OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between female breast cancer incidence and the socioeconomic status in Beijing.

METHODSThe data of female breast cancer patients of Beijing residents diagnosed between 2001 and 2010 were sorted from the population-based surveillance database of Beijing Cancer Registry.28, 184 cases were included, covering 58, 427, 396 female person-years. Incidence rates, rates adjusted by world population in each year, mean and median age at diagnosis and the peak age group were calculated. JoinPoint software was applied to calculate the incidence trend and the annual percentage of changing (APC). Using the data from the Beijing Statistical Yearbook in 1991-2000, we calculated the gross output value of industry, the average wage of Beijing residents, the food expenditure level and the average wage in different districts in Beijing. The relationship between female breast cancer incidence, the average age (mean, median and the peak age groups) at diagnosis and the socioeconomic status in the last 10 years was also calculated.

RESULTSFrom 2001 to 2010, the incidence rate of female breast cancer in Beijing rose from 32.03/100 000 to 58.10/100 000, a total increase of 81.39% over the last 10 years and the annual percentage change was 5.76%, after adjusted by world population (APC = 5.76%, P < 0.05). The relationships between female breast cancer incidence from 2001-2010 and the gross output value of industry, the average wage of Beijing residents, the food expenditure level in 1991-2000 were significant (P < 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.928, 0.957, and 0.982, respectively. In terms of the data in different districts in Beijing, the relationships between the average age (mean, median and the peak age group) in 2001-2010 and the average wage of Beijing residence in 1991-2000 were also significant with a correlation coefficient of 0.806,0.785 and 0.754, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe increase of female breast cancer incidence rate in Beijing is positively correlated with the socioeconomic status, especially with the food expenditure level of Beijing residents over the last 10 years. The higher the economic development, the peak age of onset of female breast cancer is more postponed.