International Journal of Cancer
Volume 55, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 190-195

Cancer incidence in estonian migrants to Sweden (Article)

Nilsson B.* , Gustavson‐Kadaka E. , Rotstein S. , Hakulinen T. , Rahu M. , Aareleid T.
  • a Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, S-104 01, Sweden
  • b Department of General Oncology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, S-104 01, Sweden
  • c Department of Oncology, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, S-182 88, Sweden
  • d Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, S-104 01, Sweden, The Institute for Statistical and Epidemiological Cancer Research, Finnish Cancer Registry, Liisankatu 21B, Helsinki, SF-00170, Finland
  • e Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Hiiu 42, Tallinn, EE-0016, Estonia
  • f Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Hiiu 42, Tallinn, EE-0016, Estonia

Abstract

Cancer incidence in Estonians who took refuge in Sweden in 1944‐1945 has been compared with that in the total Swedish population and that among Estonians in Estonia in 1974‐1985 using data from the Swedish and the Estonian countrywide population‐based cancer registries. The vast majority of the Estonian immigrants studied had been living in Sweden for 30 years when the follow‐up with respect to cancer incidence started in this investigation. In spite of the long residence in Sweden, differences in cancer incidence could be observed between these immigrants and the total Swedish population. The age‐standardized incidence of stomach cancer was higher in the Estonian migrants than in the total Swedish population (SIR = 1.6 and 2.1 for males and females, respectively). Breast cancer incidence was lower in the migrant women (SIR = 0.75) and lung cancer incidence higher in migrant men (SIR = 1.5). An increased incidence of colorectal cancer was also found for both sexes in the migrant population (SIR = 1.4 for both males and females). A comparison between Estonians in Estonia and the total Swedish population revealed that the cancer incidence for the Estonians was lower than expected at age 70 and over. Male lung cancer and stomach cancer showed a higher incidence in the Estonian population than in the Swedish and in the migrant populations. The migrant population showed an intermediate incidence relative to Estonians in Estonia and the entire Swedish population. The colon‐cancer risk in Estonian migrants to Sweden was higher than the risk for Estonians in Estonia and for the Swedish population. This contrasts with most findings in the present and other studies on intermediate risks of migrants compared to the risks in the country of origin and in the new country of residence. Copyright © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

breast cancer lung cancer Neoplasms human controlled study priority journal Aged USSR Estonia Sweden male female Risk Factors Incidence Article Support, Non-U.S. Gov't adult major clinical study Transients and Migrants colon cancer cancer incidence stomach cancer Middle Age
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0027428947&doi=10.1002%2fijc.2910550204&partnerID=40&md5=9253fffc21e7050425997f231a1d22d2
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910550204
ISSN: 00207136
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English