Neighborhood Gentrification, Income Inequality, and Cancer Incidence Among Hispanic/Latino Adults

Neighborhood gentrification leads to displacement of people, networks, and resources, and to differences in how income is distributed in the community. Few studies, however, have examined the roles of neighborhood gentrification and income inequality in relation to cancer incidence, particularly among Hispanic/Latino populations. We examined measures of neighborhood gentrification and income distribution in association with cancer risk among Hispanic/Latino adults.

We included 14,303 adults (ages 18-75 years) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos with geocoded addresses at baseline in 2008-2011. Incident cancers diagnosed from baseline through 2021 were ascertained via linkages with four state cancer registries. Neighborhood gentrification from 2000-2010 was assessed using the Gentrification Index. Income inequality in 2005-2009 was assessed using the Gini Coefficient. Multivariable survey-weighted Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between quartiles of gentrification and income inequality and cancer incidence. We also conducted stratified analyses by household-level poverty (FPL), HCHS/SOL field center, and insurance status.

A total of 701 incident cancers were diagnosed over a mean follow-up of 10.4 (range=0.1-13.8) years. Those in Gentrification Index Quartile 4 (vs. Q1) had a 43% increase in cancer risk (HR = 1.43; 95%CI=1.02-2.01), and those in Gini coefficient Quartile 4 (vs. Q1) had a 52% increase in cancer risk (HR = 1.52; 95%CI=1.03-2.26). Associations varied by health insurance status, but not by FPL or field center.

The highest versus lowest levels of neighborhood gentrification and income inequality were associated with increases in cancer risk among Hispanic/Latino adults.