Pancreatic cancer arises in the pancreas, a gland that produces digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin; roughly nine in ten cases develop in the enzyme-producing tissue. Using national cancer surveillance data from the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates of new cases across Arkansas counties range from 10.9 to 18.8 per 100,000 people per year over the recent 5-year period, and the statewide rate is displayed on the interactive map.
Arkansas 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 statistically significant only when an area’s interval excludes the national value.
The statewide Arkansas rate and its interval are displayed on the interactive map. At the county level, the median of county estimates is 14.8 per 100,000 people, above the national figure. Of Arkansas’s 75 counties, 60 have point estimates above 13.5, 13 have estimates below it, and 2 are equal to it. Because this comparison rests on point estimates, statements of statistical significance for individual counties are best assessed using the intervals shown on the map.
Geographic Variation in Pancreatic Cancer Rates on the Arkansas County Map
County estimates span about eight rate points, from 10.9 to 18.8 per 100,000 people. Each estimate carries a confidence interval roughly two to three points wide, so small differences between neighboring counties should not be interpreted as meaningful. Estimates for counties with smaller populations are generally less stable, and this page does not rank individual counties. The rate and interval for each county can be viewed by selecting it on the interactive map.
No consistent rural-urban pattern is evident. The median of county estimates is 14.8 for the 58 rural-classified counties and 14.9 for the 17 urban-classified counties, and both classifications appear across the full span of rates. These patterns describe populations rather than individual risk, and they cannot be attributed to specific causes using these data.
Recent Five-Year Pancreatic Cancer Trends in Arkansas
Joinpoint regression applied to the recent 5-year period classifies each county’s incidence trend as rising, falling, or stable. A stable classification means that no statistically significant change was detected, not necessarily that rates are unchanged. Among Arkansas’s 75 counties, 51 are classified as stable, 15 as rising, and 9 as falling, and none have an unavailable classification.
The national trend is classified as rising (0.8 percent), and rising classifications outnumber falling ones among Arkansas counties, although most counties show no statistically significant change. Every county with a rising classification has an estimate of at least 14.3, placing it in the upper portion of the statewide range. The statewide trend classification is available on the interactive map, where each county’s rate, interval, and trend can be examined together.
FAQ
What is the pancreatic cancer incidence rate in Arkansas?
County-level age-adjusted incidence rates in Arkansas range from 10.9 to 18.8 new cases per 100,000 people per year, with a median of county estimates of 14.8. 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 Arkansas have the highest and lowest pancreatic cancer incidence rates?
County estimates extend from 10.9 to 18.8 new cases per 100,000 people per year, and both rural-classified and urban-classified counties appear across 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 Arkansas?
At the county level, most Arkansas counties show a stable trend: 51 of 75 are stable, 15 are rising, and 9 are falling. 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.
