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.