Work

Spatiotemporal patterns in malignant brain and central nervous system cancer incidence and mortality in the United States

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Brain and nervous system cancers are the 5th most common cancer category in the United States and have a very low survival rate. Spatial analysis techniques can be employed to understand the distribution of rates and generate hypotheses about etiologies. The purpose of this study is to identify geographic patterns, time trends, and sex differences in mortality-incidence rate ratios, incidence rates, and mortality rates of brain and nervous system cancers. METHODS: Cancer data were sourced from the CDC Wonder Cancer database, including age-adjusted mortality-incidence rate ratios, age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates for all age groups and demographics in the United States. MIRR data were available from 1999 to 2018 which were split into four, five-year aggregated time windows to have adequate case numbers for time trend analyses. We further conducted joinpoint regression analysis for 1999-2022 (incidence) and 1999-2023 (mortality) by state and sex to identify changes in trends over time. RESULTS: Incidence-mortality rate ratios varied across the United States, with the highest ratios from 1999 to 2003, calculated to be around 0.67 for the different demographics studied. Since 2004, the mortality rates have remained consistent with some variation between states, with little improvement in the incidence-mortality rate ratio. From 2014 to 2018, females had significantly lower incidence and mortality rates compared to men. The average mortality rate for females was 3.7 per 100,000 compared to the mortality rate for males which was 5.5 per 100,000. Average incidence showed the same pattern with a rate of 5.6 per 100,000 in females compared to 7.7 per 100,000 in males. The Northeast region of the United States showed the highest incidence and lowest mortality. There were 12 states that saw a directional change in incidence, and 14 a directional change in mortality during the study window. Females were more likely to have a directional change in mortality, and males a directional change in incidence trends. CONCLUSION: Further research should investigate reasons for the sex and state differences in brain cancer incidence and mortality rates and how regional factors contribute to survival.

Source: Cancer Epidemiology

DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2025.102950

Authors: Grace Christensen, Evan L. Thacker, Chantel Sloan-Aagard

Institution: Brigham Young University

Language: English

Topic: Global Cancer Incidence and Screening

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,740