Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health

OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search

Search

Page Path
HOME > Search
1 "Hee-Yeon Kang"
Filter
Filter
Article category
Keywords
Publication year
Authors
Original Article
Contrasting income-based inequalities in incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Korea, 2006-2015
Jinwook Bahk, Hee-Yeon Kang, Young-Ho Khang, Kyunghee Jung-Choi
Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024074.   Published online September 11, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024074
  • 2,062 View
  • 85 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Korea are increasing. This study analyzed income-based inequalities in the incidence and mortality of women breast cancer from 2006 to 2015, using national data that covered all Korean women.
METHODS
We used the National Health Information Database from 2006 to 2015. For women aged 20 and older, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 by income quintile per year were calculated using the direct method. The rate ratio and rate difference (RD) of the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 between the top and bottom income quintiles were calculated as relative and absolute measures for inequalities.
RESULTS
When comparing 2006 and 2015, both the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer increased. The lowest income quintile experienced higher mortality rates despite having lower incidence rates. In 2015, the income-based RD in incidence and mortality rates between the highest and lowest income quintiles (Q1-Q5) was -19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.3 to -15.5) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.8), respectively. Throughout this period, there was no statistically significant trend in income-based disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. The age-specific contributions to the absolute magnitude of inequality (RD) in incidence and mortality were more pronounced among middle-aged women than among older women.
CONCLUSIONS
This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.
Summary
Korean summary
2006년부터 2015년 한국의 유방암 불평등 추세를 분석하면, 소득수준이 낮은 여성의 발생률은 상대적으로 낮음에도 불구하고 사망률은 높은 양상을 보였다. 유방암 검진과 치료에 있어 보다 형평성을 고려한 정책이 요구된다.
Key Message
This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.

Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health
TOP