Identifying States with a Higher Age-Standardized Incidence Rate for Lung Cancer in Non-Hispanic Blacks vs...

Higher overall age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) for lung-bronchus cancer in non-Hispanic (NH) African Americans/Blacks (NH Blacks) vs NH Whites have been reported in the United States for men and not women, but surveillance is needed by sex and age group in each state/District of Columbia.

The aim of this study was to identify any state with a statistically significantly elevated NH Black/NH White ratio (>1.00, with 95% CI not including 1.00) for the average annual (2015-2017) overall ASIR (or in selected age groups) for lung-bronchus cancer in both women and men. A US Cancer Statistics research database covered 100% of the United States population.

The NH Black/NH White ratio of overall ASIRs was elevated in men in the United States (1.11, vs 0.84 in women), but also in 2 states in women vs 6 in men in the Midwest region, including both sexes in Wisconsin, and in both sexes in the District of Columbia (with low ASIRs in NH Whites). The ratio of ASIRs for the group aged 20-49 years was statistically significantly elevated in women in California (1.44), but the ratio in men in California (1.30) did not reach statistical significance. The ratio of ASIRs was elevated in both sexes in 5 states for the group aged 50-59 years vs 3 for the group aged 60-69 years, but with higher ratios (and in additional states) in men vs women, in the Midwest; and for both age groups in California.

Findings support the need for intensified tobacco control efforts for NH Blacks in several states/District of Columbia, and for surveillance of NH Black/NH White ratios of ASIRs by sex in geopolitical areas within these states.