Survival of non-Western first generations immigrants with stomach cancer in North East Netherlands

Abstract

Background:Isolated groups, such as first generation non-Western immigrants, are at risk for suboptimal utilisation of the health care system resulting in a worse outcome.Methods:From 1989 to 2007, all patients with stomach cancer were selected from the Comprehensive Cancer Centre North-East cancer registry. Associations between country of birth and patient, tumour and treatment characteristics were determined using 2 analysis. Relative survival analysis was used to estimate relative excess risk of dying according to country of birth (non-Western vs Western).Results:After adjusting for confounding factors (patient, tumour and treatment related), the risk of dying was lower for first generation non-Western immigrants (relative excess risk 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.70) compared with Western patients.Conclusion: Although the better survival of first generation non-Western immigrants with stomach cancer remains unexplained, it argues against accessibility problems within the Dutch health care system. © 2011 Cancer Research UK All rights reserved.