Time trends and occupational differences in cancer of the testis in New Zealand

Abstract

The findings are reported from a New Zealand Cancer Registry-based case-control study involving 427 male patients with testicular cancer registered during the period 1979-1983 and aged 20 years or more at time of registration. Controls were also males chosen from the Cancer Registry with two controls per case, matched on age and year of registration. It was found that, as in other countries, persons in the upper social class groupings were at increased risk of testicular cancer. Persons in professional occupations were also at increased risk, but the odds ratio of 1.09 was much smaller than found in other studies. The previously reported excess risks for farmers, food and beverage workers, forestry workers, and pulp and paper workers were not supported by the New Zealand data. On the other hand, the previously reported excess risk for sales and service workers including members of the armed forces was supported, to some extent, by the New Zealand data with odds ratios of 1.38 (95% confidence limits 0.98-1.93) and 2.15 (95% confidence limits 0.80-5.79), respectively. Other groups with elevated risk include: physicians (odds ratio = 6.50, 95% confidence limits 1.29-32.6); production supervisors (odds ratio = 2.85,95% confidence limits 1.00-8.13); and motor vehicle mechanics (odds ratio = 2.02, 95% confidence limits 0.93-4.42). However, the New Zealand data generally does not suggest that occupational factors (or lifestyle factors associated with occupation) are of major direct importance in the etiology of testicular cancer. The incidence of testicular cancer has a bimodal age distribution in New Zealand and has risen markedly during the period 1948-1979. The New Zealand data differed from patterns observed in other countries in that the relative increase was approximately uniform across age groups rather than being stronger in the younger age groups.

Increased incidence of germ cell testicular cancer in New Zealand Maoris

“…Other studies have suggested this difference may exist, but looked at shorter time periods and did not demonstrate statistical significance (Kolonel et al, 1982;McCredie et al, 1990 (Table II). Other studies (Davies, 1981) including a New Zealand study (Pearce et al, 1987) have shown a higher incidence of this malignancy in people of higher socio-economic status however this would not explain our findings as generally Maoris have lower socio-economic status than their White counterparts (Pomare et al, 1988).…”

“…The worldwide incidence has steadily increased since the beginning of this century (Senturia, 1987) and in New Zealand this trend is continuing (Pearce et al, 1987).…”

Do Testicular Seminoma and Nonseminoma Share the Same Etiology? Evidence from an Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Incidence Trends in Eight European Countries

“…In a U.K. report, a history of sexually transmitted disease and participation in certain sports was linked to a higher risk of nonseminoma cancers (21). The effect of socioeconomic status on testicular cancer is not conclusive, although men belonging to higher socioeconomic groups are often reported to be higher risk of testicular cancer relative to less-privileged groups (49,50). As with other variables, the risk estimates tend not, however, to be consistent by subtype (50).…”

International patterns and trends in testis cancer incidence

“…High socioeconomic status has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of testis cancer. 26,27 Given the improvements in the standard of living for many populations over the past century, it is possible that some factors accompanying these changes in lifestyle is responsible for the increase in incidence. Increased maternal age and low parity have been suggested to be risk factors for testis cancer in some studies [28][29][30] and have also increased in prevalence in many populations over the past half-century.…”