KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary

September 19, 1997

Contact: Don Brown

(785) 296-1529

KDHE Completes Analysis of Cancer Rates in Areas of Sedgwick County

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Office of Epidemiologic Services has completed a statistical analysis of cancer incidence and cancer deaths in certain areas of Sedgwick County. The analysis shows no significant elevation in cancer rates for Sedgwick County as a whole or for any smaller region for which data was analyzed.

Governor Bill Graves and KDHE Secretary Gary R. Mitchell requested the analysis in response to concerns about possible elevated cancer death rates in northeast Sedgwick County. Those concerns stemmed from a cancer death rate map that is included in a draft report of Sedgwick County's Community Health Assessment Process.

KDHE Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Tim Monroe conducted a detailed review of the cancer death data, and sought out additional information about cancers reported to the State Cancer Registry. Dr. Monroe also obtained updated population information for the areas of the county in question. Based on this detailed analysis, Dr. Monroe concluded, "We do not observe any evidence of significant increases in the rates of cancer incidence or cancer death in the Valley Center zipcode or in Sedgwick County as a whole."

One of the major factors leading to a discrepancy in cancer rate information at the zipcode level is determining the population of the zipcode. Authors of the Sedgwick County Community Health Assessment used 1990 U.S. Census data showing zipcode 67147 with a population of 1,224. The U.S.Census Geography Division indicates that zipcode-level data from the Census can be unreliable due to potential error in the methodology and zipcode boundary information. The Valley Center Post Office indicates there are currently 2,817 delivery sites and 200 rented boxes within the 67147 zipcode. Additionally, CACI Marketing Systems, a national population statistical resource, places that zipcode's 1990 population at 6,965. In light of this additional information, KDHE used the higher population number to more accurately reflect cancer rates in the Valley Center zipcode.