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HCV Infection and Cryptogenic Cirrhosis are Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Latinos in New York City

Journal of Community Health volume 34, Article number: 500 (2009) Cite this article

Abstract

Latinos in the US experience a 60% higher death rate from primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when compared to Non-Latinos. The goal of this study was to examine risk factors that are associated with ethnic disparities among HCC patients seen at the transplant center of a metropolitan medical center in New York City. We compared HCC risk factors in 140 Non-Latino and 55 Latino patients that presented with HCC from 1995 to 2003. Surnames were used to define Latino and Non-Latino HCC patients in a retrospective analysis. Latino and Non-Latino HCC patients did not vary by gender or age at presentation (mean Latino age 60.8). Latino HCC patients had a higher frequency of presentation with advanced disease, defined as patients with unresectable HCC, than non Latino HCC patients (Latino 52.7%; 95% CI 39.1–66.3 vs. Non-Latino vs. 36.4%; 95% CI 28.3–44.4). Latinos were more likely than Non Latinos to have underlying HCV (34.5 vs. 22.1%, P < .0001; adjusted odds ratio [Siegel, 2008 #564], 3.69; 95% CI, 1.16–11.7) and cryptogenic liver diseases (7.2 vs. 3.5%, P < .0001; OR 8.86; 95% CI, 1.21–65.0) after adjusting for age, gender and alfa-fetoprotein levels. Although more advanced disease may signal delay in access to care or more aggressive disease, HCV infection and cryptogenic cirrhosis at presentation are likely key factors for the greater burden of HCC among Latinos in New York City.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by funds from the federal government, NCI grant number 5T32CA009529-20, NIA grant number 2P30AG-15294; and NCMHD grant number 5S21MD008130-02.

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Affiliations

  1. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Cancer Research Building II, Room 5M, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA

    Rafael Guerrero-Preston

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Rafael Guerrero-Preston

  3. Columbia Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Columbia University School of Physicians and Surgeons, 622 W. 168th St., 14th floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Abby Siegel & John Renz

  4. Center for Urban Epidemiology Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Rafael Guerrero-Preston & David Vlahov

  5. Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Columbia University School of Physicians and Surgeons, 722 West 168th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Alfred Neugut

Authors
  1. Rafael Guerrero-Preston
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  2. Abby Siegel
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Correspondence to Rafael Guerrero-Preston.

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Guerrero-Preston, R., Siegel, A., Renz, J. et al. HCV Infection and Cryptogenic Cirrhosis are Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Latinos in New York City. J Community Health 34, 500 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9184-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9184-2

Keywords

  • Ethnic disparities
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Hepatitis C virus
  • Latinos
  • Minority elders