Intra-ethnic and geographic disparities in stage at diagnosis for non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Despite the importance of early detection for lung cancer outcomes, staging disparities among the growing US Hispanic population remain underexplored. This population-based study aimed to identify racial/ethnic disparities among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic (including specific subgroups) patients in stage at diagnosis for potentially curable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Incident NSCLC cases (2005-2018) were extracted from the Florida cancer registry. Stage was categorized as early (localized/regional) or advanced (distant). Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between race/ethnicity and stage at diagnosis, adjusting for socioeconomic status, smoking, and clinical factors.

Results: Among 157 034 NSCLC patients, 47.8% were diagnosed at an advanced stage. Multivariable models showed higher odds of advanced-stage diagnosis for non-Hispanic Blacks (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17 to 1.26) and Hispanics (ORadj = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.08) compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Regional differences were stark for Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic Whites: ORadj = 0.96 (95% CI = 0.91 to 1.01) in South Florida vs 1.12 (95% CI = 1.05 to 1.19) in the rest of Florida. In South Florida, Central Americans (ORadj = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.85) were the only Hispanic group showing a staging disadvantage compared with non-Hispanic Whites.

Conclusion: Pronounced disparities in NSCLC staging among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic populations, with notable regional variations within Florida's Hispanic communities, indicate that targeted interventions could significantly enhance early detection. The relative advantage observed in nearly all minority groups in multicultural South Florida compared with the rest of Florida underscores the need for future research exploring how specific Hispanic and multiracial sociocultural contexts can positively influence the landscape of cancer early detection across the United States.