Higher Childhood Cancer Mortality in Persistently Poor Neighborhoods, Study Reveals

A recent study published online on April 21, 2025, in the journal Pediatrics highlights a significant association between neighborhood economic conditions and cancer outcomes among children. The research indicates that children diagnosed with cancer who live in areas with persistent poverty face a greater risk of early mortality and overall cancer-related death.

Led by Emma Hymel, M.P.H., from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the study analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database alongside Census Tract Attributes Data, focusing on children diagnosed with cancer between 2006 and 2020. The study encompassed 97,132 children, with approximately 12.63% residing in persistently impoverished neighborhoods at the time of diagnosis.

Findings revealed that children living in these neighborhoods had a 26% higher risk of early death and a 15% higher risk of death from cancer overall, even after adjusting for various factors. Specific cancer types, including leukemias, central nervous system tumors, and hepatic tumors, showed increased mortality risks associated with persistent poverty, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.20, 1.14, and 1.36, respectively.

The authors emphasize that social determinants of health, such as neighborhood economic stability, play a crucial role in pediatric cancer outcomes. They advocate for further research to develop targeted interventions aimed at reducing these disparities and improving survival rates among vulnerable populations.

This study underscores the importance of addressing social and economic inequalities as part of comprehensive cancer care and prevention strategies for children.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-cancer-death-higher-children-neighborhoods.html