differences occurring this early in the disease course requires further investigation, also regarding the timing of diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Mogensen
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Childhood Cancer Research Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Luzius Mader
- Childhood Cancer Research Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Cancer Registry Bern-Solothurn, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gitte Vrelits Sørensen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mats Talbäck
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Henrik Hasle
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mats Heyman
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jeanette Falck Winther
- Childhood Cancer Research Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Maria Feychting
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giorgio Tettamanti
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Line Kenborg
- Childhood Cancer Research Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Jensen A, Greisen G, Stensballe LG. Socioeconomic background affects mortality in Danish children with severe chronic disease. Acta Paediatr 2022; 111:2393-2399. [PMID: 36093628 PMCID: PMC9825841 DOI: 10.1111/apa.16540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
AIM To assess the association between socioeconomic factors and mortality in Danish children diagnosed with different types of severe chronic disease, including cancer. METHODS National cohort study 1994-2020 including Danish children with chronic disease. Inclusion was based on diagnoses in The National Patient Register, socioeconomic information was obtained from Statistics Denmark and mortality was ascertained from the Cause of Death Register. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were based on Cox regression. The factors were combined in one common risk score and the association with disease-specific mortality was analysed overall and by ethnicity status. RESULTS Overall, non-Danish ethnicity (HR = 1.96 (95% CI 1.69-2.28)) was associated with all-cause mortality in 128 129 children (69 435 male and 58 694 female) with chronic disease. Median age at first diagnosis was 1.42 years (range 0-18 years). Low family income was associated with mortality regardless of ethnicity status, and young maternal age was also a notable risk factor across ethnicities. The socioeconomic association was more pronounced in children with cancer. CONCLUSION In the high-income setting of Denmark, ethnicity and differences in socioeconomic background were associated with child mortality even among children with severe chronic disease. The pattern was more pronounced in paediatric cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Jensen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent MedicineRigshospitalet, Copenhagen University HospitalCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Gorm Greisen
- Department of Intensive Care of Newborns and Small ChildrenRigshospitalet, Copenhagen University HospitalCopenhagenDenmark,Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Lone Graff Stensballe
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent MedicineRigshospitalet, Copenhagen University HospitalCopenhagenDenmark
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Pedersen LH, Erdmann F, Aalborg GL, Hjalgrim LL, Larsen HB, Schmiegelow K, Winther JF, Dalton SO. Socioeconomic position and prediagnostic health care contacts in children with cancer in Denmark: a nationwide register study. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:1104. [PMID: 34649500 PMCID: PMC8518314 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08837-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While underlying mechanisms and pathways of social inequalities in cancer survival have been extensively examined in adults, this is less so for children with cancer. Hypothesized mechanisms include prediagnostic utilization of and navigation through the health care system, which may differ by socioeconomic resources of the families. In this nationwide register-based study we investigated the association between measures of family socioeconomic position in relation to prediagnostic health care contacts and stage of disease at diagnosis in children with cancer in Denmark. Methods We identified all children diagnosed with a cancer at ages 0–15 years in 1998–2016 (N = 3043) from the Danish Childhood Cancer Registry. We obtained comprehensive information on measures of socioeconomic position, parental health and prediagnostic contacts to both general practitioners and hospitals 24 months prior to diagnosis from various national registries. We fitted multivariable conditional logistic regression models for the association of family socioeconomic and health-related variables with firstly, frequent health care contacts and secondly, advanced stage. Results We found higher odds ratios (OR) of frequent both overall and emergency health care contacts in the last 3 months before diagnosis in children from households with short parental education and mixed affiliation to work market, when compared to children with high family socioeconomic position. Further, children of parents with depression or of non-Western origin, respectively, had higher OR for frequent overall and emergency contacts. We found no association between socioeconomic position, parental health and stage of disease. Conclusion Families with socioeconomic disadvantage, non-Western origin or depression more frequently utilize prediagnostic health care services, both generally and in the acute setting, indicating that some disadvantaged families may struggle to navigate the health care system when their child is sick. Reassuringly, this was not reflected in disparities in stage at diagnosis. In order to improve the diagnostic process and potentially reduce health care contacts, attention and support should be given to families with a high number of health care contacts over a short period of time. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08837-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Hjøllund Pedersen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Survivorship and Inequality in Cancer, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Gitte Lerche Aalborg
- Statistics and Data Analysis, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisa Lyngsie Hjalgrim
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne Bækgaard Larsen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kjeld Schmiegelow
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton
- Survivorship and Inequality in Cancer, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Oncology & Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Naestved, Denmark
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Poulalhon C, Goujon S, Marquant F, Faure L, Guissou S, Bonaventure A, Désandes E, Rios P, Lacour B, Clavel J. Factors associated with 5- and 10-year survival among a recent cohort of childhood cancer survivors (France, 2000-2015). Cancer Epidemiol 2021; 73:101950. [PMID: 34214767 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2021.101950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood cancer survival currently exceeds 80 % five years after diagnosis in high-income countries. In this study, we aimed to describe long-term trends and to investigate socioeconomic and spatial disparities in childhood cancer survival. METHODS The study included 28,073 cases recorded in the French National Registry of Childhood Cancers from 2000 to 2015. Contextual census data (deprivation indices, population density, spatial accessibility to general practitioners) were allocated to each case based on the residence at diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) and conditional 10-year OS for 5-year survivors were estimated for all cancers combined and by diagnostic group and subgroup. Comparisons were conducted by sex, age at diagnosis, period of diagnosis, and contextual indicators. Hazard ratios for death were estimated using Cox models. RESULTS All cancers combined, the OS reached 82.8 % [95 % CI: 82.4-83.3] at 5 years and 80.8 % [95 % CI: 80.3-81.3] at 10 years. Conditional 10-year OS of 5-year survivors reached 97.5 % [95 % CI: 97.3-97.7] and was higher than 95 % for all subgroups except osteosarcomas and most subgroups of the central nervous system. In addition to disparities by sex, age at diagnosis, and period of diagnosis, we observed a slight decrease in survival for cases living in the most deprived areas at diagnosis, not consistent across diagnostic groups. CONCLUSION Our results confirm the high 5-year survival for childhood cancer and show an excellent 10-year conditional survival of 5-year survivors. Additional individual data are needed to clarify the factors underlying the slight decrease in childhood cancer survival observed in the most deprived areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Poulalhon
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
| | - Stéphanie Goujon
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Fabienne Marquant
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Laure Faure
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Sandra Guissou
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Audrey Bonaventure
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Désandes
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Paula Rios
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France
| | - Brigitte Lacour
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Jacqueline Clavel
- Epidémiologie des Cancers des Enfants et des Adolescents (EPICEA), Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS), INSERM, UMR 1153, Université de Paris, France; Registre National des Cancers de l'Enfant, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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Mogensen H, Modig K, Talbäck M, Erdmann F, Heyman M, Feychting M, Tettamanti G. Number of siblings and survival from childhood leukaemia: a national register-based cohort study from Sweden. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:112-118. [PMID: 33854211 PMCID: PMC8257570 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01374-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies suggest worse leukaemia survival for children with siblings, but the evidence is sparse, inconsistent and does not consider clinical factors. We explored the associations between number of siblings in the household, birth order and survival from childhood acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). METHODS In this nationwide register-based study we included all children aged 1-14, diagnosed with ALL and AML between 1991-mid-2015 in Sweden (n = 1692). Using Cox regression models, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to number of siblings and birth order, adjusting for known prognostic and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS A tendency towards better ALL survival among children with one, or ≥2, siblings was observed, adjHRs (95% CI): 0.73 (0.49-1.10) and 0.63 (0.40-1.00), respectively. However, this was mainly limited to children with low risk profiles. An indication of better AML survival among children with siblings was seen, adjHRs (95% CI) 0.68 (0.36-1.29) and 0.71 (0.34-1.48) but diminished after adjusting for birth order. CONCLUSION Our results do not support previous findings that a larger number of siblings is associated with poorer survival. Inconsistencies might be explained by underlying mechanisms that differ between settings, but chance cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Mogensen
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Karin Modig
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Talbäck
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, Lyon, France
| | - Mats Heyman
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Feychting
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giorgio Tettamanti
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Jensen A, Andersen PK, Andersen JS, Greisen G, Stensballe LG. Risk factors of post-discharge under-five mortality among Danish children 1997-2016: A register-based study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226045. [PMID: 31800636 PMCID: PMC6892471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Estimating associations between somatic and socioeconomic risk factors and post-discharge under-five mortality. Design Register-based national cohort study using multiple Cox regression. Participants The population of 1,263,795 Danish children live-born 1997–2016 who survived until date of first discharge to the home after birth was followed from that date until death, emigration, 5 years of age or 31 December 2016. Main outcome measures (A) Mortality hazard ratios (HRs) among all children, (B) mortality HRs among children without severe chronic disease, and (C) mortality HRs among children without severe chronic disease or asthma. Main results In the total population (1,947 deaths) severe chronic disease was associated with mortality HR = 15.28 (95% CI: 13.77–16.95). In children without severe chronic-disease (719 deaths) other somatic risk factors were immature birth HR = 3.40 (1.92–6.02), maternal smoking HR = 1.84 (1.55–2.18) and low birth weight HR = 1.74 (1.21–2.51). Socioeconomic risk factors for mortality included: maternal age < 25 years HR = 1.91 (1.38–2.64) compared to > 35 years (similar for 30–35 years and 25–29 years), lowest vs. highest family income tertile HR = 1.76 (1.23–2.51), not living with both parents HR = 1.63 (1.25–2.13), maternal unemployment HR = 1.54 (1.12–2.12), presence of siblings HR = 1.44 (1.20–1.71) and secondary vs. tertiary parental education HR = 1.33 (1.07–1.65) for fathers and HR = 1.23 (1.01–1.52) for mothers. Factors not found to be associated with child mortality in this population included presence of asthma HR = 1.29 (0.83–1.98) and non-Danish ethnicity HR = 0.98 (0.70–1.37). Conclusions Childhood death after discharge to the home after birth and before 5 years of age is a very rare event in Denmark. This ‘post-discharge’ mortality was heavily associated with severe chronic disease. In children without severe chronic disease, immature birth, maternal smoking and certain socioeconomic characteristics were noticeable risk factors. Mortality may possibly be decreased by focusing on vulnerable groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Jensen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Per Kragh Andersen
- Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - John Sahl Andersen
- Section of General Practice and Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gorm Greisen
- Department of Neonatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lone Graff Stensballe
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Erdmann F, Feychting M, Mogensen H, Schmiegelow K, Zeeb H. Social Inequalities Along the Childhood Cancer Continuum: An Overview of Evidence and a Conceptual Framework to Identify Underlying Mechanisms and Pathways. Front Public Health 2019; 7:84. [PMID: 31106186 PMCID: PMC6492628 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inequalities in health according to social conditions are regarded as unnecessary and unjust. There is a large body of evidence on inequalities in adult cancer, observable throughout the societies on a national level as well as on a global scale. Socioeconomic influences on health matter at all ages including childhood, for which childhood cancer is the leading cause of disease related death in high-income countries (HICs). Substantial differences in the reported incidence of childhood cancers have been observed globally by socioeconomic development of a population. This is reflected in the higher incidence rates reported for HICs, particularly for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and for cancer in infants (below 1 year), compared to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Considerable inequalities between populations and degree of socioeconomic development are also noted for survival from childhood cancer, with substantially lower survival rates seen in most LMICs compared to HICs. With respect to inequalities by socioeconomic position (SEP) within countries, findings of an association between SEP and childhood cancer risk are diverse and limited to studies from HICs. On the contrary, observations on social inequalities in survival within countries are accumulating and indicate that survival inequalities do not only concern resource-poor countries but also high-income populations including European countries. In turn, a childhood cancer diagnosis in itself may have implications on the parents' socioeconomic situation as well as on the later socioeconomic life after having survived the disease. The underlying mechanisms and causal pathways of these empirically demonstrated social inequalities are poorly understood, although it is of significant public health relevance for any actions or strategies to reduce childhood cancer-related inequity. We propose a conceptual framework on potential underlying mechanism and pathways specifically addressing social inequalities in childhood cancer and after childhood cancer to (i) illustrate potential pathways by which social determinants may create health inequities at different points of the childhood cancer continuum; (ii) illustrate potential pathways by which a childhood cancer diagnosis may impact the socioeconomic situation of the concerned family or the later life of a childhood survivor; and (iii) point out how major determinants may relate to each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Erdmann
- Section of Environment and Radiation, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz - Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS GmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Childhood Cancer Research Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Feychting
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna Mogensen
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kjeld Schmiegelow
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hajo Zeeb
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz - Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS GmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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8
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Mogensen H, Modig K, Tettamanti G, Erdmann F, Heyman M, Feychting M. Survival After Childhood Cancer-Social Inequalities in High-Income Countries. Front Oncol 2018; 8:485. [PMID: 30474007 PMCID: PMC6238081 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite substantial improvements in survival from childhood cancer during the last decades, there are indications that survival rates for several cancer types are no longer improving. Moreover, evidence accumulates suggesting that socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors may have an impact on survival also in high-income countries. The aim of this review is to summarize the findings from studies on social factors and survival in childhood cancer. Several types of cancer and social factors are included in order to shed light on potential mechanisms and identify particularly affected groups. A literature search conducted in PubMed identified 333 articles published from December 2012 until June 2018, of which 24 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The findings are diverse; some studies found no associations but several indicated a social gradient with higher mortality among children from families of lower socioeconomic status (SES). There were no clear suggestions of particularly vulnerable subgroups, but hematological malignancies were most commonly investigated. A wide range of social factors have been examined and seem to be of different importance and varying between studies. However, potential underlying mechanisms linking a specific social factor to childhood cancer survival was seldom described. This review provides some support for a relationship between lower parental SES and worse survival after childhood cancer, which is a finding that needs further attention. Studies investigating predefined hypotheses involving specific social factors within homogenous cancer types are lacking and would increase the understanding of mechanisms involved, and allow targeted interventions to reduce health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Mogensen
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Modig
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giorgio Tettamanti
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Section of Environment and Radiation, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
- Childhood Cancer Research Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mats Heyman
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Feychting
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Friis Abrahamsen C, Ahrensberg JM, Vedsted P. Utilisation of primary care before a childhood cancer diagnosis: do socioeconomic factors matter?: A Danish nationwide population-based matched cohort study. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e023569. [PMID: 30121615 PMCID: PMC6104784 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Early diagnosis of childhood cancer is critical. Nevertheless, little is known about the potential role of inequality. This study aims to describe the use of primary care 2 years before a childhood cancer diagnosis and to investigate whether socioeconomic factors influence the use of consultations and diagnostic tests in primary care. DESIGN A national population-based matched cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS This study uses observational data from four Danish nationwide registers. All children aged 0-15 diagnosed with cancer during 2008-2015 were included (n=1386). Each case was matched based on gender and age with 10 references (n=13 860). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was additional rates for consultations and for invoiced diagnostic tests for children with cancer according to parental socioeconomic factors. Furthermore, we estimated the association between socioeconomic factors and frequent use of consultations, defined as at least four consultations, and the odds of receiving a diagnostic test within 3 months of diagnosis. RESULTS Children with cancer from families with high income had 1.46 (95% CI 1.23 to 1.69) additional consultations 3 months before diagnosis, whereas children from families with low income had 1.85 (95% CI 1.60 to 2.11) additional consultations. The highest odds of frequent use of consultations was observed among children from low-income families (OR: 1.94, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.03). A higher odds of receiving an invoiced diagnostic test was seen for children from families with mid-educational level (OR: 1.46, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.95). CONCLUSION We found a socioeconomic gradient in the use of general practice before a childhood cancer diagnosis. This suggests that social inequalities exist in the pattern of healthcare utilisation in general practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jette Møller Ahrensberg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Research Center for Emergency Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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10
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Erdmann F, Winther JF, Dalton SO, Zeeb H, Krøyer A, Bautz A, Schmiegelow K, Schüz J. Survival from tumours of the central nervous system in Danish children: Is survival related to family circumstances? Int J Cancer 2018; 142:671-680. [PMID: 28971474 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about social inequalities in childhood cancer survival. We investigated the impact of family circumstances on survival from paediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumours in a nationwide, register-based cohort of Danish children. All children born between 1973 and 2006 and diagnosed with a CNS tumour before the age of 20 years (N = 1,261) were followed until 10 years from diagnosis. Using Cox proportional hazards models, the impact of various family characteristics on overall survival was estimated. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all CNS tumours combined did not show strong associations between survival and any family characteristic. Analyses by CNS tumour subtypes showed reduced survival for children with glioma when living outside of Copenhagen (HR 1.55; CI 1.03; 2.35). For embryonal CNS tumours, the number of full siblings was associated with worse survival (HR for having 3+ siblings 3.60; CI 1.52; 8.53) and a trend of better survival was observed for children with parents of younger age at child's diagnosis and poorer survival of children with parents of older age. Despite free and uniform access to health care services, some family circumstances appear to affect survival from specific CNS tumour types in Danish children. Further research is warranted to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of family factors on childhood cancer survival in other populations and to elaborate underlying mechanisms and pathways of those survival inequalities observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Erdmann
- Section of Environment and Radiation, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, Lyon, 69372, France
- Survivorship Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | | | | | - Hajo Zeeb
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz - Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS GmbH, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany
- University of Bremen, Faculty of Human and Health Science, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Anja Krøyer
- Survivorship Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Andrea Bautz
- Survivorship Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Kjeld Schmiegelow
- Department of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Joachim Schüz
- Section of Environment and Radiation, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, Lyon, 69372, France
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Winestone LE, Getz KD, Miller TP, Wilkes JJ, Sack L, Li Y, Huang YS, Seif AE, Bagatell R, Fisher BT, Epstein AJ, Aplenc R. The role of acuity of illness at presentation in early mortality in black children with acute myeloid leukemia. Am J Hematol 2017; 92:141-148. [PMID: 27862214 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.24605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Black patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experience higher mortality than White patients. We compared induction mortality, acuity of illness prior to chemotherapy, and insurance type between Black and White patients to assess whether acuity of presentation mediates the disparity. Within a retrospective cohort of 1,122 children with AML treated with two courses of standard induction chemotherapy between 2004 and 2014 in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database, the association between race (Black versus White) and inpatient mortality during induction was examined. Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-level resource utilization during the first 72 hours following admission for initial AML chemotherapy was evaluated as a potential mediator. The total effect of race on mortality during Induction I revealed a strong association (unadjusted HR 2.75, CI: 1.18, 6.41). Black patients had a significantly higher unadjusted risk of requiring ICU-level resources within the first 72 hours after initial presentation (17% versus 11%; RR 1.52, CI: 1.04, 2.24). Mediation analyses revealed the indirect effect of race through acuity accounted for 61% of the relative excess mortality during Induction I. Publicly insured patients experienced greater induction mortality than privately insured patients regardless of race. Black patients with AML have significantly greater risk of induction mortality and are at increased risk for requiring ICU-level resources soon after presentation. Higher acuity amongst Black patients accounts for a substantial portion of the relative excess mortality during Induction I. Targeting factors affecting acuity of illness at presentation may lessen racial disparities in AML induction mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena E. Winestone
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
| | - Kelly D. Getz
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
| | - Tamara P. Miller
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
| | - Jennifer J. Wilkes
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
| | - Leah Sack
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
| | - Yimei Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
| | - Yuan-Shung Huang
- Healthcare Analytics Unit; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
| | - Alix E. Seif
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
| | - Rochelle Bagatell
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
| | - Brian T. Fisher
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Division of Infectious Diseases; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
| | - Andrew J. Epstein
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
- Division of General Internal Medicine; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
- Department of Veterans Affairs' Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion; Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Pennsylvania
| | - Richard Aplenc
- Division of Oncology; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
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