Interpreting educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality: statistical significance versus public health relevance

I read with interest the recent study by Tanaka et al 1 examining ]educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality in Japan. The authors provide nationwide census-linked analyses across 23 cancer sites using age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs), the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) and the Slope Index of Inequality (SII). Their work highlights the scale and complexity of educational disparities in cancer outcomes. I wish to extend their findings by emphasising the distinction between relative and absolute measures of inequality and its implications for public health prioritisation.