Socioeconomic Disparities in Urological Cancers in Iran: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 Publisher Pubmed



Khajavi A ; Hashemi FH ; Khatami F ; Ortakand RK ; Noori M ; Rahimnia R ; Aghamir SMK
Source: BMC Public Health Published:2025

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the socioeconomic disparities across Iran’s provinces regarding health measures for urological cancers, including bladder, kidney, prostate, and testicular cancers. Methods: We analyzed the age-standardized incidence, prevalence, and death rates for 31 Iranian provinces using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (2000–2019). Socioeconomic status was evaluated using principal components analysis, and health inequalities were measured with the concentration index (CI). Results: From 2000 to 2019, there was an increase in the incidence and prevalence of all urological cancers and the mortality of prostate cancer. However, the mortality/incidence ratios for prostate and bladder cancers decreased. The highest CIs, 0.26 for prevalence and 0.24 for incidence were recorded for testicular cancer in 2000–2004, which decreased to 0.18 and 0.17 in 2015–2019. No remarkable inequality was found in kidney cancer measures or the death rates of bladder and prostate cancers. Persistent inequality was observed in testicular cancer death rates (CIs of 0.16 and 0.12 in 2000–2004 and 2015–2019). The mortality/incidence ratio for testicular cancer showed minor inequalities favoring the poorer provinces. Conclusion: Age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates for bladder, prostate, and testicular cancers, as well as testicular cancer death rate, were higher in the better-off provinces. Poorer provinces had higher mortality/incidence ratios for testicular cancer. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.