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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Lung Cancer | Research article

Lung cancer incidence differences in migrant men in Belgium, 2004–2013: histology-specific analyses

Authors: Katrien Vanthomme, Michael Rosskamp, Harlinde De Schutter, Hadewijch Vandenheede

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Immigrants make up an important share of European populations which has led to a growing interest in research on migrants’ health. Many studies have assessed migrants’ cancer mortality patterns, yet few have studied incidence differences. This paper will probe into histology-specific lung cancer incidence by migrant origin aiming to enhance the knowledge on lung cancer aetiology and different risk patterns among population groups.

Methods

We used data on all lung cancer diagnoses during 2004–2013 delivered by the Belgian Cancer Registry individually linked with the 2001 Belgian Census and the Crossroads Bank for Social Security. Absolute and relative inequalities in overall and histology-specific lung cancer incidence have been calculated for first-generation Italian, Turkish and Moroccan migrant men aged 50–74 years compared to native Belgian men.

Results

Moroccan men seemed to be the most advantaged group. Both in absolute and relative terms they consistently had lower overall and histology-specific lung cancer incidence rates compared with native Belgian men, albeit less clear for adenocarcinoma. Turkish men only showed lower overall lung cancer incidence when adjusting for education. On the contrary, Italian men had higher incidence for overall lung cancer and squamous cell carcinoma, which was explained by adjusting for education.

Conclusions

Smoking habits are likely to explain the results for Moroccan men who had lower incidence for smoking-related histologies. The full aetiology for adenocarcinoma is still unknown, yet the higher incidence among Italian men could point to differences in occupational exposures, e.g. to carcinogenic radon while working in the mines.

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Title: Lung cancer incidence differences in migrant men in Belgium, 2004–2013: histology-specific analyses
Authors: Katrien Vanthomme
Michael Rosskamp
Harlinde De Schutter
Hadewijch Vandenheede
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08038-6

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