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Comparing geospatial clustering methods to study spatial patterns of lung cancer rates in urban areas: A case study in Mashhad, Iran

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Abstract

Geospatial clustering methods play a significant role in identifying high-risk areas in terms of cancers rate. This study aims to compare three different spatial clustering approaches in identifying geospatial clusters of lung cancer in an urban area. Data of diagnosed lung cancer cases between 2017–2018 were extracted from the population-based cancer registry of Mashhad in Iran. Getis-Ord G*, Anselin Local Moran’s I and spatial scan statistics were used to explore any geographical pattern behind the data. All analyses were conducted at the significant level of .95 (p < .05). Arc GIS 10.3 and SaTScan were used for spatial analyses. There were 225 lung cancer cases in the city in the study period. Lung cancer cases were higher among > 45 years of age and more in men than women. All three methods revealed persistent clustering of lung cancer in the southern and central parts of the city around the central business district with slight variations. Among the three methods, spatial scan statistics revealed more geographical areas as lung cancer high-risk areas. All the methods used can explain spatial heterogeneity of lung cancer in the study area; however, a combination of methods is suggested examining spatial disease patterns for better epidemiological and etiological understanding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Behzad Kiani & Nazanin Hashemi Amin

  2. Department of Geography, The Islamia University of Bahwalpur, Punjab, Pakistan

    Munazza Fatima

  3. Lab Solutions Company Located at Science and Technology Park of Shahid, Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    Azam Hesami

  4. Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, 7101, Avenue du Parc, Montréal, Canada

    Behzad Kiani

  5. Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Munazza Fatima

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  1. Behzad Kiani
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  4. Azam Hesami
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Correspondence to Munazza Fatima.

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This study has been ethically approved by the ethical committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with the reference number “IR.MUMS.Medical.REC.1400.395”.

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Kiani, B., Fatima, M., Amin, N.H. et al. Comparing geospatial clustering methods to study spatial patterns of lung cancer rates in urban areas: A case study in Mashhad, Iran. GeoJournal 88, 1659–1669 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10707-3

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