Decline in Mortality From Gastric Cancer in Native-Born and Foreign-Born Residents of New York City

Abstract

This study of mortality from gastric cancer in New York City disclosed that the decline between 1949–51 and 1959–61 occurred not only in the total population but also in males and females in each of 3 population groups: native-born whites, foreign-born whites, and Negroes. Furthermore, the decrease occurred in almost every age group within each category. It was concluded that the reduction in mortality could not be attributed to the decreasing proportion of a high risk group, the foreign-born, in the total population. The decline was greatest in those population groups with the lowest mortality rates in 1949–51. Examination of available data on accuracy of diagnosis did not support the hypothesis that the lower rate resulted from improvement in diagnostic accuracy. The findings of this and other studies indicate that the lower mortality from gastric cancer is probably not an artifact caused by demographic changes or improvements in diagnosis or treatment, but may well reflect a real decline in incidence due to environmental factors that remain unidentified.