Unveiling a Health Disparity: Comparative Analysis of Head and Neck Cancer Trends between First Nations People and Non-Indigenous Australians (1998–2015)

• Main Authors: Lamia Fahad Khan, Santosh Tadakamadla, Jyothi Tadakamadla
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Biomedical and clinical sciences; Clinical sciences; Oncology and carcinogenesis; First Nations people; head and neck cancer; incidence; mortality; survival; First Nations
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.26181/26868727.v1; https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Unveiling_a_Health_Disparity_Comparative_Analysis_of_Head_and_Neck_Cancer_Trends_between_First_Nations_People_and_Non-Indigenous_Australians_1998_2015_/26868727

Background: We aim to assess and compare the HNC trends between the First Nations and non-Indigenous population. Methods: HNC incidence (1998–2013) and mortality (1998–2015) data in First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians were utilised from the Australian Cancer Database. The age-standardised incidence and mortality trends along with annual percentage changes were analysed using Joinpoint models. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates according to remoteness, states, and five-year survival rates among First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians were presented as graphs. Results: First Nations people had over twice the age-standardised incidence (2013; 29.8/100,000 vs. 14.7/100,000) and over 3.5 times the age-standardised mortality rates (2015; 14.2/100,000 vs. 4.1/100,000) than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Both populations saw a decline in mortality, but the decline was only statistically significant in non-Indigenous Australians (17.1% decline, 1998: 4.8/100,000, 2015: 4.1/100,000; p < 0.05). Across all remoteness levels and states, First Nations people consistently had higher age-standardised incidence and mortality rates. Furthermore, the five-year survival rate was lower by 25% in First Nations people. Conclusion: First Nations people continue to shoulder a disproportionate HNC burden compared to non-Indigenous Australians.