Early detection of cancer is associated with a more favorable prognosis. However, information for Asian subgroups on survival following cancers amenable to routine screening remains limited. We have previously shown that survival following prostate, colon/rectum, and breast cancer differed among Chinese, Japanese, and Filipinos, such that reporting statistics for the three groups combined would have masked survival deficits in specific subgroups. This study explored whether sociodemographic and clinical factors account for these ethnic differences in mortality. Subjects were all Chinese, Japanese, and Filipinos diagnosed with prostate, colon/rectum, or breast cancer during the years 1988-1994, and reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Follow-up was performed through 1997. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compute adjusted relative risks (RR) of death and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Preliminary results showed that after adjusting for patient age and stage at diagnosis, Filipino males continued to experience higher mortality rates following prostate (RR=1.4, 95% CI=1.0, 1.8) and colorectal (RR=1.3, 95% CI=1.1, 1.6) cancers than Chinese, while Japanese had mortality rates similar to Chinese. Among females, Japanese were less likely to die of breast cancer than Chinese (RR=0.7, 95% CI=0.5, 0.9), while Filipinas had mortality rates similar to Chinese. Adjusted mortality rates for colorectal cancer were similar among females in the three groups. Further analysis will examine the effect of census-derived socioeconomic status measures on ethnic differences in mortality. These data reinforce the heterogeneity within Asians; health statistics should be reported for disaggregated subgroups whenever possible.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. understand ethnic patterns in survival following three screen-able cancers; 2. understand the relative contributions of certain socioeconomic and clinical factors to these patterns
Keywords: Asian Americans, Cancer
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.