NIU Builds Cancer Mortality Index for Illinois Research
Northern Illinois University researchers created a tool that tracks cancer fatality patterns across populations using publicly available federal data.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cancer
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Researchers at Northern Illinois University developed a cancer mortality index that measures cancer fatalities in populations. The team analyzed national cancer mortality trends from 2004-2008 compared with 2014-2018 to identify hot spots and cold spots.
Why it matters
Cancer is one of the top five leading causes of death in the United States, and the index aims to show where mortality rates are changing most slowly or most quickly. Identifying these areas could help public health officials focus resources on communities facing the greatest challenges.
The analysis compares cancer mortality trend data from 2004-2008 with 2014-2018 and ranks five risk factors for hot spots, including preventable hospital stays and being aged 65 or older. Some environmental factors could not be included because sufficient data was unavailable.
The players
Northern Illinois University (NIU)
A public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, whose researchers developed the cancer mortality index.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The U.S. federal public health agency whose publicly published data sets were used to build the index.
The details
The index combines publicly published data on access to care, social and demographic factors, and environmental factors, drawing largely on CDC data sets. Researchers classified areas as hot spots, where mortality rates decrease more slowly, or cold spots, where rates decrease more quickly.
Timeline
2004-2008: Earlier cancer mortality trend period analyzed.
2014-2018: Later cancer mortality trend period analyzed.
November 5, 2026: Article published about the NIU cancer mortality index.
Health Landscape
The index builds on CDC publicly published data sets, which have long been used to track population mortality in the United States. By layering access-to-care and social factors onto mortality trends, the project moves beyond counting deaths toward explaining where cancer outcomes are changing most slowly.
Factors such as access to care, transportation, and income identified by the index may shape where residents can get timely cancer screening and treatment. The index's factors may also contribute to other diseases such as diabetes or heart disease.
The takeaway
Mortality outcomes reflect more than medical care alone; transportation, income, mental health, and preventable hospital stays appear among the leading factors tied to changing cancer death rates. Understanding these local conditions can help communities target prevention and access efforts.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Cancer reporting on how population factors shape mortality outcomes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Northern Star.
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