Sweden breast cancer study finds regional treatment disparities

A study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and several other Swedish universities has identified significant regional variations in chemotherapy use for early-stage breast cancer. Despite following national guidelines, the application of treatment differs across Sweden's healthcare regions.

While these variations do not appear to impact survival rates for women younger than 65, they have a notable effect on older patients. Among women aged 65 and older, the ten-year mortality rate was 27.9 percent in the Stockholm-Gotland region, where chemotherapy use is higher, compared to 35.8 percent in the Western healthcare region, where use is lower. This represents a 7.9 percentage point difference in mortality.

Researchers noted that these disparities persist even after accounting for socioeconomic factors and the biological characteristics of tumors. Professor Johan Hartman suggests that local clinical traditions and decision-making processes may drive these differences, indicating that national guidelines alone may not be sufficient to ensure equitable care across the country.