The Incidence and Prevalence of Cervical Cancer in Vietnamese Women (1993-1995): An Analysis of SEER Reported Cases
Quynh Do
Advisor: Jack O. Lanier, Dr.PH, MHA, FACHE
Preceptor: Resa M. Jones, MPH, PhD
Background : Cervical cancer is the third most common reproductive cancer in the U.S. To date, one report concluded that U.S. Vietnamese women had the highest incidence rate (43.0/100,000). The current study examines whether U.S. Vietnamese women are more likely to have cervical cancer in comparison to Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, and other Asian subgroups.
Methods: SEER data of cervical cancers diagnosed from 1993-1995 (n=37,790) was utilized. Using SPSS, chi-square statistics assessed whether Vietnamese women were older and more likely to be married or diagnosed at a later stage. Logistic regression assessed the amount of risk race/ethnicity contributes to stage of diagnosis adjusting for age and martial status. SEER*Stat and U.S. Census data were used to compute age-adjusted incidence and prevalence rates per 100,000 woman-years for cervical cancer.
Results: After adjustment, Vietnamese women were more likely to have carcinoma in situ (OR=1.44, p = 0.014) compared to white women. The odds of distant stage diagnosis for Vietnamese women was 3.35 times that of whites (p = 0.093). Vietnamese women had greater odds of distant stage diagnosis than other Asian subgroups (OR = 1.43, p = 0.092). The overall age-adjusted incidence rate for invasive cervical cancer for Asian/Pacific Islanders is 6.7/100,000 (including Vietnamese) compared to 5.0/100,000 for whites. However, the overall incidence rate for Vietnamese women is 21.4/100,000 compared to 10.4/100,000 for whites.
Conclusions: Vietnamese race/ethnicity is associated with cervical cancer diagnosis. Asian subgroups are at varying risk of cervical cancer and should be assessed separately as to not obscure differences.
