Abstract 1778: A comparison study of the disparities of cervical cancer excess mortality between Black and Caucasian women in Alabama and the US

Abstract

Abstract Background: The main purpose of this study was to assess the disparity of cervical cancer (CerCancer) mortality rates change through time between Black and Caucasian women residing in Alabama and the US. Methods: The CerCancer behavioral risk factors and utilization of screening tests data were obtained from CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database. Baseline data and target objectives of utilization of CerCancer screening and mortality rates were obtained from Healthy People 2020. The CerCancer mortality rates data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). Mortality rates, percentage difference, percentage change and annual percentage change for trends were calculated and compared with the US baseline. Data were stratified by age, gender, race, and geography, using SEER*Stat version 8.4.1 in conjunction with Linear Trendlines analysis to model the racial changes of CerCancer mortality rates through time in Alabama and the US. Results: Our results depicted in general, that although Blacks had higher CerCancer mortality rates at all times, a decreasing trend in CerCancer mortality rates was noted for both races. However, the degree of disparities in mortality rates fluctuated over time and differed by age. In Alabama, Blacks aged 65 years and older have not experienced significant decline in CerCancer mortality rates in recent years, despite a high screening rate compared to Whites. In contrast, between 2002 and 2012, Whites in Alabama and the US made a significant progress toward the Healthy People 2020 goal. Conclusions: Conclusively in Alabama, a disparity still exists for the high CerCancer mortality rates in Blacks despite the higher rates of screening for CerCaner as would otherwise be expected. Additionally, the state has not yet achieved the Healthy People 2020 goal. Thus, although the gap in mortality rates in Alabama has narrowed, however the disparity remains, but if the dismal narrowing is sustained, it will reduce the racial disparities in CerCancer mortality though at a very slow rate. Therefore, Public health officials should monitor progress toward reduction and/or elimination of these disparities. Citation Format: Ehsan M. Abdalla. A comparison study of the disparities of cervical cancer excess mortality between Black and Caucasian women in Alabama and the US. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1778.