Nguyen MLT, et al. – This study was conducted to figure out whether thyroid cancer mortality was higher in Filipinos in the United States. In this study, >45 years and male sex were negative prognostic factors for thyroid cancer. As compared to non-Filipino Asian (NFA) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) individuals of similar ages, Filipinos die of thyroid cancer at higher rates. Moreover, highly educated Filipinos and Filipino women appeared to be especially at risk of poor thyroid cancer outcomes.

Methods

• US death records (2003-2012) and US Census data were employed to test thyroid cancer mortality in Filipino, NFA, and NHW adults.
• Estimation was done for age-adjusted mortality rates and proportional mortality ratios (PMRs).
• In addition, sex, nativity status, age at death, and educational attainment were examined.

Results

• 19,940,952 deaths were investigated.
• As compared to NFAs (1.03 per 100,000 population; 95% CI, 0.95-1.12) and NHWs (1.17 per 100,000 population; 95% CI, 1.16-1.18), the age-adjusted mortality rates due to thyroid cancer were highest in Filipinos (1.72 deaths per 100,000 population; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.51-1.95).
• Findings highlighted higher proportionate mortality in Filipino women (3-5 times higher) across all age groups, and among Filipino men, the PMR was 2 to 3 times higher in the subgroup aged >55 years, compared with NHWs.
• This study spotted a notably higher PMR (5.0) in Filipinos who completed a higher educational level compared with their counterparts who had not (3.5).