A housing policy of several decades that discriminated against minorities could explain why certain districts in the United States have a higher death rate of cancer than others.
In a new study, the researchers analyzed the five and 10 years of cancer survival data in people under 40 and compared the rates between people who lived in red districts and those who lived outside these areas in the United States.
The Redline districts date back to the 1920s and 1930s when an agency supported by the government deemed an unwanted residential area because of its ethnic demography.
This practice has prevented black and other minorities from obtaining mortgage loans and buying goods in these areas. In turn, this led to segregation and limited funding for hospitals and accessibility of health care.
Previous research has linked redness to global poor health and an increased risk of cancer and mortality, but little is known how the practice specifically affected young patients with young or pediatric cancer.
In a study published this week, researchers from the University of Washington have analyzed survival rate data for 4,355 residents of the state of Washington under 40 diagnosed with different cancers from 2000 to 2019.
The results have shown that those who live in formerly red areas had a risk of death of 32% higher compared to those who live in non -rolled neighborhoods.
Dr. Kristine Karvonen, the researcher behind the study, said that this was due to the “racism” that had prevented non-white people from accessing financial resources to improve their local areas.
Seattle: the above card shows the Seattle districts that were red
The above shows how Manhattan de New York was divided by the red system. The East Village and the parts of the Upper East Side were among those to be complained
Even taking into account other factors, such as sex and cancer stage, researchers found that for the rate of survival at five years, 85% of patients living in red areas were still alive five years after diagnosis – Against 90% of those in non -wheel zones.
For the 10 -year survival rate, 81% of residents of the red line survived, compared to 88% of other residents.
The Redline districts were born from an organization sponsored by the United States, Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (Holc) organization which divides major cities into zones in the 1920s and 1930s depending on what civil servants thought they were probability that residents reimburse a loan.
The organization said that their cards were based on consultations with local bank loan agents, city officials and real estate agents, as well as factors such as housing prices in the region.
But the documents of the organization also show that they considered the ethnic composition of the communities in their recommendations, cataloging “harmful influences” such as “the infiltration of the negroes”.
The areas were labeled in decreasing order from A to D, corresponding to “the best”, “always desirable”, “declining” and “dangerous”, with studies later showing that it was largely based on the demography of a area.
Detroit: The above shows how Detroit was divided into zones determining the opportunity to offer loans
This has led many communities to the majority in black or Hispanic, or marked as undesirable, leading banks less likely to offer loans to residents compared to those of “more desirable” communities.
In turn, Redline communities were also less likely to have funding for hospitals or access to health care.
The cards were used to determine who to grant loans for decades, until the 1968 Fair Housing Act prohibited racial motivation and federal authorities to enforce this – in the middle of the civil rights movement.
Previous research has shown that adults living in red districts have a risk of death of 60% higher in breast cancer and a higher overall risk of premature death.
But in the new study, published in the journal Cancer, the researchers examined the survival rates of cancer among people under the age of 40, living in areas that had already been red.
In the article, which, according to the researchers, is the first to examine this in young patients, they analyzed data from the cancer monitoring system – the own Washington state system to follow cancer.
Chicago: This card shows how most of the chicago center was red
Tacoma, Washington: The above shows the areas of Tacoma in the state of Washington which were red
The patients came from Seattle and Tacoma – of which have already been red.
Overall, the study included 411 children aged 17 and 3,900 aged 18 to 39. The average age at diagnosis was 32 years.
Among the group, melanoma was the most common cancer – diagnosed in 661 people or 15% of the total.
Breast cancer was the second most common, diagnosed in 533 patients, and thyroid cancer was the most common third, diagnosed in 530 patients.
The other cancers included were blood cancers, head and neck cancer, colon cancer and urinary tract cancers.
The results were adjusted for factors, including age at diagnosis, sex, ethnicity, the type of cancer and the cancer stage.
Data has also shown that cancers may be less likely to be detected at the beginning of those who live in red areas compared to those who live in other areas, which can be linked to a lack of health insurance or Access to health care – which led someone to push a disturbing checkered symptom.
In non -wheel zones, 57% of patients had cancer diagnosed in stage 1 while 18% had diagnosed their cancer at stage 4.
For comparison, in formerly red areas, 52% of patients had diagnosed their cancers in stage 1 while 22% had diagnosed them at stage 4.
Cancers are much more difficult to treat in stage four because they are more advanced and have spread to the body, which could contribute to the higher mortality rate.
Dr. Karvonen, the pediatrician who led the study, said: “ This study agrees with previous research that life in an area which was previously red almost a century ago is associated with Poor results for cancer patients and adds young cancer patients as a cancer as a population at risk.
“Consequently, our study calls racism as a potential engine of results for young patients with cancer.”
The study adds: “In addition to the unfavorable socio -economic consequences, serious health problems, including higher cancer mortality, have been documented for those who live in red areas.
“It is plausible that redline and its downstream mechanisms, such as bad access to health care and poverty that stimulate disparities in adults with cancer, also apply to children and young adults.”
