US-born Hispanics, particularly males, are at greater risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death from chronic liver disease (CLD) than foreign-born Hispanics, according to a study of 36,864 Hispanics, including 18,485 who were US-born and 18,379 foreign-born. Researchers found:

• HCC incidence rate was almost twice as high for US-born Hispanic men (44.7) vs foreign-born (23.1), but the rates were comparable for women (14.5 vs 13.4).

• CLD mortality rate was about twice as high for US-born Hispanics vs foreign-born Hispanics (66.3 vs 35.1 for men and 42.2 vs 19.7 for women).

• Heavy alcohol consumption was associated with HCC and CLD in foreign-born individuals.

• Current smoking status, hepatitis B/C viral infection, and diabetes were associated with both HCC and CLD.

• After adjustment for these risk factors, hazard rate ratios were 1.58 for HCC death and 1.85 for CLD death for US-born Hispanics vs foreign-born Hispanics.

Citation: Setiawan VW, Wei PC, Hernandez BY, et al. Disparity in liver cancer incidence and chronic liver disease mortality by nativity in Hispanics: The Multiethnic Cohort. [Published online ahead of print February 24, 2016]. Cancer. doi:10.1002/cncr.29922.