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Spatial distribution of avoidable cancer deaths in Germany

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An Erratum to this article was published on 29 August 2012

Abstract

Aim

To investigate the spatial distribution of avoidable cancer mortality (ACM) rates in Germany and to identify small areas with exceptionally high rates using districts (Landkreise/Kreise and kreisfreie Städte) as a unit of analysis. Avoidable cancer mortality reflects deaths from cancer that should not occur in the presence of effective and timely health care.

Methods

Age-standardised, average ACM rates were calculated for the period from 2000 through 2004 for each of the 439 districts in Germany using unit-record mortality data. The spatial distribution of ACM was subsequently analysed using country maps, interval estimates and regression analysis. Data on mortality and age distribution were obtained from the German Federal Statistical Office (DESTATIS) and the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (INKAR).

Results

We found that in women under 70 years, the highest ACM rates were seen for cancer of the breast and for cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung, whereas in men under 70 years, the highest ACM rates were seen for cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung, and for cancer of the colon, rectosigmoid junction, rectum, anus and anal canal. The statistically lowest mean ACM rates could be found in the south of Germany for men and women. Although the mean ACM rates in men in former East Germany were significantly higher than elsewhere in the country, they were not substantially higher than those in the west and northwest. The mean ACM rates in women were even lower in the east than in the northwest and west.

Conclusion

The spatial distribution of ACM rates in women in Germany showed a north-south gradient rather than the east-west gradient that often appears or, for sociohistorical reasons, is even assumed in the German context. When applying measures of ACM, we suggest using districts with statistically lower ACM rates than the nationwide average as a benchmark for the maximum number of excess deaths that should be considered preventable, whether within the current German context or beyond.

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Notes

  1. Although we aimed to include Hodgkin’s disease (for the age group 1 to 70 years) and leukemia (for the age group 1 to 44 years) as avoidable forms of cancer in accordance with the list published by Nolte and McKee (2003), mortality data on these two disease entities were incomplete and thus had to be left out of our analysis. Considering, however, that the cancer types account for a rather small proportion of overall cancer mortality in the relevant age groups (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, 2011), it seems unlikely that the absence of these data has distorted our results in any substantial way.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Care Management, Berlin University of Technology, Strasse des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    Leonie Sundmacher, Matthew D. Gaskins & Reinhard Busse

  2. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Karen Hofmann

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  1. Leonie Sundmacher
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  2. Matthew D. Gaskins
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  3. Karen Hofmann
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  4. Reinhard Busse
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Correspondence to Leonie Sundmacher.

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Sundmacher, L., Gaskins, M.D., Hofmann, K. et al. Spatial distribution of avoidable cancer deaths in Germany. J Public Health 20, 279–288 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-011-0441-3

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