Publications by authors named "Melissa A Jim"

Article Synopsis
  • * Between 1999 and 2019, kidney cancer rates significantly increased among NH-AI/AN males and females, especially those under 50 and those diagnosed with localized disease.
  • * The findings emphasize a growing health disparity and suggest an urgent need for targeted prevention efforts and improved access to healthcare for NH-AI/AN communities.
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Importance: Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people have the second highest incidence rate of invasive cutaneous melanoma in the US after non-Hispanic White people.

Objective: To examine invasive cutaneous melanoma incidence rates and trends over time among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This descriptive, observational cross-sectional study used population-based cancer registry data (US Cancer Statistics AI/AN Incidence Analytic Database) linked to the Indian Health Service administrative database to examine incidence rates by age, sex, region, histology, tumor site, stage, and other demographic and clinical characteristics.

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Social determinants of health and associated systems, policies, and practices are important drivers of health disparities. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in the United States have elevated incidence rates of stomach, liver, and colorectal cancers compared with other racial/ethnic groups. In this study, we examined incidence rates of 3 types of gastrointestinal cancer among non-Hispanic AI/AN (NH-AI/AN) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) populations by geographic region and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) score.

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Purpose: This study is the first to comprehensively describe incidence rates and trends of screening-amenable cancers (colorectal, lung, female breast, and cervical) among non-Hispanic AI/AN (NH-AI/AN) people.

Methods: Using the United States Cancer Statistics AI/AN Incidence Analytic Database, we, calculated incidence rates for colorectal, lung, female breast, and cervical cancers for NH-AI/AN and non-Hispanic White (NHW) people for the years 2014-2018 combined. We calculated age-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000), total percent change in incidence rates between 1999 and 2018, and trends over this time-period using Joinpoint analysis.

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Purpose: Studies have highlighted geographic variation in cancer incidence rates among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. This is the first study to comprehensively evaluate incidence rates and trends among non-Hispanic AI/AN (NH-AI/AN) adolescents and young adults (AYAs) ages 15-39 years.

Methods: Using the United States Cancer Statistics AI/AN Incidence Analytic Database, we identified all malignant cancer cases for NH-AI/AN AYA populations for the years 1999-2019.

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To evaluate COVID-19 disparities among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non-Hispanic White persons in urban areas. Using COVID-19 case surveillance data, we calculated cumulative incidence rates and risk ratios (RRs) among non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White persons living in select urban counties in the United States by age and sex during January 22, 2020, to October 19, 2021. We separated cases into prevaccine (January 22, 2020-April 4, 2021) and postvaccine (April 5, 2021-October 19, 2021) periods.

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Background: Disparities in cancer incidence have not been described for urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. The purpose of the present study was to examine incidence rates (2008-2017) and trends (1999-2017) for leading cancers in urban non-Hispanic AI/AN (NH AI/AN) compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) populations living in the same urban areas.

Methods: Incident cases from population-based cancer registries were linked with the Indian Health Service patient registration database for improved racial classification of NH AI/AN populations.

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Background: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have experienced regional variation and disparities in colorectal cancer incidence rates.

Methods: We examined colorectal cancer incidence (2013-2017) and colorectal cancer incidence trends (1999-2017) among AI/AN persons. Incidence data were linked to Indian Health Service enrollment records, and analyses were restricted to Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Areas.

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Cancer incidence varies among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations, as well as between AI/AN and White populations. This study examined trends for cancers with elevated incidence among AI/AN compared with non-Hispanic White populations and estimated potentially avoidable incident cases among AI/AN populations. Incident cases diagnosed during 2012-2016 were identified from population-based cancer registries and linked with the Indian Health Service patient registration databases to improve racial classification of AI/AN populations.

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Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most cervical cancers and some cancers of the penis, vulva, vagina, oropharynx, and anus. Cervical precancers can be detected through screening. HPV vaccination with the 9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) can prevent approximately 92% of HPV-attributable cancers (1).

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Introduction: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have higher gastric cancer rates than the general US population. This study provides a comprehensive overview of incidence rates among AI/AN persons during 2005-2016 compared with non-Hispanic whites (whites).

Methods: Population-based cancer registry data for 2005-2016 were linked with the Indian Health Service patient registration databases to address racial misclassification.

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Background: Cancer incidence rates for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations vary by geographic region in the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine cancer incidence rates and trends in the AI/AN population compared with the non-Hispanic white population in the United States for the years 2010 to 2015.

Methods: Cases diagnosed during 2010 to 2015 were identified from population-based cancer registries and linked with the Indian Health Service (IHS) patient registration databases to describe cancer incidence rates in non-Hispanic AI/AN persons compared with non-Hispanic whites (whites) living in IHS purchased/referred care delivery area counties.

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This study examines the extent to which data linkages between Indian Health Service, tribal data, and cancer registries affect cancer incidence rates among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in Michigan. The incidence of tobacco- and alcohol-associated cancers for 1995-2012 was analyzed to compare rates of the Upper Peninsula (UP) and Lower Peninsula (LP) in Michigan and among AI/ANs and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Complete linkage resulted in 1,352 additional AI/AN cases; 141 cases were linked via IHS records alone, while 373 were linked via tribal records alone; 838 were linked through both IHS and tribal records.

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Purpose: To evaluate liver cancer incidence rates and risk factor correlations in non-Hispanic AI/AN populations for the years 1999-2009.

Methods: We linked data from 51 central cancer registries with the Indian Health Service patient registration databases to improve identification of the AI/AN population. Analyses were restricted to non-Hispanic persons living in Contract Health Service Delivery Area counties.

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Identifying health status and disparities for Indigenous populations is the first logical step toward better health. We compare the mortality profile of the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population with that of non-Hispanic whites in the Haudenosaunee Nations in New York State, the Indian Health Service (IHS) East region (Nashville Area) and the United States. Data from the linkage of IHS registration records with decedents from the National Death Index (1990-2009) were used to identify AI/AN deaths misclassified as non-AI/AN.

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Background: Stomach cancer was a leading cause of cancer-related deaths early in the 20th century and has steadily declined over the last century in the United States. Although incidence and death rates are now low, stomach cancer remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in black, Asian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations.

Methods: Data from the CONCORD-2 study were used to analyze stomach cancer survival among males and females aged 15 to 99 years who were diagnosed in 37 states covering 80% of the US population.

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Background: Gallbladder cancer is a rare cancer with unusual distribution, and few population-based estimates for the United States have been published.

Methods: Using population-based cancer incidence and mortality data, we examined U.S.

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Objectives: We describe rates and trends in kidney cancer incidence and mortality and identify disparities between American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and White populations.

Methods: To improve identification of AI/AN race, incidence and mortality data were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) patient records. Analysis focused on residents of IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area counties; Hispanics were excluded.

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Objectives: We evaluated the racial misclassification of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in cancer incidence and all-cause mortality data by Indian Health Service (IHS) Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA).

Methods: We evaluated data from 3 sources: IHS-National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), IHS-National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)/Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, and National Longitudinal Mortality Study (NLMS). We calculated, within each data source, the sensitivity and classification ratios by sex, IHS region, and urban-rural classification by CHSDA county.

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Objectives: We describe methods used to mitigate the effect of race misclassification in mortality records and the data sets used to improve mortality estimates for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs).

Methods: We linked US National Death Index (NDI) records with Indian Health Service (IHS) registration records to identify AI/AN deaths misclassified as non-AI/AN deaths. Analyses excluded decedents of Hispanic origin and focused on Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA) counties.

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Objectives: We present regional patterns and trends in all-cause mortality and leading causes of death in American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs).

Methods: US National Death Index records were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) registration records to identify AI/AN deaths misclassified as non-AI/AN. We analyzed temporal trends for 1990 to 2009 and comparisons between non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White persons by geographic region for 1999 to 2009.

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Objectives: We estimated complete period life tables for the non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population residing in Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA) counties for the period 2007-2009.

Methods: We used National Vital Statistics System mortality data files for years 2007-2009 corrected for AI/AN misclassification on death certificates, midyear 2008 revised census bridged race intercensal population estimates, and National Vital Statistics System birth data for years 2006-2009. We used the same methodology as that used to estimate official US annual life tables, with some minor modifications.

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Objective: To present more accurate incidence rates of cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancer by geographic region in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women.

Methods: The authors used data from central cancer registries linked to Indian Health Service (IHS) patient registration database, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, IHS National Data Warehouse, and the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Cancer incidence rates were adjusted for hysterectomy and oophorectomy prevalence and presented by region for non-Hispanic White (NHW) and AI/AN women.

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