Disparities in Cancer Incidence, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Mortality across Socioeconomic Groups in Finland
Methods:This study included the total population aged 30 and above in Finland from 2000 to 2020. Cancer incidence data, including type, stage, and treatment details, were sourced from the Finnish Cancer Registry. Demographic and socioeconomic data (e.g., education and income) were extracted from the population register of Statistics Finland. Age Standardized Incidence Rates (ASR) were calculated for different cancer types and stages across socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic factors, were used to estimate the likelihood of early diagnosis and specific treatment types across SES groups. Mortality risk by SES was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression models.
Findings: During the study period, 191,341 men and 186,645 women were diagnosed with cancer. Women with higher education (SRR: 1.12) or higher income (SRR: 1.15) had higher ASRs for all cancers compared to those with lower SES. For men, this pattern was observed for income (SRR: 1.05). High SES was associated with higher incidences of prostate cancer (men), breast cancer (women), and colorectal and melanoma cancers (both sexes), but lower incidences of lung and bladder cancers (men). High SES was linked to earlier diagnosis in colorectal and melanoma cancers (men) and breast, uterine, and melanoma cancers (women). Treatment patterns, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, varied by SES, but overall, high SES was consistently associated with lower cancer mortality across types and stages.
Conclusions:Significant socioeconomic disparities exist in cancer incidence, diagnosis stage, treatment, and mortality in Finland, highlighting the need for further research and targeted interventions to address these inequalities.