Expected vs Reported Chronic Hepatitis B Infection Cases in Persons with Active Tuberculosis - California, 2016-2020.

Epidemiologic data regarding persons with active tuberculosis (TB) and chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) infection are limited because of lack of routine surveillance of cHBV in persons with TB. Potential underdiagnosis of cHBV in California among those with TB is concerning. We matched TB and cHBV registries to identify cHBV infections among persons diagnosed with TB during 2016-2020 and described their demographic characteristics. We calculated expected cHBV cases among persons with TB for each demographic characteristic using published cHBV prevalence estimates for the locations of birth for persons with TB. Estimates were from general or emigrant adult and teen populations. Reported cHBV infection among persons with TB were 23% lower than expected, particularly among Asian persons, persons living in the two healthiest Healthy Places Index quartiles, and residents of less populated jurisdictions in California. Results show the possibility exists for underdiagnosis of cHBV in persons with TB in California.

The impact of race/ethnicity on the clinical epidemiology of autoimmune hepatitis.

GOALS: To evaluate race/ethnicity-specific variations in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) with a focus on Asians and Hispanics, the fastest growing populations in the United States. BACKGROUND: AIH is a chronic inflammatory disease in which race/ethnicity-specific variations in clinical epidemiology have been reported. However, earlier studies were small or did not include a comprehensive analysis of Asians and Hispanics, the 2 fastest growing population cohorts in the United States. STUDY: A retrospective study analyzing patient data from 1999 to 2010 in a large tertiary-care community hospital to assess AIH epidemiology among a racially diverse population. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-three patients with AIH were included in the study with 81 patients having "definite" AIH by International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group criteria and 63 were diagnosed with overlap syndromes. Women and whites were the largest cohorts. The average age of diagnosis was similar among all groups. Biopsy-confirmed cirrhosis was present in 34% of AIH patients with Hispanics demonstrating the highest prevalence of cirrhosis (55%). When compared with whites, Asians had higher international normalized ratio (INR) (1.4 U vs. 1.1 U, P<0.01), and Hispanics had lower serum albumin (3.3 g/dL vs. 3.7 g/dL, P<0.001) and platelets (123.8 thousand/mcL vs. 187.5 thousand/mcL, P<0.001) and higher international normalized ratio (1.5 U vs. 1.1 U, P=0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a trend toward worse outcomes among Asians. CONCLUSIONS: Among AIH patients, Hispanics had the highest prevalence of cirrhosis, and Asians had poorer survival outcomes. Race/ethnicity-specific disparities in AIH epidemiology may reflect underlying genetic differences, contributing to variations in disease severity, response to therapy, and overall mortality.

Marked variations in proximal colon cancer survival by race/ethnicity within the United States.

GOALS: To investigate the race/ethnicity and sex-specific variations in proximal colon cancer survival within the United States. BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest a shift toward more proximal distributions of colon cancers. Survival benefits from screening colonoscopy may be limited to left-sided cancers. Identifying groups at greatest risk for mortality from proximal cancers will help to target health care resources to address these disparities. STUDY: A retrospective cohort study from 1973 to 2004 using a large population-based cancer registry to investigate demographic variations in colon cancer survival. RESULTS: Marked sex and race/ethnicity-specific variations in proximal colon cancer survival were observed. Overall 5-year survival was greatest in females (5-y survival, females: 44.5% and males: 41.7%, P<0.001) and in Asians (5-y survival, Asians: 50.4%, non-Hispanic whites: 43.1%, blacks: 39.7%, and Hispanics: 46.7%, P<0.001). Compared with females, males had significantly worse 5-year survival outcomes [odds ratios (OR), 0.77; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.75-0.79]. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, blacks had worse 5-year survival odds (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.70-0.78) and Asians had better survival outcomes (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24). CONCLUSIONS: There exists significant sex and race/ethnicity-specific disparities in 5-year survival from proximal colon cancer. These differences may be explained by variations in delivery of health care between demographic groups or differences in disease biology specific to each group.

Marked Variations in Colon Cancer Epidemiology: Sex-specific and Race/Ethnicity-specific Disparities.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported on the changing epidemiology of colon cancer. Given this cancer's high prevalence and mortality, defining high risk groups will be important to guide improvements in cancer screening programs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of a large population-based cancer registry in the United States from 1973-2004 was performed to analyze the race and sex-specific disparities in colon cancer epidemiology. RESULTS: Blacks and females demonstrated the greatest proportions of proximal cancers: the incidence rate of proximal cancers among black males was more than double that of Asian males (25.2 per 100,000/year vs 11.7 per 100,000/year, p < 0.0001) and the rate among black females was twice that of Asian females (21.9 per 100,000/year vs 11.4 per 100,000/year, p < 0.0001). Blacks as a group had the highest rates of advanced cancers: the rate among black males was nearly double that of Hispanic males (17.1 per 100,000/year vs 8.7 per 100,000/year, p < 0.0001) and the rate of advanced cancers among black females was twice that of Hispanic females (12.4 per 100,000/year vs 6.2 per 100,000/year, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates marked disparities in the sex-specific and race/ethnicity-specific epidemiology of colon cancer. These differences likely represent unequal access to health care resources and race and sex-specific variations in cancer biology. An individualized approach incorporating these disparities would benefit future research and guidelines for improvements in cancer screening programs.