Studies from University of Chile Provide New Data on Breast Cancer [Inequities in breast cancer outcomes in Chile: An analysis of case fatality ratios and survival rates (2007-2018)]: Oncology – Breast Cancer

2025 OCT 14 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Fresh data on Oncology - Breast Cancer are presented in a new report. According to news reporting originating from Santiago, Chile, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Breast cancer is a leading cause of illness and death among women in Chile, yet national data on health outcomes remain limited in the absence of a cancer registry. This observational study examines disparities in breast cancer case fatality ratios and survival rates by health insurance provider and geographic region using national hospital discharge and mortality databases from 2007 to 2018.”

Financial supporters for this research include Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo, Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo, Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Chile, “We analyzed 58,254 hospital discharges and 16,615 deaths related to breast cancer. Case fatality and survival estimates were computed using crude ratios, Kaplan-Meier methods, and Cox proportional hazards models. Nationally, the average case fatality ratio was 26.8 percent. Patients in the public health insurance system had significantly higher fatality ratio (27.5 percent) than those in the private system (15.7 percent). One- and five-year survival rates were lower for publicly insured patients (93.4 percent and 80.8 percent) than for privately insured patients (97.3 percent and 90.2 percent). Within the public system, survival varied by income-based segment, with the lowest rates among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged group. Patients in the Metropolitan Region showed better survival compared to those living in other regions. Cox regression analysis confirmed that health insurance type, age, year of diagnosis, and region of residence were significant predictors of survival. These findings suggest that, despite universal health guarantees in Chile, meaningful inequities in breast cancer outcomes persist.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “The methodology used in this study relies on administrative data and can be applied in other countries or regions with access to comparable hospital discharge and mortality records, supporting broader efforts to monitor and reduce healthcare disparities.”

For more information on this research see: Inequities in breast cancer outcomes in Chile: An analysis of case fatality ratios and survival rates (2007-2018). PLOS One, 2025;20(9). PLOS One can be contacted at: Public Library Science, 1160 Battery Street, Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA. (Public Library of Science - www.plos.org; PLOS One - www.plosone.org)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Susana Mondschein, Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. Additional authors for this research include Benjamin Madariaga and Soledad Torres.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325252. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Publisher contact information for the journal PLOS One is: Public Library Science, 1160 Battery Street, Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA.

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