Although historical redlining has been linked to poor health outcomes , including mortality in people with adult‐onset cancers , its relationship with survival in pediatric , adolescent , and young adult individuals with cancer is unknown .
To investigate , Kristine Karvonen , MD , MS , of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle , and her colleagues analyzed a U . S . cancer registry to identify all new cancer diagnoses in people under age 40 living in Seattle and Tacoma , Washington , between 2000 and 2019 .
Among 4,355 young individuals diagnosed with cancer , the percentage of people alive at five years was lower among those residing in redlined neighborhoods compared with those in other neighborhoods ( 85.1 % versus 90.3 %). Survival differences persisted at 10 years ( 81.1 % versus 88.1 %).
After adjusting for other influencing factors , people in redlined neighborhoods had a 32 % higher risk of dying than those in other neighborhoods .
" This study agrees with previous research that living in an area that was previously redlined nearly a century ago is associated with poor outcomes for patients with cancer today and adds young patients with cancer as a population at risk . Therefore , our study names racism as a potential driver of outcomes for young patients with cancer ," said Dr . Karvonen .
" In light of our findings of increased mortality experienced by redlined individuals , an important next question is how these disparities arise , as mechanisms will be key to informing future interventions . Additionally , further studies are needed to build upon this historical example and examine more proximal measures of structural racism relevant to patients today ."
More information : Kristine A . Karvonen et al , Historical redlining and survival among children , adolescents , and young adults with cancer diagnosed between 2000 – 2019 in Seattle and Tacoma , Washington , Cancer ( 2025 ). DOI : 10.1002 / cncr . 35677 Journal information : Cancer
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