Comparison of Cancer Mortality and Incidence Between New Zealand and Australia

[pca2004]

New study below [1].

I know a few this will interest.

"New Zealand's total cancer incidences were lower than those expected from Australia's in both women and men: average annual difference of 419 cases ... and 1485 ... respectively."

However, "For total cancers in 2014-2018, New Zealand had 780 excess deaths in women ... and 281 excess deaths in men ... compared to Australia."

Looking at the numbers for men, I wonder if there might be a big difference in PCa screening?

"Around 1 in 10 New Zealand men will develop prostate cancer at some stage in their lifetime." [2]

"Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and it is estimated that one in six males will be diagnosed by the time they are 85." [3]

A lower PCa incidence rate in NZ but, presumably, a higher rate of advanced disease - and mortality.

-Patrick

[1] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/371...

Cancer Control. 2023 Jan-Dec;30:10732748231152330. doi: 10.1177/10732748231152330.

Comparison of Cancer Mortality and Incidence Between New Zealand and Australia and Reflection on Differences in Cancer Care: An Ecological Cross-Sectional Study of 2014-2018

Phyu Sin Aye 1, Shwe Sin Win 1, Sandar Tin Tin 1, J Mark Elwood 1

Affiliations collapseAffiliation1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.PMID: 37150819 DOI: 10.1177/10732748231152330AbstractBackground: 

Despite many background similarities, New Zealand showed excess cancer deaths compared to Australia in previous studies. This study extends this comparison using the most recent data of 2014-2018.Methods: This study used publicly available cancer mortality and incidence data of New Zealand Ministry of Health and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and resident population data of Statistics New Zealand. Australian cancer mortality and incidence rates were applied to New Zealand population, by site of cancer, year, age and sex, to estimate the expected numbers, which were compared with the New Zealand observed numbers.Results: For total cancers in 2014-2018, New Zealand had 780 excess deaths in women (17.1% of the annual total 4549; 95% confidence interval (CI) 15.8-18.4%), and 281 excess deaths in men (5.5% of the annual total 5105; 95% CI 4.3-6.7%) compared to Australia. The excess was contributed by many major cancers including colorectal, melanoma, and stomach cancer in both sexes; lung, uterine, and breast cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men. New Zealand's total cancer incidences were lower than those expected from Australia's in both women and men: average annual difference of 419 cases (-3.6% of the annual total 11 505; 95% CI -4.5 to -2.8%), and 1485 (-11.7% of the annual total 12 669; 95% CI -12.5 to -10.9%), respectively. Comparing time periods, the excesses in total cancer deaths in women were 15.1% in 2000-07, and 17.5% in 1996-1997; and in men 4.7% in 2000-2007 and 5.6% in 1996-1997. The differences by time period were non-significant.Conclusion: Excess mortality from all cancers combined and several common cancers in New Zealand, compared to Australia, persisted in 2014-2018, being similar to excesses in 2000-2007 and 1996-1997. It cannot be explained by differences in incidence, but may be attributable to various aspects of health systems governance and performance.

[2] southerncross.co.nz/medical....

[3] cancer.org.au/cancer-inform....