Research from the University of Oxford in the UK found that 'ethnic background and social circumstances' are important factors for cancer risk. British Bangladeshi men in England have the highest rates of lung cancer, according to a study showing distinct trends in how the disease affects different communities in the country.
Researchers at the University of Oxford analyzed the medical records of seven and a half million people and 84,000 cases of lung cancer, uncovering disparities that extend beyond smoking.
The findings from Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences coincide with the rollout of a lung health screening program across England, which aims to reach 40 per cent by March next year and 100 per cent by 2030.
Bangladeshi men have the highest rates of lung cancer, followed by white, Chinese and Caribbean men, new research shows.
Women and men of Indian, Caribbean, Black African, Chinese and other Asian backgrounds were twice as likely to be diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, one of the most common types of lung cancer, said the paper, entitled Ethnic Disparities in Lung Cancer Incidence and Differences. Diagnostic features: a population-based cohort study in England, published in Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
The study, which spanned 2005 to 2019, found that disparities in lung cancer may be influenced by genetic predisposition and class as well as habits.
Dr. leading the research. Daniel Xu-Hsuan Chen said: 'It's not just about smoking: our research shows that ethnic background and social circumstances play an important role in both cancer risk and how the disease develops.'
Among those who developed lung cancer, men from deprived areas had a 35 per cent higher risk of developing a more aggressive form. Studies have shown that men and current smokers are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage than women and non-smokers.
In June last year, the then Conservative government announced the rollout of a targeted lung cancer screening program across England aimed at early detection and prevention. It involves people aged 55 to 74, registered with a GP and with a known history of smoking, assessed and invited for screening and smoking cessation services, aiming to save thousands of lives and reduce the cost of end-stage medical care.
