health

More Hispanics in U.S. die of cancer than cardiovascular disease

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 1, 2012

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Cancer has surpassed cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death among Hispanics of all ages in the United States, according to an American Cancer Society report published online Sept. 17 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

In 2009, 29,935 (21.1%) people of Hispanic origin died of cancer, and 29,611 (20.9%) died of cardiovascular disease, according to the most recent data (link).

By comparison, 25% of non-Hispanic whites died of cardiovascular disease in 2009, and 23.5% died of cancer.

Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the U.S., accounting for 16.3% of the population in 2010. That year, 26.6% of Hispanics lived in poverty, and nearly one in three was uninsured.

Researchers examined mortality data from multiple sources, including the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program and the National Center for Health Statistics. They found that Hispanics have higher rates of deaths for cancers of the cervix, gallbladder, liver and stomach compared with whites.

Even though cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics, the rates of cancer deaths declined between 2000 and 2009 by 2.3% each year in Hispanic men and 1.4% each year in Hispanic women, the report said.

Effective strategies for decreasing cancer risk among Hispanics include community-based intervention to increase cancer screening and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors, according to the report.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/10/01/hlbf1001.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn