 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Robert Lipton, PhD, Prevention Research Center, 2150 Shattuck Ave. Suite 900, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510 883 5755, rlipton@prev.org
Objective: To examine the relationship between lung cancer social economic and demographic variables across zip codes while controlling for spatial confounding. Method: 1647 zip code areas in California (comprising 100% of the area of CA) were examined for prevalence of lung cancer, taking into consideration population characteristics of persons living in those areas. Population characteristics were assessed using 2000 Census data. Lung cancer cases were obtained from hospital discharge data for the year 2000. RESULTS: There was a marked lack of spatial autocorrelation between zip codes for lung cancer. Zip codes with the highest quintile of cases per 10,000 population (n=28) were found to differ from all other zip codes (n=1607) in regard to having a lower percentage of African-Americans and foreign born and a higher percentage of families in poverty. Six “hotspots” with higher than model expected prevalence rates were identified. These hotspots differed from all other zip codes in having a lower percentage of those 18 years old or less and a higher percentage of female heads of household. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that spatial autocorrelation is not a factor when examining the relationship between socio-economic/ demographic measures and lung cancer. This research identified certain hotspots that have higher than expected prevalence rates for lung cancer. Significant socio-demographic differences between these zip codes and non-hotspot zip codes may indicate important sub-populations that merit further research. This analysis potentially allows for a more precise understanding of typical SES/demographic measures than is possible without taking into account spatial characteristics.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Tobacco, Geographic Information Systems
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.