Anaemia and Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis
Author Information
Author(s): W Hamilton, R Lancashire, D Sharp, T J Peters, K K Cheng, T Marshall
Primary Institution: University of Bristol
Hypothesis
What is the risk of colorectal cancer in patients with anaemia?
Conclusion
The study found a strong association between anaemia and colorectal cancer, with the risk increasing as haemoglobin levels decrease.
Supporting Evidence
- In men, 5.2% of cases had a haemoglobin <9.0 g/dl, with a likelihood ratio of 27.
- In women, 7.5% of cases had a haemoglobin <9.0 g/dl, with a likelihood ratio of 41.
- Positive predictive values for men over 60 with a haemoglobin <11 g/dl and iron deficiency was 13.3%.
- Positive predictive values for women with a haemoglobin <10 g/dl and iron deficiency was 7.7%.
Takeaway
If someone has low blood levels and is older, they might need to see a doctor to check for cancer.
Methodology
A case-control study using electronic primary care records from the Health Improvement Network database, UK.
Potential Biases
Differential rates of haemoglobin testing between cases and controls may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study could not confirm cancer diagnoses as histology results are not routinely logged, and it only focused on anaemia as a feature.
Participant Demographics
The study included 6442 colorectal cancer patients (3421 men, 3021 women) and 45066 matched controls.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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