Disparities in breast cancer stage at diagnosis between immigrant and native-born women: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose: To synthesize existing observational evidence to identify disparities in stage at breast cancer diagnosis between foreign- and native-born women. We hypothesized immigrant women would be less likely than natives to be diagnosed at a localized stage.

Methods: Systematic searches for studies detailing stage at breast cancer diagnosis by birthplace in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science yielded 11 relevant cohort studies from six countries. Odds ratios were pooled using random effects models.

Results: Foreign-born women were 12% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a localized stage than natives (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82-0.95). A similar disadvantage was observed in immigrants from Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and developing or in transition nations; immigrants from developed countries experienced the least disparity.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirmed the presence of significant differences in breast cancer stage at diagnosis as per nativity. Across diverse immigrant groups and host countries, foreign-born women were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with localized breast cancer than native women; the magnitude of the disparity varied by region and economic condition of immigrants' birthplace.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Disparity; Immigrant; Nativity; Stage at diagnosis.