Comparing Age at Cancer Diagnosis between Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Whites in the United States

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Oct;30(10):1904-1912. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0389. Epub 2021 Jul 28.

Abstract

Background: Population age structure may confound the comparison of age at cancer diagnosis across racial/ethnic groups. We compared age at cancer diagnosis for U.S. Hispanics, a population that is younger on average, and non-Hispanic whites (NHW), before and after adjustment for the age structure of the source population.

Methods: We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data from 18 U.S. regions in 2015 for 34 cancer sites to calculate crude and adjusted (using age- and sex-specific weights) mean ages at diagnosis. Differences in age at diagnosis comparing Hispanics to NHWs (δ) were assessed using independent sample t tests.

Results: Crude mean ages at diagnosis were lower among Hispanic males and females for all sites combined and for most cancer sites. After age-adjustment, Hispanic (vs. NHW) males remained younger on average at diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia [δ = -6.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), -8.1 to -4.1 years], testicular cancer (δ =-4.7; 95% CI, -5.4 to -4.0), Kaposi sarcoma (δ =-3.6; 95% CI,-6.3 to -0.8), mesothelioma (δ =-3.0; 95% CI,-4.3 to -1.7), and anal cancer (δ =-2.4; 95% CI, -3.9 to -0.8), and older at diagnosis of gallbladder cancer (δ = +3.8; 95% CI, 1.8 to 5.7) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (δ = +7.5; 95% CI, 5.7 to 9.4), and Hispanic (vs. NHW) females remained younger at diagnosis of mesothelioma (δ = -3.7; 95% CI, -6.7 to -0.7) and gallbladder cancer (δ = -3.0; 95% CI, -4.3 to -1.7) and older at diagnosis of skin cancer (δ = +3.8; 95% CI, 3.1 to 4.5), cervical cancer (δ = +4.1; 95% CI, 3.3 to 4.8), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (δ = +7.0; 95% CI, 5.0 to 9.1).

Conclusions: On average, Hispanics are diagnosed with cancer at younger ages than NHWs; however, for many cancers these differences reflect the younger age structure in Hispanics.

Impact: Population age structure should be considered when comparing age at cancer diagnosis across racial/ethnic groups.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Population Surveillance
  • SEER Program / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data