The Group of People with the Highest Risk of Death from Cancer Identified 0 11

Residents of rural areas are more likely to die from cancer than urban dwellers, and this gap continues to grow. This conclusion was reached by researchers who analyzed data on nearly 28 million deaths from 1969 to 2023. The results of the study were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).

Currently, the highest cancer mortality rates are recorded in rural areas, while the lowest are in large cities. However, in the late 1960s, the situation was the opposite: at that time, it was urban residents who were more likely to die from oncological diseases. The shift became noticeable in the 1990s for men and in the early 2000s for women. For example, lung cancer mortality among men in rural areas was previously lower than in cities, but in recent years it has become more than 50 percent higher.

The authors attribute this difference to unequal access to healthcare. In rural areas, screenings are less frequent, access to treatment is poorer, and there is a higher level of poverty and prevalence of risk factors, including smoking.

Researchers emphasize that the results reflect the growing inequality in the healthcare system. In their opinion, improving access to diagnostics and treatment could reduce mortality and narrow the gap between rural and urban residents.