Lung cancer and socio-economic status: inextricably linked to place of residence

Abstract

Background: The association between socio-economic status (SES) and lung cancer is internationally established, but in Australia this relationship remains ill defined. Aims: To examine the association between SES, place of residence and lung cancer outcomes in a large Australian cohort. Methods: A total of 2369 consecutive lung cancer patients managed by St Vincent's Hospital lung multidisciplinary meeting between 2001 and 2014 were included. Postcode data stratified participants by Socio-economic indexes for areas, a validated measure of SES, and by geographical location, an important socio-economic factor in Australia. Results: There was no difference between socio-economic groups in age (..