De Cuyper L, Van Hee R, Sterckx F
Department of Surgery, Academic Surgical Centre Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.
Acta Chir Belg. 2003 Nov-Dec;103(6):585-8. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2003.11679496.
This study was made to evaluate the influence of the socio-economic status of a particular population in Northern Antwerp on the epidemiology and treatment of breast cancer. Data concerning patient characteristics, breast cancer pathology, treatment and socio-economical factors were compared with regional, national and worldwide literature. The patients in this series were generally older (61% more than 65 years) and tumour stage was more advanced (only 23% T1 tumours). Treatment therefore was more aggressive. The patients in our population had a lower level of education and lower income, and from a social point of view were more disadvantaged: 21% belonged to the social category of widow(er)s and orphans, while 3% had no social security. Thirty percent of patients in this series declared that late hospitalization depended on their social or financial situation. Preventive care and medical services should therefore be directed to socially and financially disabled classes of patients.
本研究旨在评估安特卫普北部特定人群的社会经济状况对乳腺癌流行病学及治疗的影响。将有关患者特征、乳腺癌病理、治疗及社会经济因素的数据与地区、国家及全球文献进行了比较。该系列中的患者普遍年龄较大（61%超过65岁），肿瘤分期更晚（仅23%为T1期肿瘤），因此治疗更为积极。我们研究人群中的患者教育水平较低、收入较少，从社会角度来看处境更为不利：21%属于孤寡及孤儿社会类别，而3%没有社会保障。该系列中30%的患者表示住院延迟取决于其社会或经济状况。因此，预防保健和医疗服务应针对社会和经济上有困难的患者群体。
