Oral and pharyngeal cancer risks in South Asians
Author Information
Author(s): Moles D R, Fedele S, Speight P M, Porter S R, Silva I dos Santos
Primary Institution: UCL Eastman Dental Institute
Hypothesis
How do oral and pharyngeal cancer risks compare between South Asians and non-South Asians in relation to socioeconomic deprivation?
Conclusion
South Asian females have significantly higher risks of oral and pharyngeal cancers compared to non-South Asian females, while South Asian males show a higher risk of oral cancer but not pharyngeal cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- South Asian males showed a higher relative risk of oral cancer than non-South Asian males.
- South Asian females had much higher risks of oral and pharyngeal cancers than non-South Asians.
- The incidence of both cancers increased with socioeconomic deprivation among non-South Asian males.
Takeaway
This study found that South Asian women are much more likely to get oral and throat cancers than other women in England, while South Asian men have a higher chance of getting oral cancer.
Methodology
Data from the Thames Cancer Registry was analyzed using a computer algorithm to identify South Asian individuals and assess cancer incidence rates adjusted for age and socioeconomic status.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of bias due to incomplete ethnicity data in cancer registries.
Limitations
The study was limited by misclassification of ethnicity based on names and the inability to distinguish subethnic groups within the South Asian population.
Participant Demographics
Participants included South Asians with origins in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and non-South Asians in South East England.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.11, 1.67 for oral cancer in males; 95% CI: 2.97, 4.53 for oral cancer in females
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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