title: Difference of stage at cancer diagnosis by socioeconomic status for four target cancers of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea: Results from the Gwangju and Jeonnam cancer registries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether stage at cancer diagnosis differed according to patient economic status.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10,528 patients with cancer of the stomach, colorectum, breast, or cervix, which are target organs of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP; fully implemented in 2005) were extracted from population-based cancer registries. The patients were classified into four groups based on socioeconomic status (SES), as determined using their National Health Insurance (NHI) monthly premium at the time of cancer diagnosis. Cancer stage at diagnosis was defined as early (in situ/local) or late stage (regional/distant) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) summary stage. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the risk of non-local stage using age, residential area, and community deprivation index as covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lowest SES subjects showed significantly higher risks of being diagnosed at a later stage for stomach, colorectal, and female breast cancer, but not for cervical cancer, compared with the highest SES subjects. The estimated ORs were 1.28 (95% CI, 1.10-1.49), 1.29 (95% CI, 1.03-1.61), and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.02-1.81) in the lowest SES subjects with stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, later stage diagnoses of stomach, colon, and female breast cancer are still associated with SES in Korea in the era of the NCSP for the lower SES population.
authors.affiliation: Gwangju/Jeonnam Cancer Registry and Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea. Electronic address: ujingogo@paran.com.
authors.forename: Sun-Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.affiliation: Gwangju/Jeonnam Cancer Registry and Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Gyeong
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Gwangju/Jeonnam Cancer Registry and Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Ran
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012042:Registries; D056910:Republic of Korea; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012923:Social Class; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Disparity; National Cancer Screening Program; Socioeconomic status; Stage