A study reveals Asian Americans have a higher chance of developing pancreatic cancer compared to other ethnic groups, and a rising incidence-based mortality rates. The study focuses on Asian American patients due to the underreported information of the Asian community and pancreatic cancer in the country.
Researchers studied patients, who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, from 1992 to 2015. They found that the incidence-based mortality rate of these patients increased by 4.5% per year year. Researchers reviewed 5,814 diagnosed patients; over the course of the study, 5,075 patients died and were included in the incidence-based mortality analysis.
The study which was published in the Annals of Gastroenterology shows rates are higher in males and in people over the age of 60. However, all rates show an increase throughout age and sex subgroups. Risk factors include low socioeconomic status, healthcare access, obesity, diabetes, and smoking. Modifiable risk factors are smoking, alcohol, weight, and diabetes.
Researchers of the study suggest that despite the “positive health stereotype attributed to American Asians,” the rising rates might attribute to risk factors common to Asian Americans like obesity and smoking. They say obesity is now a pandemic among Asian communities. Although smoking prevalence has decreased over the years, studies show there are still more cigarettes being smoked daily by Asians.
As one of the most common cancers, pancreatic cancer accounts for 7% of cancer deaths in America, according to the American Cancer Society.
Iowa and Hawaiʻi have the highest incidence rates among Asian Americans, while Michigan has the lowest.
The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center released a study in 2019 that shows Japanese Americans and Native Hawaiians have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer compared to other Asian and Pacific Islander groups.
The University of Hawaiʻi study shows that for Native Hawaiians, diabetes has the greatest influence on positive cases for pancreatic cancer. For Japanese Americans, it is linked to family-history.
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Link to photos: American cancer society building (courtesy of: Matthew R. Lee)
Slug: A study shows increasing risks and increasing mortality rates of pancreatic cancer among asian american groups
