Spatial Analysis of Breast Cancer Mortality Rates in a Rural State

Abstract

Introduction Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in the US and is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. In South Dakota, 102 women die from breast cancer each year. We assessed which sociodemographic factors contributed to mortality rates in South Dakota and used spatial analysis to investigate how counties’ observed age-adjusted mortality rates compared with expected rates. Methods We computed standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of all counties in South Dakota by using the age-adjusted mortality rates, the 2000 US standard population, and the South Dakota estimated population. We used a linear regression model to identify sociodemographic factors associated with breast cancer mortality rates and to compute a new SIR value, after controlling for relevant factors. Results Educational level and breast cancer incidence rates were significantly associated with breast cancer mortality rates at the county level. The SIR values based on age-adjusted counts showed which counties had more deaths due to breast cancer than what might be expected using South Dakota as the reference population. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, the range of SIR values decreased and had lower variability. Conclusion The regression model helped identify factors associated with mortality and provided insights into which risk factors are at play in South Dakota. This information, in combination with the spatial distribution of mortality by county, can be used to help allocate resources to the counties in South Dakota that need them most.

Exploring the geospatial epidemiology of breast cancer in Iran: identifying significant risk factors and spatial patterns for evidence-based prevention strategies

“…Studies conducted in Pakistan, UAE, and Brazil indicate higher knowledge levels correlate with more education, while lower literacy relates to increased mortality [ 31 , 34 , 79 ]. Cultural attitudes and beliefs surrounding BC likely contribute to the varied geographic associations observed [ 16 ]. Overall, education appears to be an important yet multidimensional factor in BC epidemiology.…”

“…Concurrently, rigorous scientific inquiry is imperative to advance efficacious BC prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies with the potential to mitigate incidence and enhance survival [ 7 , 14 ]. Epidemiological research, coupled with geographic information system (GIS) technology and feature selection methodologies, provides a pathway to profound insights into BC causation and prevention [ 15 , 16 ]. GIS enables visualization of spatial patterns and identification of high-risk areas, while feature selection elucidates the most impactful risk factors to guide targeted public health interventions [ 15 – 19 ].…”

Maintaining Our Commitment to Building Scientific Publishing Capacity of Students: PCD’s 2022 Student Paper Contest Winners and Release of 2023 Call for Papers

“…Schulz and colleagues’ article, “Spatial Analysis of Breast Cancer Mortality Rates in a Rural State,” is the winner in the master’s degree category ( 6 ). This article reports findings from a study in South Dakota that assessed what sociodemographic factors contribute to mortality rates and, using spatial analysis, explored how counties’ observed age-adjusted mortality rates compared with expected rates.…”

“…Over the years, PCD has refined the purpose of the student research publication opportunity to include these 5 primary goals (3): Sixteen student research papers were submitted for the contest in 2022, and all submissions underwent the same peer-review process as any other manuscript submitted to the journal for consideration. Eight of the 16 papers were successful in making it through a rigorous review process before being accepted for publication (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Student research papers addressed a range of topics: COVID-19 and various aspects of health, food insecurities among caregivers in southern states, the relationship between physical activity and depression among high school students, perceptions of neighborhood development on active living among community residents, use of a cancer index as a predictor of common cancers, and spatial analysis of breast cancer mortality rates in rural states.…”