Pancreatic cancer arises in the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin. Advancing age, tobacco use, long-standing diabetes, chronic pancreatic inflammation, and a family history of the disease are established risk factors, and the cancer remains a significant public-health concern in the United States. Based on national cancer surveillance data from the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, county-level estimates of new cases in Alabama range from 11.3 to 17.9 per 100,000 people per year, while the statewide rate for the recent 5-year period is shown on the interactive map. Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population, which removes differences in population age structure so that areas with older or younger residents can be compared fairly.
Alabama Pancreatic Cancer Rates Compared to National Benchmarks
The national age-adjusted incidence rate of pancreatic cancer over the recent 5-year period is 13.5 new cases per 100,000 people per year, with a 95% confidence interval of 13.4 to 13.6. A confidence interval is the range within which the true rate is likely to lie, and a narrower interval indicates a more precise estimate. A difference from the national rate is described as statistically significant only when an area’s interval excludes 13.5.
The statewide Alabama rate and its interval are displayed on the interactive map. County-level estimates cluster near the national figure, with a median of county estimates of 13.6 per 100,000 people. Of Alabama’s 67 counties, 10 have rates statistically significantly higher than the national rate and 9 have rates statistically significantly lower. The remaining 48 are not statistically different from it.
Geographic Variation in Pancreatic Cancer Rates on the Alabama County Map
County estimates span 11.3 to 17.9 per 100,000 people, but about two-thirds of counties fall between 12.5 and 14.5. The 95% confidence intervals around individual county rates cover roughly two rate points, so modest differences between neighboring counties should not be interpreted as meaningful. Counties with smaller populations generally yield less stable estimates, and this page does not rank individual counties. Each county’s rate and interval can be viewed by selecting it on the interactive map.
No consistent rural-urban pattern is evident. The median of county estimates is nearly identical for rural-classified counties (13.7) and urban-classified counties (13.6), and both classifications appear at the upper and lower ends of the range. Variation between areas may be associated with differences in population characteristics such as tobacco use and diabetes prevalence, although these data cannot attribute any county’s rate to a specific cause.
Recent Five-Year Pancreatic Cancer Trends in Alabama
Joinpoint regression applied to the recent 5-year period classifies each county’s incidence trend as rising, falling, or stable. A stable classification indicates that no statistically significant change was detected, not necessarily that rates are unchanged. Among Alabama’s 67 counties, 43 are classified as stable, 15 as falling, and 9 as rising, and none has an unavailable classification.
The national trend is classified as rising (0.8 percent). In Alabama, falling classifications outnumber rising ones at the county level, so the state’s county pattern does not uniformly mirror the national direction. Falling classifications are somewhat more common among urban-classified counties (10 of 31) than rural-classified counties (5 of 36), although the small numbers involved call for caution. The statewide trend classification is displayed on the interactive map, which lets readers examine each county’s rate, interval, and trend in greater detail.
FAQ
What is the pancreatic cancer incidence rate in Alabama?
County-level age-adjusted incidence rates in Alabama range from 11.3 to 17.9 new cases per 100,000 people per year, with a median of county estimates of 13.6. The statewide rate and its 95% confidence interval are displayed on the interactive map alongside the national rate of 13.5. All rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.
Which counties in Alabama have the highest and lowest pancreatic cancer incidence rates?
County estimates extend from 11.3 to 17.9 new cases per 100,000 people per year, and both rural-classified and urban-classified counties appear at each end of that range. Because estimates for smaller counties are less stable, this page does not rank individual counties. The interactive map shows every county’s rate and confidence interval.
Are pancreatic cancer incidence rates rising or falling in Alabama?
Most Alabama counties show a stable five-year trend: 43 of 67 are stable, 15 are falling, and 9 are rising. The statewide trend classification is displayed on the interactive map. Nationally, the trend is classified as rising.
This article was reviewed for scientific accuracy by Dr. Mosayeb Rostamian. The content is based on current evidence in epidemiology and infectious diseases and is intended for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional health consultation.
