A new research suggests that individuals living in rural areas have a lower likelihood of surviving cancer compared with city-dwellers.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen conducted a systematic review of 39 studies performed across the world. The findings showed that individuals dwelling in rural areas had a 5% less chance of surviving cancer compared with their city-dwelling counterparts. Total of 30 out of the 39 studies found rural people to have a clear ‘survival disadvantage’ compared with urban people.
The study highlights several reasons attributable to this discrepancy. Rural patients may not seek medical attention until their symptoms appear more serious owing to their occupational or family commitments. Rural dwellers may also find it time-consuming and expensive to travel for treatment.
According to the authors, these findings should be particularly important for Scotland, since 1 in 5 Scots live in rural areas and their population contributes significantly to the Scottish economy.
