Spatial clustering of breast cancer: An epidemiological analysis of Iranian women

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Iran. The aim of this study was to explore the spatial autocorrelation and the estimation incidence rates variance among Iranian provinces. Methods: In this cross-sectional exploratory study, age-standardized incidence rates from 2004 to 2010 were analyzed in order to detect hot and cold spots map and estimate the rates using ordinary kriging Results: Mapping of clusters showed that hot and cold spots located in the East and North East regions of Iran. Maps of estimated values for 2004 were between 0.06 - 101.15 and for 2010 between 20.85 - 329.68, which indicate increase in incidence rates, especially in some areas. Conclusions: There are relatively large differences between the geographic distribution of the breast cancer clusters in the East and North East regions of the country in comparison to other areas. Policy makers are advised to consider such provincial diversity for better understanding of factors affecting the incidence of breast cancer.