Glioma incidence and survival variations by county-level socioeconomic measures

BACKGROUND Multiple studies have reported higher rates of glioma in areas with higher socioeconomic status (SES) but to the authors' knowledge have not stratified by other factors, including race/ethnicity or urban versus rural location. METHODS The authors identified the average annual age-adjusted incidence rates and calculated hazard ratios for death for gliomas of various subtypes, stratified by a county-level index for SES, race/ethnicity, US region, and rural versus urban status. RESULTS Rates of glioma were highest in counties with higher SES (rate ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.15-1.22 comparing the highest with the lowest quintiles [P