The Burden of Cancer in Asian Americans: A Report of National Mortality Trends by Asian Ethnicity

Abstract

BACKGROUND Asian Americans (AAs) are the fastest growing U.S. population, and when properly distinguished by their ethnic origins, exhibit substantial heterogeneity in socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and health outcomes. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US, yet trends and current patterns in the mortality burden of cancer among AA ethnic groups have not been documented. METHODS We report age-adjusted rates, standardized mortality ratios, and modeled trends in cancer-related mortality in the following Asian American (AA) ethnicities: Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese, from 2003–2011, with non-Hispanic whites (NHW) as the reference population. RESULTS For most cancer sites, AAs had lower cancer mortality than NHWs, however, mortality patterns were heterogeneous across Asian American ethnicities. Stomach and liver cancer mortality was very high, particularly among Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese, for whom these two cancer types combined accounted for 15–25% of cancer deaths, but less than 5% of cancer deaths in NHWs. In AA women, lung cancer was a leading cause of death but (unlike males and NHW females) rates did not decline over the study period. CONCLUSIONS Ethnicity-specific analyses are critical to understanding the national burden of cancer among the heterogeneous AA population. IMPACT Our findings highlight the need for disaggregated reporting of cancer statistics in AAs, and warrant consideration of tailored screening programs for liver and gastric cancers.

Can AI Help Reduce Disparities in General Medical and Mental Health Care?

“…40,41 Verifying known clinical trends, Asian patients have the highest topic enrichment values for cancer (0.036), followed by white patients (0.021), other patients (0.016), and black and Hispanic patients (0.015). 42 Black patients have the highest topic enrichment values for kidney problems (0.061), followed by Hispanic patients (0.027), Asian patients (0.022), white patients (0.015), and other patients (0.014). 42 Hispanic patients have the highest topic enrichment values for liver concerns (0.034), followed by other patients (0.024), Asian patients (0.023), white patients (0.019), and black patients (0.014).…”

Disparities in mortality for chronic liver disease among Asian subpopulations in the United States from 2007 to 2016

“…6 While these data are scant, a small number of studies have examined the trends in the mortality rates among Asian sub-groups with results demonstrating a remarkable heterogeneity in the leading causes of death (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stroke) between Asian American subgroups. 5,6 However, aetiology-specific mortality rates in the setting of chronic liver disease among Asian subgroups in the United States on a national level have not been established and have been a limiting factor in improving access to care and addressing health disparities. Several regional studies on state and city levels have attempted to describe the prevalence and patterns of aetiology-based chronic liver disease in Asian subgroups in the United States.…”

“…3 As a single group, Asian Americans showed remarkable heterogeneity, reflective of different countries of origin, cultural diversity, educational attainment, socio-economic status, immigration status, lifestyle patterns, insurance coverage, and accessibility of health services. 4,5 Therefore, aggregating Asian Americans into a single group can mask important differences in disease burden and mortality rates. A few studies have described national trends in the health and mortality rates of Asians, [6][7][8] but overall mortality is lower in Asian Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites.…”

Cancer mortality rates vary among specific Asian American ethnic groups

“…Asian Americans (AAs) are highly diverse in terms of health behaviors and outcomes, and the authors of a new report have concluded that this population would benefit from cancer prevention and screening efforts tailored to specific and distinct Asian ethnic subgroups …”