Abstract
Background
Breast cancer is a significant public health concern in Sonora, Mexico, which has a history of industrial pollution. Hermosillo, the state capital, exhibits both of these characteristics. Prior studies suggest that living in areas with high levels of pollutants may contribute to a higher incidence of breast cancer, creating what is known as a "hot spot" in that specific region.
Purpose
This study aims to assess the potential association between living in an industrialized area and the presence of breast cancer hot spots in Hermosillo.
Methods
The research collected clinical data on breast cancer cases between 2013 and 2023 and pinpointed neighborhoods with a high prevalence of breast cancer using hot spot analysis (ArcGIS software version 10.8.2). The odds ratio was used to compare the likelihood of finding a breast cancer case in industrialized areas versus non-industrialized neighborhoods (R version 4.3.1).
Results
The study observed a link between industrialized areas and high breast cancer rates (unadjusted OR = 6.94, 95% CI (0.94, 50.8), p-value = 0.05)), particularly in women aged 65 + in 33 industrialized neighborhoods located at Hermosillo's northwest (OR = 2.70, 95% CI (1.27, 5.72), p-value = 0.009).
Conclusions
In this study cohort, there is a link between industrialized areas and high breast cancer rates in Hermosillo, with hot spots for women aged 65 + living in 33 neighborhoods in the city's northwest. Further extensive studies are needed to confirm these findings in other cities in Sonora, Mexico.