15.4 Small geographic area characteristics and cancer risk

Figure 15.3 Adjusted relative risks (with 95% confidence intervals) of kidney cancer by socio-economic characteristics of geographic area of residence: males

Males

Adjusting for age alone, there was no significant difference between RoI and NI in the risk of kidney cancer in men during 1995-2007 (Figure 15.3). However once adjustments for population density and socio-economic factors were made, a lower relative risk for NI, compared to RoI, of 0.92 (95%CI=0.85-0.99) was identified.

There was no association between male kidney cancer risk and population density, educational attainment or socio-economic characteristics, although quintile 4 of the unemployment area-based measure had a slightly elevated rate of kidney cancer.

Figure 15.4 Adjusted relative risks (with 95% confidence intervals) of kidney cancer by socio-economic characteristics of geographic area of residence: females

Females

The risk of kidney cancer in women did not differ significantly between RoI and NI (Figure 15.4).

There was a weak positive association between female kidney cancer and population density, with those resident in the most densely populated areas having a 13% greater risk than those in the least dense areas.

There were no overall associations with socio-economic characteristics and kidney cancer among women, although those resident in quintile 2 of the unemployment measure, and quintile 3 of the elderly living alone measure had an elevated risk of the disease.