Temporal patterns in renal cancer mortality: A 20-year analysis of US-Mexico border states.

Abstract

e16534 Background: Kidney cancers pose a growing health challenge in the U.S., with rising incidence and mortality. Individuals in U.S.-Mexico border states face unique challenges such as healthcare access disparities, socioeconomic factors, and cross-border migration, which may influence cancer diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. These states have predominantly Hispanic/Latino populations, many of whom face barriers like lower income and limited access to specialized care. Understanding renal cancer mortality trends in these regions is critical to improving care delivery. Methods: Data from the CDC WONDER database (2000-2020) was used to analyze renal cancer mortality trends in U.S.-Mexico border states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) compared to non-border states. Deaths due to renal cancer (ICD-10 codes C64 and C65) were analyzed, with stratifications by age, years, and race/ethnicity. Mortality trends were summarized using descriptive statistics, and associations between mortality and categorical variables were assessed through crosstabulations and chi-square tests. Logistic regression models were constructed to adjust for age, race, and region, while time-trend analysis and independent t-tests compared mortality rates across the regions. Results: A total of 245,800 renal cancer deaths were reported during 2000-2020. Older age groups (65-74, 75-84, 85+) accounted for the highest renal cancer mortality in both regions, with non-border states having higher age-adjusted mortality rates. Mortality increased significantly from 2000 to 2020, with a steeper rise after 2010, potentially linked to healthcare reforms like the Affordable Care Act. A large proportion (82.4%) of Hispanic renal cancer deaths occurred in border states, reflecting the demographic concentration of Hispanic populations. While White individuals accounted for 79.43% of non-border state deaths and 90.01% of border state deaths, African Americans had 21.28% of their deaths in border states, and Asians had 93.44% of their deaths in border states, highlighting potential regional differences in healthcare access or population demographics. Non-border states had a slightly higher mean crude mortality rate by 1.468 per 100,000 (p < 0.001), but this difference was modest. Conclusions: This study highlights significant renal cancer mortality, particularly among Hispanic, African American, and Asian populations in U.S.-Mexico border states. The concentration of Hispanic deaths in these regions underscores the impact of socioeconomic barriers and limited healthcare access. Healthcare reforms may have improved cancer detection, but treatment access remains uneven. These findings call for targeted efforts to improve healthcare in underserved regions, focusing on equitable care for vulnerable populations.