D A Lane1, G Y H Lip, D G Beevers. 1. University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham, UK. deirdre.lane@swbh.nhs.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is little information on ethnic differences in the incidence of cancer and cancer mortality among adults in the UK, particularly concerning Afro-Caribbean people. AIM: To examine differences in the incidence of malignant cancer and cancer mortality rates among White European, Afro-Caribbean, and South-Asian people, and to examine baseline demographic predictors of cancer mortality. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: We compared ethnic differences in the incidence of malignant cancer and cancer mortality over a mean (SD) follow-up of 19.9 (4.8) years, in relation to baseline demographic characteristics and blood pressure variables, in the 2713 participants (2090 White European men and women, 428 Afro-Caribbean men and women, and 195 South Asian men) enrolled in the Birmingham Factory Screening Project whose survival status on 31 December 2003 was known. RESULTS: White European women had a significantly higher incidence of cancer compared to Afro-Caribbean women (p=0.019). In addition, South Asian men had a significantly lower incidence of cancer compared to White European men (p<0.0001) and Afro-Caribbean men (p=0.048). The incidence of cancer was similar in White European and Afro-Caribbean men (p=1.00). Overall incidence densities of cancer and death from cancer were 0.6% and 0.3% per 100 person-years of observation, respectively. Age, ethnicity, and smoking status were independent predictors of both cancer incidence and cancer mortality. DISCUSSION: The incidence of, and death from, cancer are both lower in minority ethnic groups in the UK, than in their White European counterparts.
BACKGROUND: There is little information on ethnic differences in the incidence of cancer and cancer mortality among adults in the UK, particularly concerning Afro-Caribbean people. AIM: To examine differences in the incidence of malignant cancer and cancer mortality rates among White European, Afro-Caribbean, and South-Asian people, and to examine baseline demographic predictors of cancer mortality. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: We compared ethnic differences in the incidence of malignant cancer and cancer mortality over a mean (SD) follow-up of 19.9 (4.8) years, in relation to baseline demographic characteristics and blood pressure variables, in the 2713 participants (2090 White European men and women, 428 Afro-Caribbean men and women, and 195 South Asian men) enrolled in the Birmingham Factory Screening Project whose survival status on 31 December 2003 was known. RESULTS: White European women had a significantly higher incidence of cancer compared to Afro-Caribbean women (p=0.019). In addition, South Asian men had a significantly lower incidence of cancer compared to White European men (p<0.0001) and Afro-Caribbean men (p=0.048). The incidence of cancer was similar in White European and Afro-Caribbean men (p=1.00). Overall incidence densities of cancer and death from cancer were 0.6% and 0.3% per 100 person-years of observation, respectively. Age, ethnicity, and smoking status were independent predictors of both cancer incidence and cancer mortality. DISCUSSION: The incidence of, and death from, cancer are both lower in minority ethnic groups in the UK, than in their White European counterparts.
Authors: M van Laar; P A McKinney; R C Parslow; A Glaser; S E Kinsey; I J Lewis; S V Picton; M Richards; G Shenton; D Stark; P Norman; R G Feltbower Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2010-09-14 Impact factor: 7.640