RACE, ETHNICITY AND GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN COLORECTAL CANCER MORTALITY AMONG THE U.S. POPULATION 2005-2007

Abstract

Examining geographic variation in racial/ethnic colorectal cancer mortality can help targeting programs and interventions designed to decrease U.S. disparities in colorectal cancer mortality. In this study (consequently) we apply different spatial methods designed to determine where colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates substantially differ from same race/ethnic group's national rates. Using data from a population base, statewide death registry; we examine a cohort of (Total number of data point) men and women from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and 3,143 counties in the United States, whose death was related to colorectal cancer from 2005 to 2007. Mortality rates were adjusted for significant prognostic factors (population size per county, age and race/ethnicity) and evaluated using spatial smoothing and clustering to identify places where CRC death rate in different race/ethnics group was significantly higher or lesser than the statewide rates.