Heightened Risk for Gastric Cancer Among Immigrant Populations in New York State From High-Incidence Countries

Emerging global evidence points to country of origin as an important risk factor for developing gastric cancer (GC). Immigrants from high-incidence countries for GC may retain an increased risk despite living in low-incidence regions, and precursor lesions such as intestinal metaplasia may be more common in foreign-born individuals than in individuals born in the United States, particularly within high-risk racial/ethnic groups. 1 Pabla B.S. Shah S.C. Corral J.E. et al. Increased incidence and mortality of gastric cancer in immigrant populations from high to low regions of incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020; 18: 347-359.e5 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (33) Google Scholar ,2 Tan M.C. Jamali T. Nguyen T.H. et al. Race/ethnicity and birthplace as risk factors for gastric intestinal metaplasia in a multiethnic United States population. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022; 117: 280-287 Crossref PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar Although the United States had 51 million immigrants in 2020—the highest number of foreign-born residents globally—data on the association between immigrant status and GC risk within the United States remain limited. 3 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population DivisionInternational migration 2020 highlights. United Nations, 2020https://www.un.org/en/desa/international-migration-2020-highlightsDate accessed: October 21, 2021 Google Scholar ,4 US Census BureauAmerican community survey, 2014-2018 American community survey 5-year estimates, Table B05006; generated by Sarah Tan; using data.census.gov. https://data.census.gov/cedsciDate accessed: November 19, 2020 Google Scholar The aim of this study was to examine the association between GC incidence and the proportion of foreign-born residents, particularly those from high-risk countries, in New York State.