To examine the association between area-based deprivation and the incidence of childhood cancer in Ontario, Canada.
Approach:
Study Design: A population-based cross-sectional study using linked cancer registry, demographic, geographic, and Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg) data.
Data Collection: Data from Ontario’s childhood cancer registry (POGONIS) for patients aged 0 to 14 diagnosed between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2023.
Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics and incidence rates calculated using SAS software, with age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) across ON-Marg and sociodemographic strata.
Key Findings:
Incidence rates were calculated for different cancer subtypes, including leukemia, CNS tumors, and other solid malignant neoplasms, with specific rates reported for each subtype.
The study utilized the ON-Marg to assess social disadvantage across four dimensions: material resources, households and dwellings, age and labor force participation, and racialized and newcomer populations.
Interpretation:
The study aims to clarify the relationship between social deprivation and childhood cancer incidence in a context with universal health care access.
Limitations:
The study may not account for all confounding factors influencing cancer detection and diagnosis.
Existing studies have primarily focused on leukemia, limiting the understanding of other cancer subtypes.
Conclusion:
The study seeks to provide insights into the geographic disparities in childhood cancer incidence related to social determinants of health, highlighting the need for further investigation into these associations.
