BREAST CANCER PATTERNS AND TREATMENT ACCESS IN DENMARK: IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DECENTRALIZED CARE IN BREAST CANCER CARE (HEATMAP-ONKO-BREAST)
Author(s)
Marianne Botoft, PharmD1, Andreas Fanoe, PharmD & Master in personalized medicine2, Anders Davidsen, PharmD, PhD3;
1Roche Pharmaceuticals A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2Roche Pharmaceuticals A/S, Medical Science Partner, Copenhagen V, Denmark, 3Roche Pharmaceutical A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark
1Roche Pharmaceuticals A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2Roche Pharmaceuticals A/S, Medical Science Partner, Copenhagen V, Denmark, 3Roche Pharmaceutical A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark
OBJECTIVES: Geographic equity is an important consideration in cancer care. While some cancers demonstrate regional clustering, the distribution of breast cancer, which affects women broadly, and its relationship to travel distance to treatment centers in Denmark is less well understood. objective was to explore geographic variation in breast cancer incidence across 98 Danish municipalities and assess the potential relationship with travel distance to oncology centers. The aim was to identify municipalities where high cancer burden and local demographics may support decisions on decentralized care services.
METHODS: A geospatial analysis was conducted using national incidence data (Danish Health Data Authority, 2024) and population demographics both from 2024. Road distances from municipal centroids to the nearest out patient oncology center were estimated using a hybrid Haversine-based model (1.35 tortuosity factor). Linear regression assessed the distance-incidence relationship. Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants were excluded.
RESULTS: Breast cancer incidence was broadly and heterogeneously distributed. Correlation between incidence and travel distance was very weak and not statistically significant (R² = 0.02), suggesting that proximity to care may not strongly influence where breast cancer occurs. Six municipalities (Langeland, Hørsholm, Kerteminde, Tønder, Albertslund, and Odder) had higher than expected incidence relative to population size.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that breast cancer risk is distributed heterogeneously, without a clear geographic pattern. Reducing travel burden may remain important for improving adherence and lowering socioeconomic costs, particularly for working-age women. The analysis identifies municipalities where higher local incidence and substantial population may support decentralized services focused on service optimization and patient convenience, rather than addressing systemic access gaps. The geospatial approach may serve as a tool for stakeholders to consider where logistical or convenience factors could influence decentralized breast cancer care planning.
METHODS: A geospatial analysis was conducted using national incidence data (Danish Health Data Authority, 2024) and population demographics both from 2024. Road distances from municipal centroids to the nearest out patient oncology center were estimated using a hybrid Haversine-based model (1.35 tortuosity factor). Linear regression assessed the distance-incidence relationship. Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants were excluded.
RESULTS: Breast cancer incidence was broadly and heterogeneously distributed. Correlation between incidence and travel distance was very weak and not statistically significant (R² = 0.02), suggesting that proximity to care may not strongly influence where breast cancer occurs. Six municipalities (Langeland, Hørsholm, Kerteminde, Tønder, Albertslund, and Odder) had higher than expected incidence relative to population size.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that breast cancer risk is distributed heterogeneously, without a clear geographic pattern. Reducing travel burden may remain important for improving adherence and lowering socioeconomic costs, particularly for working-age women. The analysis identifies municipalities where higher local incidence and substantial population may support decentralized services focused on service optimization and patient convenience, rather than addressing systemic access gaps. The geospatial approach may serve as a tool for stakeholders to consider where logistical or convenience factors could influence decentralized breast cancer care planning.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH109
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Oncology