Cervical Cancer Incidence in South East England: A Study of Risk Factors
Author Information
Author(s): Laura G Currin, Ruth H Jack, Karen M Linklater, Vivian Mak, Henrik Møller, Elizabeth A Davies
Primary Institution: King's College London
Hypothesis
Is deprivation itself a predictor of cervical cancer, or can the association be explained by a relationship between deprivation and known aetiological risk factors?
Conclusion
There is excess disease burden within South East England, and significant public health gains can be made by reducing exposure to known risk factors at a population level.
Supporting Evidence
- The age-standardised incidence rate for cervical cancer in South East England was 6.7 per 100,000 population.
- There was a 3.1 fold variation in incidence rates between different primary care trusts.
- Deprivation was highly correlated with the incidence of cervical cancer.
Takeaway
Cervical cancer rates are higher in poorer areas, and we can help reduce these rates by addressing known risk factors like smoking.
Methodology
Data on cervical cancer cases were extracted from the Thames Cancer Registry, and correlations were calculated between incidence rates and various risk factors.
Potential Biases
Synthetic estimates of smoking prevalence may introduce confounding when considered with other population characteristics.
Limitations
The study relied on existing datasets, which limited the range of analysis to variables currently available at the PCT level.
Participant Demographics
The study covered a diverse population of 12 million people in South East England, including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.05
Confidence Interval
1.00 – 1.01
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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