title: Cancer incidence in ethnic German migrants from the Former Soviet Union in comparison to the host population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate cancer incidence patterns among ethnic German migrants (Aussiedler) from the Former Soviet Union, a large migrant group in Germany, in comparison to autochthonous Saarland population over a 20 year observation period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from a cohort of Aussiedler residing in the federal state of Saarland (n=18,619). Cancer incidence and vital status were ascertained through record linkage with the Saarland Cancer Registry and local population registries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow up period from 1990 to 2009 we observed 638 incident diagnoses of malignant neoplasms (except non-melanoma skin cancer). The overall standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.92, 1.04). However, site-specific SIRs revealed great variation. Stomach cancer incidence was significantly higher among Aussiedler. Lung cancer was elevated for males, but lower among females. Additionally, diagnoses for colorectal cancer among males were significantly lower. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) over time show not all cancer rates of Aussiedler attenuate as expected to Saarland rates. For example, lung and prostate cancer incidence rates show increasing disparity from Saarland rates and female breast cancer incidence develops in parallel. Furthermore, ASR for overall cancer incidence of Aussiedler shows a yearly decrease (p=0.06) whereas Saarland rates remain stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aussiedler incidence rates reflect incidence pattern observed in their countries of origin.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Institute of Public Health, Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: volker.winkler@urz.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Saarland Cancer Registry, Präsident Baltz-Straße 5, D-66119 Saarbrücken, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holleczek
authors.affiliation: Saarland Cancer Registry, Präsident Baltz-Straße 5, D-66119 Saarbrücken, Germany.
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stegmaier
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Institute of Public Health, Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cohort study; Epidemiology; Germany; Incidence; Migrants; Neoplasms