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Background: Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (NH-AI/AN) people exhibit a disproportionate incidence of kidney cancer. Nationally aggregated data do not allow for a comprehensive description of regional disparities in kidney cancer incidence among NH-AI/AN communities. This study examined kidney cancer incidence rates and trends among NH-AI/AN compared with non-Hispanic White (NHW) populations by geographic region. Methods: Using the United States Cancer Statistics American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Incidence Analytic Database, age-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000) of kidney cancers for NH-AI/AN and NHW people for the years 2011 to 2020 combined using surveillance, epidemiology, and end Results (SEER)*stat software. Analyses were restricted to non-Hispanic individuals living in purchased/referred care delivery area (PRCDA) counties. Average annual percent changes (AAPCs) and trends (1999-2019) were estimated using Joinpoint regression analyses. Results: Rates of kidney cancer incidence were higher among NH-AI/AN compared with NHW persons in the United States overall and in five of six regions. Kidney cancer incidence rates also varied by region, sex, age, and stage of diagnosis. Between 1999 and 2019, trends in kidney cancer rates significantly increased among NH-AI/AN males (AAPC = 2.7%) and females (AAPC = 2.4%). The largest increases were observed for NH-AI/AN males and females aged less than 50 years and those diagnosed with localized-stage disease. Conclusions: Study findings highlight growing disparities in kidney cancer incidence rates between NH-AI/AN and NHW populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social determinants of health and associated systems, policies, and practices are important drivers of health disparities. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in the United States have elevated incidence rates of stomach, liver, and colorectal cancers compared with other racial/ethnic groups. In this study, we examined incidence rates of 3 types of gastrointestinal cancer among non-Hispanic AI/AN (NH-AI/AN) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) populations by geographic region and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) score. Incident cases diagnosed during 2010–2019 were identified from population-based cancer registries linked with the Indian Health Service patient registration databases. Age-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 population) for stomach, liver, and colorectal cancers were compared within NH-AI/AN populations and between the NH-AI/AN and NHW populations by SVI score. Rates were higher among NH-AI/AN populations in moderate– and high–SVI-score counties in Alaska, the Southern Plains, and the East than in low-SVI counties. Incidence rates among NH-AI/AN populations were elevated when compared with NHW populations by SVI category. Results indicated that higher social vulnerability may drive elevated cancer incidence among NH-AI/AN populations. Additionally, disparities between NH-AI/AN and NHW populations persist even when accounting for SVI. Exploring social vulnerability can aid in designing more effective interventions to address root causes of cancer disparities among AI/AN populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer incidence varies among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations, as well as between AI/AN and White populations. This study examined trends for cancers with elevated incidence among AI/AN compared with non-Hispanic White populations and estimated potentially avoidable incident cases among AI/AN populations. Incident cases diagnosed during 2012–2016 were identified from population-based cancer registries and linked with the Indian Health Service patient registration databases to improve racial classification of AI/AN populations. Age-adjusted rates (per 100,000) and trends were calculated for cancers with elevated incidence among AI/AN compared with non-Hispanic White populations (rate ratio of >1.0) according to region. Trends were estimated using joinpoint regression analyses. Expected cancers were estimated by applying age-specific cancer incidence rates among non-Hispanic White populations to population estimates for AI/AN populations. Excess cancer cases among AI/AN populations were defined as observed minus expected cases. Liver, stomach, kidney, lung, colorectal, and female breast cancers had higher incidence rates among AI/AN populations across most regions. Between 2012 and 2016, nearly 5,200 excess cancers were diagnosed among AI/AN populations, with the largest number of excess cancers (1,925) occurring in the Southern Plains region. Culturally informed efforts could reduce cancer disparities associated with these and other cancers among AI/AN populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most cervical cancers and some cancers of the penis, vulva, vagina, oropharynx, and anus. Cervical precancers can be detected through screening. HPV vaccination with the 9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) can prevent approximately 92% of HPV-attributable cancers (1).* Previous studies have shown lower incidence of HPV-associated cancers in non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations compared with other racial subgroups (2); however, these rates might have been underestimated as a result of racial misclassification. Previous studies have shown that cancer registry data corrected for racial misclassification resulted in more accurate cancer incidence estimates for AI/AN populations (3,4). In addition, regional variations in cancer incidence among AI/AN populations suggest that nationally aggregated data might not adequately describe cancer outcomes within these populations (5). These variations might, in part, result from geographic disparities in the use of health services, such as cancer screening or vaccination (6). CDC analyzed data for 2013-2017 from central cancer registries linked with the Indian Health Service (IHS) patient registration database to assess the incidence of HPV-associated cancers and to estimate the number of cancers caused by HPV among AI/AN populations overall and by region. During 2013-2017, an estimated 1,030 HPV-associated cancers were reported in AI/AN populations. Of these cancers, 740 (72%) were determined to be attributable to HPV types targeted by 9vHPV; the majority were cervical cancers in females and oropharyngeal cancers in males. These data can help identify regions where AI/AN populations have disproportionately high rates of HPV-associated cancers and inform targeted regional vaccination and screening programs in AI/AN communities., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.