Moroccans least often hospitalised for cancer

In 2008, Moroccans were less often admitted to hospital for cancer and cardiovascular diseases than other ethnic groups. Turks were most often admitted for cardiovascular diseases, followed by Surinamese.

Hospital admissions for cancer one third lower among Moroccans

In the entire population under the age of 60, there were 12.2 hospital admissions per thousand persons for cancer and non-malignant neoplasms. The results have been corrected for gender and age differences and differences in the distribution of ages between the various ethnic groups.

After correction, the number of hospital admissions for neoplasms among Moroccans was one third lower in 2008 than in the overall population.

Hospital admissions for neoplasms, 2008

In all ethnic groups, more women than men were hospitalised for neoplasms. This is mainly due to many women being diagnosed with breast cancer and neoplasms of the uterus. Variation between the various ethnic groups has remained fairly stable throughout the years.

Hospital admission rate for cardiovascular diseases high among Turks and Surinamese

The number of cardiovascular hospital admissions among Turks was more than 40 percent higher than in the population as a whole. The admission rate for cardiovascular diseases was also above average among people with a Surinamese background.

Cardiovascular hospital admissions, 2008

The higher hospital admission rate among people with a Turkish background was not gender-related, whereas in the Surinamese population in the Netherlands, most cardiovascular patients were men.

Turkish and Surinamese men were more often hospitalised after being diagnosed for myocardial infarctions, other ischaemic heart diseases and angina pectoris. Turkish women were more often admitted to hospital for electrophysiological disorders of the heart and cardiac arrhythmia.

Cardiovascular hospital admissions

Differences in cardiovascular hospital admissions between the various ethnic groups fairly stable

Since 1995, hospital admission rates for cardiovascular diseases of people with a Turkish and Surinamese background have not been far apart and have been higher than in other ethnic groups. The admission rate for cardiovascular diseases is lowest among Moroccans. On average over the period 1995-2008, the admission rate for cardiovascular diseases was more than 40 percent lower for Moroccans than for Turks and Surinamese.

Janneke Ploemacher