Women with breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand: the effect of urban versus rural residence on stage at diagnosis and survival.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of urban versus rural residence on stage at diagnosis and survival for women with breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.


METHODS
Women with breast cancer registered in the New Zealand Cancer Registry between 1998 and 2002 were identified, and data extracted on age, ethnicity, domicile code, date of diagnosis, stage, and date of death where death occurred. Domicile codes were used as the linking variable to allocate urban/rural status, and a deprivation score to each case. Regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between urban/rural residence and breast cancer stage at diagnosis and survival, whilst controlling for the confounding variables of age, ethnicity, deprivation, and cancer stage (in survival analysis).


RESULTS
Urban/rural residence did not have any statistically significant effect on breast cancer stage at diagnosis or survival.


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not show an urban/rural disparity in breast cancer outcomes, suggesting that geographic location does not affect access to diagnosis, or the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment.
Bennett
Hayley
H
Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Hamilton. hayleyandcam@clear.net.nz
Marshall
Roger
R
Campbell
Ian
I
Lawrenson
Ross
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*