Higher disease burden and lower utilization in Mongolian with breast cancer: a 9-year retrospective cohort study of...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Ethnic disparities in breast cancer (BC) disease burden and medical utilization among Asian populations, specifically Mongolian and Han Chinese women, remain under-investigated.
• This study addresses the gap by quantifying ethnic differences in BC burden and healthcare utilization in China.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the disease burden and medical utilization between Mongolian and Han female breast cancer patients in China.
• To identify and quantify ethnic disparities in incidence, prevalence, mortality, survival rates, and medical costs associated with breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Inner Mongolia Regional Health Information Platform (2012-2021).
• Disease burden indicators including incidence, 5-year prevalence, mortality, survival rate, and medical costs were analyzed.
• Comparisons were made between Han and Mongolian female breast cancer patients.

Main Results:

• Mongolian women exhibited higher age-specific incidence and 5-year prevalence of breast cancer compared to Han women.
• Mongolian females experienced significantly higher all-cause mortality (HR 1.21) and breast cancer-specific mortality (HR 1.31) than Han females.
• Despite a lower annual per capita medical cost, Mongolian patients faced a greater disease burden, indicating potential unmet medical needs.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals a higher disease burden and unmet medical demand among Mongolian breast cancer patients compared to Han patients.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and practical efforts to address health disparities for ethnic minorities.
• Further research is recommended to elucidate the mechanisms behind these disparities and to develop strategies for elimination.