The most comprehensive UK study ever conducted of lung cancer diagnosis has revealed significant disparities among ethnic groups. It has found evidences that people living in most deprived areas were diagnosed with lung cancer at twice the rate of those in affluent areas. The researchers from Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences found clear evidence that different ethnic groups show different patterns of lung cancer types.
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of deaths worldwide. It is responsible for over 1.8 million deaths each year. The UK also faces a significant burden of lung cancer. It accounts for over 35000 deaths from lung cancer each year. The study has been published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, which us the largest of its kind analysed health records of over 17.5 million people. It found that Bangladeshi men had highest lung cancer rates and people from most deprived areas developed lung cancer at twice the rate of those from affluent areas. Also, people from deprived areas had a 35% higher risk of being diagnosed with more aggressive forms of lung cancer.
The key findings of the study include people from Indian, Caribbean, Black African, Chinese and other Asian backgrounds were twice likely to be diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Lung cancer occured twice as frequently in most deprived areas compared to least deprived areas. Men and current smokers were most likely to be diagnosed at later stages of lung cancer as compared to women and non-smokers. It also found that Bangladeshi men had highest lung cancer rates, followed by White, Chinese and Caribbean.
The research focuses on how social factors like poverty and healthcare access affect cancer outcomes.
Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox, senior author of the study, said: “This research provides the strongest evidence yet of how your ethnic background and social circumstances affect both your risk of developing lung cancer and the type of cancer you may develop. These findings are particularly timely as the NHS rolls out its targeted lung cancer screening programme.“
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only.
Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook or Twitter today to stay informed and never miss an update!