Health care access and poverty do not explain the higher esophageal cancer mortality in African Americans

American Journal of Surgery
Jordan A G MillerEdward H Livingston

Abstract

Esophageal cancer mortality is increased in African Americans relative to white patients. The reasons for this are unknown but are thought to be related to inadequate access to health care secondary to a higher poverty rate in African American populations. The National Health Interview Survey database for years 1986 to 1994 were combined and linked to the National Death Index. Individuals who died from esophageal carcinoma were assessed in the combined database, thus enabling detailed analysis of their socioeconomic status, race, and health care access. Poverty was 4-fold more frequent in African Americans who died from esophageal carcinoma than whites. Despite poverty, African American patients' access to health care was good and was not statistically related to increased mortality. Although the esophageal carcinoma mortality rate is higher in African Americans than in whites, it is not clearly related to the presence of poverty or to limited health care access. The higher mortality may be related to lifestyle differences, environmental exposure, or difference in disease biology, but it is not related exclusively to socioeconomic factors.

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Citations

Dec 25, 2012·Annals of Surgical Oncology·Sha'shonda L RevelsSandra L Wong
Apr 18, 2007·International Journal of Health Services : Planning, Administration, Evaluation·John Schmitt, Ben Zipperer
Aug 5, 2016·Cancer Research and Treatment : Official Journal of Korean Cancer Association·Miso KimDae Seog Heo
Jul 22, 2021·Scientific Reports·Hayriye Verda ErkizanRobert G Wadleigh

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