Social group disparities in the incidence and prognosis of oesophageal cancer

Abstract

There are substantial disparities in the incidence and prognosis of oesophageal cancer across social population groups, including sex, race/ethnicity, geographical location and socio-economic status. Both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus are more common in men than in women, but the male predominance in adenocarcinoma is stronger and less well understood. The varying incidence and prognosis of oesophageal cancer across racial/ethnic groups show distinct patterns by histological type. Individuals residing in rural areas have a higher incidence and worse prognosis than those in urban areas in developing regions. Lower socio-economic status is associated with an increased incidence and reduced survival in oesophageal cancer. Sustained research identifying novel preventive and therapeutic strategies are needed to reduce the risk of oesophageal cancer and improve the prognosis in all social groups.

Keywords: Oesophageal neoplasm; gender; inequalities; race/ethnicity; socioeconomic status.

Figure 1.

Age-standardised incidence rates of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (a) and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (b) by sex and racial/ethnic group in the USA, 1992–2014, using the US standard population in 2000 as the reference (data source: the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program 13 registries).