Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41808542›Full record

ArticleJournal of internal medicine2026

Persistent and emerging cancer risks after migration: Evidence from North and South Korean cohorts.

Junshik Hong, Kyeong Jin Kim, Jimi Choi, Jung A Kim, Kyoung Jin Kim, Yo Han Lee, Sang Min Park, Sung In Jang, Jung Myun Lee, Ju Hyang Lee and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of internal medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Junshik HongDepartment of Healthcare and Medicine for Unified Korea, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7829-397X
Kyeong Jin KimDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5878-6005
Jimi ChoiDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jung A KimDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Kyoung Jin KimDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Yo Han LeeDepartment of Healthcare and Medicine for Unified Korea, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
Sang Min ParkDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7498-4829
Sung In JangHealth Insurance Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service, Wonju-si, South Korea.
Jung Myun LeeHealth Insurance Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service, Wonju-si, South Korea.
Ju Hyang LeeHealth Insurance Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service, Wonju-si, South Korea.
Mun Jeong ChoiHealth Insurance Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service, Wonju-si, South Korea.
Young-Hoon KimDepartment of Healthcare and Medicine for Unified Korea, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
Sin Gon KimDepartment of Healthcare and Medicine for Unified Korea, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7430-3675

Funding

Brian Impact FoundationMinistry of Health and Welfare RS-2025-02217218
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNorth Korean defectors in South Korea offer a rare natural model to trace cancer risk evolution after rapid environmental transition, given shared genetics but markedly contrasting early life exposures with South Korean residents.

methodsUsing the Korean National Health Insurance database, we constructed a nationwide matched cohort of 25,798 North Korean defectors and 1,276,601 South Korean residents (1:50 frequency matching by sex, age, and index year). We compared overall and site-specific cancer risks and examined time-varying hazard ratios (HRs) since resettlement.

resultsOverall cancer risk was higher among defectors (HR 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.18), particularly in men (HR 1.31). Liver (HR 2.53), uterine cervical (HR 2.10), and lung cancer (HR 1.69) were markedly elevated, reflecting infection- and deprivation-related legacies. In contrast, cancers more prevalent in developed countries, notably breast (HR 0.48) and colorectal (HR 0.71), were initially lower. However, HRs began to rise over time, especially for breast cancer, indicating a trend toward convergence with host-population patterns.

conclusionThe cancer profile of North Korean defectors demonstrates a dual burden: persistent risks from infection-related cancers rooted in pre-defection exposures and growing vulnerability to lifestyle-related cancers after resettlement. These findings highlight the importance of dual-track prevention strategies that address both legacy and emerging cancer risks in rapidly transitioning populations.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsAdultAgedCohort StudiesDemocratic People's Republic of KoreaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRepublic of KoreaRisk Factorscancer riskcohort studymigrationNorth Korean defectorssocial determinants of health

Identifiers

PMID41808542
PMCPMC13327436

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.