Increased mortality among Hispanic testis cancer patients independent of neighborhood socioeconomic status: a SEER study

J Immigr Minor Health. 2011 Oct;13(5):818-24. doi: 10.1007/s10903-010-9419-4.

Abstract

Testis cancer-specific survival (CSS) varies by Hispanic ethnicity. Our goal was to assess whether neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) accounts for elevated testis CSS among Hispanic patients. We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for Hispanic (HW) and Non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients. Multivariate Cox regression analyses evaluated Hispanic ethnicity's impact on tCSS while adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic status (education and income levels). HWs constituted 14.3% of the 26,258 patients in the cohort. Neighborhood SES factors such as county income (P < 0.001) and education level (P < 0.001) were significant predictors of testis cancer-specific survival (tCSS). Controlling for SES and other variables, Hispanic ethnicity remained a significant predictor of tCSS. Compared to NHWs, HWs experienced a 41% greater cancer-specific mortality (HR: 1.406, 95% CI: 1.178-1.678, P < 0.001). The mechanism underlying the increased testis cancer mortality experienced by Hispanic patients remains unknown.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • SEER Program*
  • Social Class*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / mortality*
  • United States / epidemiology