Population‐based evaluation of disparities in stomach cancer by nativity among Asian and Hispanic populations in California, 2011–2015

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundStomach cancer incidence presents significant racial/ethnic disparities among racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States, particularly among Asian and Hispanic immigrant populations. However, population‐based evaluation of disparities by nativity has been scarce because of the lack of nativity‐specific population denominators, especially for disaggregated Asian subgroups. Population‐based stomach cancer incidence and tumor characteristics by detailed race/ethnicity and nativity were examined.MethodsAnnual age‐adjusted incidence rates were calculated by race/ethnicity, sex, and nativity and tumor characteristics, such as stage and anatomic subsite, were evaluated using the 2011–2015 California Cancer Registry data. For Hispanic and Asian populations, nativity‐specific population counts were estimated using the US Census and the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample data.ResultsDuring 2011–2015 in California, 14,198 patients were diagnosed with stomach cancer. Annual age‐adjusted incidence rates were higher among foreign‐born individuals than their US‐born counterparts. The difference was modest among Hispanics (∼1.3‐fold) but larger (∼2‐ to 3‐fold) among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Americans. The highest incidence was observed for foreign‐born Korean and Japanese Americans (33 and 33 per 100,000 for men; 15 and 12 per 100,000 for women, respectively). The proportion of localized stage disease was highest among foreign‐born Korean Americans (44%); a similar proportion was observed among US‐born Korean Americans, although numbers were limited. For other Asians and Hispanics, the localized stage proportion was generally lower among foreign‐born than US‐born individuals and lowest among foreign‐born Japanese Americans (23%).ConclusionsNativity‐specific investigation with disaggregated racial/ethnic groups identified substantial stomach cancer disparities among foreign‐born immigrant populations.