Social inequalities in colorectal cancer diagnosis
Author Information
Author(s): Frederiksen B L, Osler M, Harling H, Jørgensen T
Primary Institution: Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital
Hypothesis
How does socioeconomic status affect the stage at diagnosis of rectal and colonic cancer?
Conclusion
There are socioeconomic inequalities in the risk of being diagnosed with distant metastasis of rectal cancer, but not colonic cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- High income and living with a partner reduced the risk of distant metastasis in elderly rectal cancer patients.
- Younger rectal cancer patients with long education had a reduced risk of distant metastasis.
- No social gradient was found among colon cancer patients.
Takeaway
People with more money and education are less likely to be diagnosed with advanced rectal cancer, but this doesn't seem to be the case for colon cancer.
Methodology
Logistic regression models were used to analyze the effect of socioeconomic status on the risk of being diagnosed with distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.
Potential Biases
Potential differential bias due to exclusion of patients without Dukes’ classification.
Limitations
8% of the primary population was excluded due to lack of Dukes’ classification, which may have introduced bias.
Participant Demographics
Patients diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma in Denmark from 1996 to 2004, with a mean age of 68 for rectal cancer and 71 for colonic cancer.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.011, 0.001, 0.031
Confidence Interval
0.96–0.99
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website