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Higher breast cancer prevalence associated with higher socioeconomic status in the South Korean population; Has it resulted from overdiagnosis?

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  • Seong-Woo Choi
  • So-Yeon Ryu
  • Mi-ah Han
  • Jong Park

Abstract

Recently, breast cancer prevalence has increased in South Korea. In this study, we investigated the correlation between breast cancer prevalence and socioeconomic status. This study enrolled 27,331 people who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV–VI (2007–2015). In addition, we obtained data from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KSIS) on the breast cancer age-standardized incidence rate (AIR), the age-standardized mortality rate (AMR), the number of women screened, and the number of newly diagnosed patients. The KHANES data showed that breast cancer prevalence was significantly associated with educational level (odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–3.77 for 10–12 vs. ≤ 6 years of education, and OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.10–5.06 for ≥ 13 vs. ≤ 6 years of education). However, there was no significant association of breast cancer prevalence with monthly household income. In a separate analysis of the AIR, AMR, and number of women screened for breast cancer, the AIR increased with the number of women screened, whereas the AMR did not. Furthermore, the number of newly diagnosed patients in all age groups increased over time. The present results demonstrate that the recently increased breast cancer prevalence documented in South Korea may be attributable to earlier detection rather than to a real increase in prevalence, and that breast cancer may be overdiagnosed.

Suggested Citation

  • Seong-Woo Choi & So-Yeon Ryu & Mi-ah Han & Jong Park, 2018. "Higher breast cancer prevalence associated with higher socioeconomic status in the South Korean population; Has it resulted from overdiagnosis?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0200484
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200484
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    1. Valentina Gallo & Johan P Mackenbach & Majid Ezzati & Gwenn Menvielle & Anton E Kunst & Sabine Rohrmann & Rudolf Kaaks & Birgit Teucher & Heiner Boeing & Manuela M Bergmann & Anne Tjønneland & Susanne, 2012. "Social Inequalities and Mortality in Europe – Results from a Large Multi-National Cohort," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Jung, Minsoo, 2015. "National Cancer Screening Programs and Evidence-Based Healthcare Policy in South Korea," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(1), pages 26-32.
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    1. Tso-Ying Lee & Shih-Chun Hsing & Chin-Ching Li, 2021. "An Improved Stress-Scale Specifically Designed to Measure Stress of Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, February.

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