Socioeconomic disparities in childhood cancer survival in Switzerland

In this study, we investigated whether childhood cancer survival in Switzerland is influenced by socioeconomic status (SES), and if disparities vary by type of cancer and definition of SES (parental education, living condition, area‐based SES). Using Cox proportional hazards models, we analyzed 5‐year cumulative mortality in all patients registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry diagnosed 1991–2006 below 16 years. Information on SES was extracted from the Swiss census by probabilistic record linkage. The study included 1602 children (33% with leukemia, 20% with lymphoma, 22% with central nervous system (CNS) tumors); with an overall 5‐year survival of 77% (95%CI 75–79%). Higher SES, particularly parents' education, was associated with a lower 5‐year cumulative mortality. Results varied by type of cancer with no association for leukemia and particularly strong effects for CNS tumor patients, where mortality hazard ratios for the different SES indicators, comparing the highest with the lowest group, ranged from 0.48 (95%CI: 0.28–0.81) to 0.71 (95%CI: 0.44–1.15). We conclude that even in Switzerland with a high quality health care system and mandatory health insurance, socioeconomic differences in childhood cancer survival persist. Factors causing these survival differences have to be further explored, to facilitate universal access to optimal treatment and finally eliminate social inequalities in childhood cancer survival.     

Cumulative and residual risks of small for gestational age neonates after changing pregnancy-smoking behaviors

This retrospective cohort study examines the relationship between changing pregnancy-smoking behaviors, from the first to the second pregnancy, on second-pregnancy rates of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. Electronic birth records provided data on 5107 pregnant women who had two singleton births in Kansas City, MO, from 1994 to 2003. Pregnancy-smoking behavior was classified by smoking status (nonsmoker [NS] or smoker [SMK]) during the first (previous)/second (current) pregnancy: NS/NS, NS/SMK, SMK/SMK, and SMK/NS. The overall second-pregnancy SGA rate was 6.7% and varied with pregnancy-smoking behavior: 5.9%, NS/NS; 6.6%, SMK/NS; 12.5%, NS/SMK; and 12%, SMK/SMK; P < 0.001 Current pregnancy-smoking was associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of SGA; SMK/SMK (OR, 2.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00 to 3.93) versus NS/SMK (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.19 to 2.82) versus SMK/NS (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.65 to 2.65) versus NS/NS (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, reference). Being black (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 2.91 to 4.79) and having medical risk factors (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.74) also were significantly associated with a SGA neonate in second pregnancy. In conclusion, risk of delivering a SGA neonate in a current pregnancy is related to current rather than previous pregnancy-smoking. Therefore, antismoking socialization during pregnancy should focus on preventing and stopping current pregnancy-smoking, irrespective of past behavior.     

Metastasen und sonstige Fernwirkungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Buchbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Buchbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Konstitution und Biologische Eigenschaften des Blutfarbstoffes und Seiner Derivate

Ohne ZusammenfassungNach einem auf Einladung der Wiener Biologischen Gesellschaft am 13. November 1933 gehaltenen Vortrag.     

Die Oxydation der Harnsäure im Tierkörper

Ohne ZusammenfassungVortrag, gehalten am 13. September 1929 in Rochester, Min., vor der Mayo Foundation, der ich auch an dieser Stelle für die liebenswürdige Einladung meinen Dank aussprechen möchte.