Socioeconomic status and cancer mortality and incidence in Melbourne

Abstract

Data were obtained for all deaths registered between 1979-1983, and for all new cancers recorded at the Victorian Cancer Registry between 1982-1983, in residents of Melbourne. A socioeconomic status (SES) measure had been produced for each local government area (LGA) by principal components analysis of sociodemographic variables recorded at the 1981 census. A SES score from 1 to 10 was assigned to each death and cancer. Population data from the census were similarly scored. Age standardised rates for all cause mortality, for mortality from all causes other than cancer and for both incidence and mortality of total cancers, cancer of the stomach, colon, rectum, lung, female breast, cervix, ute..