10/09/2008
A team of researchers has investigated social inequalities in cancer mortality and their changes over time in France.Their findings were published early this month by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance. They show large social inequalities among men, especially cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) and broncho-pulmonary cancer. Social inequalities were less noticeable among women, but were nevertheless observed in cases of lung cancer, of the uterus and of the stomach.

The strongest increase in socioeconomic inequalities over time was observed for UADT cancers in the male population. During the period 1968-1996, the over-mortality risk among low-skilled males has risen from 1.52 to 2.29 compared to male graduates. Among women, higher breast cancer mortality was found among higher educated women in the 1970s. This classification progressively disappeared and was no longer noticeable in the 1990s.

• The study (in French)