European Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 9, Issue 6, 2000, Pages 409-416

Migration, socio-economic status and the risk of colorectal cancer in Italy (Article)

Pisa F.E. , Barbone F.* , Montella M. , Talamini R. , La Vecchia C. , Franceschi S.
  • a Cattedra di Igiene, DPMSC, University of Udine, Via Colugna, 40-33100 Udine, Italy
  • b Cattedra di Igiene, DPMSC, University of Udine, Via Colugna, 40-33100 Udine, Italy
  • c Servizio di Epidemiologia, Istituto Tumori Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy
  • d Epidemiology Unit, Aviano Cancer Center, Aviano (PN), Italy
  • e Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
  • f Epidemiology Unit, Aviano Cancer Center, Aviano (PN), Italy

Abstract

To assess how the risk of cancer of the colon and rectum relates to place of birth and socio-economic status, we analysed data from an Italian case-control study. Data included 1225 cases with a recent diagnosis of cancer of the colon (ages 19-74 years), 728 cases of cancer of the rectum (ages 23-74 years) and 4154 controls (ages 19-74 years), frequency-matched with cases by age and catchment area and admitted to hospitals for a wide spectrum of acute non-neoplastic conditions. Compared with residents born in the north of Italy, migrants from the centre and south had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.9) for colon cancer and OR of 0.9 (95% CI 0.7-1.2) for cancer of the rectum. The inverse association of migration with colon cancer was stronger among women (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4-0.8) than among men (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6-1.1), and was independent of education and occupation. Among migrants, the direct association between education and colon cancer risk was less clear than among non-migrants. In conclusion, place of origin played an independent role in colon cancer aetiology. Results on rectal cancer were less clear, although in the same direction. Among migrants, those less susceptible to behavioural changes (e.g. women) retained most of the benefit associated with their place of origin. © 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Author Keywords

Socio-economic status Migration Colorectal cancer

Index Keywords

education birth place preference human sex difference middle aged Odds Ratio colorectal cancer controlled study Confidence Intervals priority journal cancer risk Colorectal Neoplasms Aged Logistic Models Residence Characteristics social status Humans male occupation female Socioeconomic Factors Risk Factors Behavior Article major clinical study adult migration Sex Factors Emigration and Immigration Italy Case-Control Studies
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0034500456&doi=10.1097%2f00008469-200012000-00006&partnerID=40&md5=ff6c7b8d40931c93e67acb0151aac29a
DOI: 10.1097/00008469-200012000-00006
ISSN: 09598278
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English