Disparities in cervical cancer survival among Asian-American women

Abstract

Purpose We compared overall survival and influencing factors between Asian American women as a whole and by subgroup with white women with cervical cancer. Methods Cervical cancer data were from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry; socioeconomic information was from the Area Health Resource File. We used standard tests to compare characteristics between groups; the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test to assess overall survival and compare it between groups; and Cox proportional hazards models to determine the effect of race and other covariates on overall survival (with/without age-stratification). Results Being 3.3 years older than white women at diagnosis (p<0.001), Asian American women were more likely to be in a spousal relationship, had more progressive disease, and were better off socioeconomically. Women of Filipino, Japanese, and Korean origin had similar clinical characteristics compared with white women. Asian American women had higher 36- and 60-month survival rates (p=0.004 and p=0.013, respectively), higher overall survival rates (p=0.049), and longer overall survival durations after adjusting for age and other covariates (hazard ratio=0.77, 95% confidence interval: 0.68–0.86). Overall survival differed across age strata between the two racial groups. With the exception of women of Japanese or Korean origin, Asian American women grouped by geographic origin had better overall survival than white women. Conclusions Although Asian American women, except those of Japanese or Korean origin, had better overall survival than white women, their older age at cervical cancer diagnosis suggests that they have less access to screening programs.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening and Outcomes

“…A recent nationwide analysis in the UK showed that women aged 65 years or older accounted for 20% of incident cases and half of all cervical cancer-related deaths [28,29,30]. Similar findings were reported in the USA [31].…”

Race- and Age-Related Disparities in Cervical Cancer Mortality

“…Race was defined as Black or non-Black race, given previous data suggesting similar survival rates for Hispanic and Asian patients compared with White patients. 13,14 Optimal treatment was defined as receipt of surgery or radiation therapy (RT), including brachytherapy for patients with stage IA-IB1 or IIA1 disease. For stage IB2, IIA2, or IIB-IVA or nodepositive disease, optimal treatment was defined as receipt of RT and chemotherapy.…”

Barriers and Challenges to Cervical Cancer Screening, Follow.Up, and Prevention Measures among Korean Immigrant Women in Hawaii

“…[ 7 ] Despite these efforts, cervical cancer is still the leading cause of death among many Asian Americans, including KAIs. [ 8 ] Immigrants are generally the most vulnerable population in the context of health-care access and public health services. [ 9 ] Many KAIs are unable to take advantage of medical privileges due to cultural and linguistic barriers, limited access to high-quality health services, and providers' limited knowledge of KAI patients and their culture.…”