Introduction/Background*It is not known whether differences exist in the patient and endometrial cancer (EC) characteristics of South Asian patients currently living in England compared to women of White ethnicity.

Methodology A retrospective study of EC cases diagnosed at the University Hospitals of Leicester, UK between 2003-2018 was undertaken. Additional information on a subset of patients was available for patients recruited between January 2016 and January 2020.

Result(s)*A total of 1884 cases were included, 13% of South Asian ethnicity. South Asian women were diagnosed at a significantly younger age, mean age 60.3 years, compared to women of White ethnicity, 66.9 years, mean difference = 6.6 years (95% CI 5.1 to 8.1), p < 0.001. Rising BMI in the White ethnicity group significantly correlated with younger age at diagnosis (p < 0.001), however this association was not seen in South Asian patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed. After adjusting for the diabetes status and BMI, South Asian patients were almost three time more likely to be diagnosed with EC below the age of 55 years, as compared to White ethnicity patients, odds ratio = 2.85 (95% CI 2.01 to 4.04), p < 0.001. Analysis of a subset of 216 cases (40 South Asian and 176 White ethnicity) identified that the number of South Asian patients who were pre-menopausal at diagnosis was more than double that in the White ethnicity group, 8 of 40 cases (20%) compared to 16 of 176 cases (9.1%), (p=0.048). For the patients who were postmenopausal there was no difference in the age of menopause, median age 51 years for both groups (p=0.408).

Conclusion*There are significant differences in the demographic characteristics between co-located South Asian and White ethnicity patients diagnosed with EC, in particular age at diagnosis and greater proportion of premenopausal cases seen in the South Asian ethnicity group. Further investigation is needed to explain these differences, including dietary and activity differences, and to determine their impact on suspected cancer referral criteria.