European Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 27, Issue 12, 2012, Pages 915-921

Cancer mortality patterns among Turkish immigrants in four European countries and in Turkey (Article)

Spallek J.* , Arnold M. , Razum O. , Juel K. , Rey G. , Deboosere P. , Mackenbach J.P. , Kunst A.E.
  • a Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, PO Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
  • b Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, PO Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany, Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • c Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, PO Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
  • d National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 2. Sal, 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark
  • e INSERM CépiDc, 80 Rue du Général Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre cedex, France
  • f Interface Demography, Department of Social Research, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 5, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
  • g Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • h Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The aim of this study on cancer mortality among Turkish immigrants, for the first time, traditional comparisons in migrant health research have been extended simultaneously in two ways. First, comparisons were made to cancer mortality from the immigrants' country of origin and second, cancer mortality among Turkish immigrants across four host countries (Belgium, Denmark, France and the Netherlands) was compared. Population-based cancer mortality data from these countries were included. Age-standardized mortality rates were computed for the local-born and Turkish population of each country. Relative differences in cancer mortality were examined by fitting country-specific Poisson regression models. Globocan data on cancer mortality in Turkey from 2008 were used in order to compare mortality rates of Turkish immigrants with those from their country of origin. Turkish immigrants had lower all-cancer mortality than the local-born populations of their host countries, and mortality levels comparable to all-cancer mortality rates in Turkey. In the Netherlands and France breast cancer mortality was consistently lower in Turkish immigrants women than among local-born women. Lung cancer mortality was slightly lower in Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands and France but varied considerably between migrants in these two host countries. Stomach cancer mortality was significantly higher in Turkish immigrants when compared to local-born French and Dutch. Our findings indicate that exposures both in the country of origin and in the host country can have an effect on the cancer mortality of immigrants. Despite limitations affecting any cross-country comparison of mortality, the innovative multi-comparison approach is a promising way to gain further insights into determinants of trends in cancer mortality of immigrants. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Author Keywords

Cross country analyses Europe immigrants Cancer mortality

Index Keywords

Netherlands immigrant breast cancer regression analysis lung cancer Europe neoplasm France Population Surveillance sex ratio Neoplasms human middle aged statistics Denmark Ethnic Groups ethnic group Turkey (republic) controlled study comparative study Aged Health Surveys ethnology Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Belgium Article cancer mortality major clinical study adult migration Turkey Sex Distribution age distribution Poisson distribution cause of death mortality stomach cancer health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84875801796&doi=10.1007%2fs10654-012-9746-y&partnerID=40&md5=f7897d8ec614139385e66fef4919589e
DOI: 10.1007/s10654-012-9746-y
ISSN: 03932990
Cited by: 31
Original Language: English