Geographical analysis of malignant tumor incidence and treatment in China

Malignant tumors have a severe impact on both patients and their families, and the treatment of malignant tumors is a fundamental component of public health security. Therefore, the issue of malignant tumors is a significant focus in the construction of "Healthy China." There are notable spatial disparities in both the incidence and treatment of malignant tumors in China. Research from a geographical perspective and methodology can help improve local malignant tumor prevention efforts and optimize the national allocation of medical resources. This study collected case samples publicly disclosed by representative malignant tumor mutual assistance platforms in China. The analysis was conducted using prefecture-level regions as the basic unit, applying spatial correlation analysis, geographic detectors, multi-factor regression, geographic inequality decomposition, birth cohort analysis, and other methods. The key findings are as follows: (1) there is a strong spatial aggregation of six high-incidence malignant tumors: respiratory system, digestive system, breast system, reproductive system, urinary system, and endocrine system cancers; (2) natural and human geographical factors have significant explanatory power for the occurrence of malignant tumors, although the influencing factors vary widely among different types of tumors; (3) there are considerable disparities in the distribution of medical resources for malignant tumors across regions, and when patients choose to seek treatment in different locations, they take both geographical distance and the level of medical services into account; (4) the difference in the "treatment occurrence rate" of malignant tumors is substantial between the two sides of the "Hu Huanyong Line"; (5) the degree of inequality in the national "treatment occurrence rate" for malignant tumors is widening with the increasing number of patients born later, but is narrowing with the establishment of new hospitals. Finally, this paper proposes policy recommendations to improve the prevention, control, and treatment of malignant tumors based on local conditions.