Primary malignant brain tumor incidence and Medicaid enrollment.

Abstract

The relationship between socioeconomic status and health care disparities in the incidence of brain tumors is unclear. To identify the associations between age, sex, and Medicaid enrollment and the incidence of primary malignant brain tumors in Michigan in 1996 and 1997. Records were obtained from the Michigan Cancer Surveillance Program on the 1,006 incident cases during this period and cross-checked with Medicaid enrollment files. Persons enrolled in Medicaid were more likely than non-enrolled persons to develop a malignant brain tumor of any type, a glioblastoma multiforme, and an astrocytoma for certain subgroups. In addition, incidence rates for malignant brain tumors in persons enrolled in Medicaid peaked at a younger age. Sociodemographic status may be associated with cerebral malignancy and should be considered when targeting treatment and educational interventions at persons at risk.