Desigualdades y mortalidad por cirrosis en varones (Zaragoza, 1996-2003) / Men inequalities and liver cirrhosis mortality (Zaragoza, Spain, 1996-2003)

Objetivos Analizar diferencias geográficas en la mortalidad por cirrosis hepática, en varones, en la provincia de Zaragoza, y su posible asociación con indicadores socioeconómicos, así como identificar la adecuación, en el ámbito rural, del índice de privación del proyecto MEDEA. Métodos La unidad geográfica de análisis para Zaragoza capital fue la sección censal, y para el resto de la provincia el municipio. Para cada unidad de análisis se calculó la razón de mortalidad estandarizada cruda y suavizada mediante un modelo lineal generalizado mixto bayesiano. Se calculó un índice sintético de privación y se incluyó en el modelo en cuartiles. También se realizó el análisis exploratorio incluyendo un índice de ruralidad para la provincia de Zaragoza.Resultados En Zaragoza capital, la mortalidad por cirrosis y otras enfermedades crónicas del hígado (código 571 de la 9ª revisión de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades y códigos K70, K72.1, K73, K74, K76.1.9 de la 10ª revisión) se incrementaba a medida que aumentaba el índice de privación, y en las secciones censales más desfavorecidas era superior a la de las más favorecidas, con un riesgo relativo (RR) de 2,09 y un intervalo de credibilidad (IC) de 1,53-2,83. En el resto de la provincia, las diferencias en mortalidad no pueden explicarse por el índice de privación utilizado. En los municipios con valores más altos para el índice de ruralidad el RR fue de 0,47 (IC: 0,18-0,92) con respecto a aquellos que presentaron los valores más bajos.ConclusionesLas secciones censales del municipio de Zaragoza más deprimidas presentan una mayor mortalidad por cirrosis. Esta asociación no se ha encontrado en el resto de la provincia, posiblemente por la baja variabilidad explicada por el índice utilizado. Los municipios de la provincia con mayores valores del índice de ruralidad presentaron un menor riesgo de muerte por las causas en estudio (AU)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify geographical differences in mortality from liver cirrhosisin men living in the province of Zaragoza, Spain, as well as its possible association with socioeconomicfactors. The utility of the MEDEA project’s deprivation index in rural areas was also explored.Methods: Census tracts were used in Zaragoza city as analysis units and municipalities were used forthe rest of the province. Crude and smoothed standardized mortality ratios were calculated for eachanalysis unit through a Bayesian generalized mixed linear model. A deprivation index was obtained andwas included in the model in quartiles. An exploratory analysis was also conducted, including a ruralindex in the province of Zaragoza.Results: In Zaragoza city, mortality from liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases [code 571 ofthe 9th International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and K70, K72.1, K73, K74, K76.1.9 of the ICD-10]increased as the deprivation index increased. Mortality in the most deprived areas was twice that in theless deprived areas (relative risk [RR] 2.09, credible interval (CI): 1.53-2.83). In the rest of the province,geographical differences in mortality could not be explained by the deprivation index used. Nevertheless,municipalities with the highest values in the rural index showed a RR of 0.47 (CI: 0.18-0.92) comparedwith those with the lowest values.Conclusions: In Zaragoza city, mortality from liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases was higher inthe most deprived census tracts than in the most affluent areas. This association was not found in the restof the province, probably because of the low variability explained by the deprivation index. Municipalitieswith high rural values had the lowest risk of death from these diseases (AU)

Accurately estimating breast cancer survival in Spain: cross-matching local cancer registries with the National Death Index.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of using data from the National Death Index (NDI) of Spain to estimate breast cancer survival rates among residents of Girona and Zaragoza diagnosed in 1995-1999. METHODS: This was an observational, longitudinal epidemiologic study, using two population-based cancer registries. Data collected were of female residents of Girona or Zaragoza who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995-1999. Observed and relative 5-year survival rates were estimated, first using the information available from the Girona and Zaragoza cancer registries, and then with the inclusion of NDI data. The 5-year relative survival rate and corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals were estimated using the Hakulinen method. The Kaplan-Maier method and Log Rank test were used to compare survival curves. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in survival curves was observed in Girona for the data obtained before and after cross-matching with the NDI. However, there was a significant difference in Zaragoza. A comparison of the relative survival rates of each of the two registries before NDI cross-matching showed differences of 3.9% (5-year) and 16.1% (10-year) between the two, whereas after the cross-match, the difference was only 0.5% (5-year) and 1.2% (10-year). CONCLUSIONS: In Spain it is imperative that there be systematic use of NDI data to supplement cancer registries, so that comparisons of relative survival rates between registries can be improved.

Accurately estimating breast cancer survival in Spain: cross-matching local cancer registries with the National Death Index / Estimación precisa de la supervivencia de cáncer de mama en España: emparejamiento de los registros locales de cáncer con el Índice Nacional de Defunciones

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of using data from the National Death Index (NDI) of Spain to estimate breast cancer survival rates among residents of Girona and Zaragoza diagnosed in 1995-1999. METHODS: This was an observational, longitudinal epidemiologic study, using two population- based cancer registries. Data collected were of female residents of Girona or Zaragoza who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995-1999. Observed and relative 5-year survival rates were estimated, first using the information available from the Girona and Zaragoza cancer registries, and then with the inclusion of NDI data. The 5-year relative survival rate and corresponding 95 percent Confidence Intervals were estimated using the Hakulinen method. The Kaplan-Maier method and Log Rank test were used to compare survival curves. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in survival curves was observed in Girona for the data obtained before and after cross-matching with the NDI. However, there was a significant difference in Zaragoza. A comparison of the relative survival rates of each of the two registries before NDI cross-matching showed differences of 3.9 percent (5-year) and 16.1 percent (10-year) between the two, whereas after the cross-match, the difference was only 0.5 percent (5-year) and 1.2 percent (10-year). CONCLUSIONS: In Spain it is imperative that there be systematic use of NDI data to supplement cancer registries, so that comparisons of relative survival rates between registries can be improved.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el efecto de utilizar los datos del Índice Nacional de Defunciones (IND) de España para estimar las tasas de supervivencia de cáncer de mama en las mujeres residentes en Girona y Zaragoza que recibieron el diagnóstico de cáncer de mama en 1995-1999. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio epidemiológico observacional y longitudinal basado en el empleo de los registros de cáncer de mujeres residentes en Girona y Zaragoza que habían recibido el diagnóstico de cáncer de mama en 1995-1999. Se estimaron las tasas de supervivencias observada y relativa a 5 años, primero según la información disponible en los registros de cáncer de Girona y Zaragoza y luego con la inclusión de los datos del IND. Se calcularon las tasas de supervivencia relativa a 5 años y sus correspondientes intervalos de confianza de 95 por ciento por el método de Hakulinen. Las curvas de supervivencia se compararon por el método de Kaplan-Maier y la prueba de rangos logarítmicos. RESULTADOS: No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las curvas de supervivencia de Girona antes y después de emparejar lo datos locales con los del IND; sin embargo, hubo diferencias significativas entre las curvas de Zaragoza. Al comparar las tasas de supervivencia relativa de cada uno de los registros antes de emparejarlos con los datos del IND se encontraron diferencias de 3,9 por ciento (a 5 años) y 16,1 por ciento (a 10 años), mientras que después del emparejamiento, la diferencia entre ellas fue solamente de 0,5 por ciento (a 5 años) y 1,2 por ciento (a 10 años). CONCLUSIONES: En España es imperativo el empleo sistemático de los datos del IND para complementar los registros de cáncer de manera de mejorar las comparaciones de las tasas de supervivencia relativa cuando se utilizan diferentes registros.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence and survival in European children and adolescents (1978-1997): report from the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System project.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) constitute a large and heterogeneous group of malignant tumours. This paper describes and interprets geographical patterns (1988-1997) and time trends (1978-1997) of NHL incidence and survival in European children and adolescents. All 7702 lymphomas that were not Hodgkin's, were extracted from the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System (ACCIS) database and included in different analyses. In children under 15 years of age and for the period 1988-1997, the overall NHL age-adjusted incidence rate was 9.4 per million and has been increasing over 20 years by 0.9% per year on average (P=0.002). In adolescents aged 15-19 years, the age-specific incidence rate was 15.9 per million, increasing annually by 1.7% (P=0.007). Five-year survival of children diagnosed in 1988-1997 was 77%, ranging from 58% in the East to 83% in the West. A substantial increase in survival was observed in all European regions. Systematic monitoring and evaluation of childhood and adolescent data on NHL will contribute to further improvement in public health policy for the young population of Europe.