Migration and cancer mortality among Colombian migrants in the USA: a death certification study

Abstract

We aim to compare cancer mortality rates of USA Colombian migrants (USA Colombians) to Colombians in their country of origin (CO Colombians). Using Colombian national mortality data and data on cancer deaths among Colombians residing in the states of California, Florida, and New York (USA Colombians) for the period 2008-2012, we estimated sex-specific and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), expressed per 100,000 persons. For comparisons between the two populations before and after adjustment for educational level, negative binomial regression models were used to compute Mortality Rate Ratios (MRR). CO Colombians had higher cancer mortality rates compared with USA Colombians (male MRR 1.4 [95%CI: 1.2-1.5], female MRR 1.5 [95%CI: 1.3-1.7]). These differences persisted for most cancers even after adjustment for education. CO Colombians had significantly higher mortality from gastric (MRR 2.6 in males and 2.8 in females) and cervical cancer (MRR 5.0) compared with US Colombians. Educational inequalities in cancer mortality were more pronounced among CO Colombians than among USA Colombians. Lower cancer mortality observed among USA Colombians cannot be attributed to differences in education, an indicator of socio-economic status. Rather, it is likely due to better access to preventive and curative healthcare in the USA.