The study found that deaths from cancer decline much faster in urban areas than in rural areas

while Cancer deaths in the United States Although they have declined over the past two decades, certain parts of the country are seeing less improvement in these numbers.

New research published in the British Journal of Cancer evaluated differences in Cancer mortality improvements All over the country.

Researchers at the Mississippi State Social Science Research Center, along with scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, analyzed death certificates between 1981 and 2019 in nearly 3,000 US counties.

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Data were extracted from the Wide Online Database for Epidemiological Research (WONDER), which is managed by the CDC. More than 21.3 million cancer deaths are included in the registries.

Overall, cancer deaths in the United States decreased by about 32% between 1991 and 2019, but not all regions saw this level of improvement.

While cancer deaths in the United States have declined over the past two decades, certain parts of the country are seeing less improvement. (Istock)

According to the study, the highest rates of mortality reduction and the largest reductions in excess deaths were seen in urban, coastal areas and high-income counties. Rural and low-income counties saw smaller declines in death rates.

“In a country as complex as the United States, we should not be surprised that there are significant differences Health outcomes Arthur J. said: “This study was shaped by the diversity and variety of local regions and groups,” Cosby, the study’s lead author, told Fox News Digital. He is the Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Mississippi State.

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“The improvement in cancer over the past few decades is certainly consistent with this perspective,” he said.

The researchers noted that the gap appears to be widening over time. By 2019, the top 10% of counties with the highest incomes had nearly seven times as much Mortality rate improved From low-income counties.

According to the study, the highest rates of mortality reduction and the largest reductions in excess deaths were seen in urban, coastal areas and high-income counties. (Istock)

According to Cosby, large urban centers along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts had among the highest cancer improvement rates. Rural and small towns in the interior of the United States often had much lower prices.

“The magnitude of the differences in deaths between coastal and inland areas, (and) the large differences between places with different income levels and rural/urban places, were larger than I expected,” Cosby said.

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“The link between improving health and increasing inequalities is not well understood. I am pursuing this question now,” he added.

The researchers pointed to several factors that could contribute to the decrease in cancer mortality rates. This included a decrease in tobacco use and improved cancer screening and treatments.

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“Wealthy urban New York City was aggressive in establishing Tobacco control measures“The results show that the incidence of lung cancer in Manhattan was 49 per 100,000 in 1991. By 2019, the incidence had been reduced to 19.6, a 60% reduction,” Cosby noted.

Rural and small towns in the interior of the United States often had much lower death rates. (Istock)

It’s more aggressive, agrees Dr. Mark Siegel, chief medical analyst at Fox News Preventive measures Targeting smoking and alcohol use likely played a role in the sharp decline in mortality in affluent urban areas.

“More aggressive screening campaigns, including at major medical centers, can diagnose pre-cancerous cases or cancer earlier,” Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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Focus on Improve lifestyle habits Less exposure to environmental toxins could also play a role, he added.

The study had some limitations, the authors noted.

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Because the research was conducted at the county level, the results may not apply at the individual level.

Unmeasured factors such as lifestyle behaviors and access to health care can also influence mortality.

According to the study, the highest rates of mortality reduction and the largest reductions in excess deaths were seen in urban, coastal areas and high-income counties. (Istock)

“There are many limitations associated with its use Search death certificates“Such as the accuracy of the cause of death, the multiple possible causes, and changes in the medical interpretation of death over time,” Cosby told Fox News Digital.

Based on the findings, the researchers call for more studies that take into account the large differences found across the country.

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“The varying speed of adoption of life-saving interventions across geographic locations may lead to growing disparities,” Cosby said. “We could have a situation where almost all places are improving cancer mortality, but at very different rates.”