Ethnic differences in cancer incidence and mortality: The Birmingham factory screening Project

Abstract

Background: There is little information on ethnic differences in the incidence of cancer and cancer mortality among adults in the UK, particularly concerning Afro-Caribbean people. Aim: To examine differences in the incidence of malignant cancer and cancer mortality rates among White European, Afro-Caribbean, and South-Asian people, and to examine baseline demographic predictors of cancer mortality. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Methods: We compared ethnic differences in the incidence of malignant cancer and cancer mortality over a mean (SD) follow-up of 19.9 (4.8) years, in relation to baseline demographic characteristics and blood pressure variables, in the 2713 participants (2090 White European men and women, 428 Afro-Caribbean men and women, and 195 South Asian men) enrolled in the Birmingham Factory Screening Project whose survival status on 31 December 2003 was known. Results: White European women hada significantly higher incidence of cancer compared to Afro-Caribbean women (p = 0.019). In addition, South Asian men had a significantly lower incidence of cancer compared to White European men (p = 0.0001) and Afro-Caribbean men (p = 0.048). The incidence of cancer was similar in White European and Afro-Caribbean men (p = 1.00). Overall incidence densities of cancer and death from cancer were 0.6% and 0.3% per 100 person-years of observation, respectively. Age, ethnicity, and smoking status were independent predictors of both cancer incidence and cancer mortality. Discussion: The incidence of, and death from, cancer are both lower in minority ethnic groups in the UK, than in their White European counterparts. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved.