Abstract

Purpose: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and the disease burden is elevated in Appalachian Kentucky, due in part to health behaviors and inequities in social determinants of health. This study's goal was to evaluate Appalachian Kentucky's cancer burden compared to non-Appalachian Kentucky, and Kentucky compared to the United States (excluding Kentucky). Methods: The following data were analyzed: annual all-cause and all-site cancer mortality rates from 1968 to 2018; 5-year all-site and site-specific cancer incidence and mortality rates from 2014 to 2018; aggregated screening and risk factor data from 2016 to 2018 for the United States (excluding Kentucky), Kentucky, non-Appalachian Kentucky, and Appalachian Kentucky; and human papilloma virus vaccination prevalence by sex from 2018 for the United States and Kentucky. Findings: Since 1968, the United States has experienced a large decrease in all-cause and cancer mortality, but the reduction in Kentucky has been smaller and slower, driven by even smaller and slower reductions within Appalachian Kentucky. Appalachian Kentucky has higher overall cancer incidence and mortality rates and higher rates for several site-specific cancers compared to non-Appalachian Kentucky. Contributing factors include screening rate disparities and increased rates of obesity and smoking. Conclusions: Appalachian Kentucky has experienced persistent cancer disparities, including elevated all-cause and cancer mortality rates for 50+ years, widening the gap between this region and the rest of the country. In addition to addressing social determinants of health, increased efforts aimed at improving health behaviors and increased access to health care resources could help reduce this disparity.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Rural Health
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the Markey Cancer Center's Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility for statistical support and the Markey Cancer Center's Research Communications Office for editorial assistance in the preparation of this manuscript. This study was supported by the University of Kentucky's Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program [NCI R25CA221765] and the Markey Cancer Center's Cancer Center Support Grant [NCI P30CA17755].

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 National Rural Health Association.

Keywords

  • Appalachian Kentucky
  • cancer disparity
  • cancer incidence
  • cancer mortality
  • health behaviors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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