Disparity in trends and characteristics of early onset colorectal cancer: analysis from the National Inpatient Sample, 2016 to 2021

Abstract

Introduction: Colon cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States. With an increasing number of patients diagnosed at younger ages, the disease remains a significant burden. However, recent data on early onset patients admitted with colon cancer are still limited. Methods: We utilized the 2016 to 2021 National Inpatient Sample to investigate trends and characteristics of colon cancer hospitalizations. Nonelective participants were divided into early onset and normal-age groups, with a cut point of 50 years old. In addition, we also investigated factors associated with the risk of inpatient mortality in the study population. Results: There were 26,903 early onset nonelective colon cancer hospitalizations in the population group, amounting to 11.91% of total colon cancer hospitalizations. No significant changes or trends were seen from 2016 to 2021. Compared to the normal-age population group, there was a disproportionate number of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Americans, as well as those with obesity and tobacco usage. Conclusion: Some demographic factors and comorbidities disproportionately affect early onset colon cancer patients when compared to the normal-age population group. Further investigations are necessary to combat the growing incidence of early onset colon cancer.