CDC reports more people being screened for colorectal cancer
Posted by Kate Murphy on March 15th, 2008
More Americans age 50 and over reported having been screened for colorectal cancer either with an FOBT test or colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy in 2006 than in 2004 according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 61 percent report having used a take-home stool test kit in the past year or having had lower endoscopy in the past ten years.
In 2006, 60.8 percent had completed either FOBT or endoscopy compared to 56.8 percent in 2004 and 53.9 percent in 2002.
People who had never been screened at all declined from 34.2 percent in 2002 to 32.2 percent in 2004 to 29.5 percent in 2006.
The report was based on the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System telephone survey. During the survey people were asked if they had ever used a "special kit at home to determine whether the stool contains blood (FOBT)," whether they had ever had "a tube inserted into the rectum to view the colon for signs of cancer or other health problems (sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy)," and when these tests were last performed. Identical questions were asked in 2006, 2004, and 2002.
Those reporting a lower endoscopy sometime in the past ten years increased with each report — from 44.8% in 2002, to 50.1% in 2004, and to 55.7% in 2006. On the other hand, FOBT was used less often declining from 21.6% in 2002, to 18.5% in 2004, and to 16.2% in 2006.
Image from CDC
Age, income, education, insurance status and ethnic background made a difference in whether people were screened or not.
- 54.7% of people from 50 to 64 had been screened versus 69.3% age 65 and older
- 45.5% with less than high school diploma vs. 68.7% of college graduates
- 36.7% with no health insurance vs. 68.7% with health coverage
- 47.2 Hispanic vs. 62% of Non-Hispanic
As annual household income rose, so did screening participation.
Less than $15,000 — 48.4%
$15,000 to 34,999 – 53.9%
$35,000 to 49,999 – 62.0%
$50,000 to 74,999 – 67.2%
Over $75,000 – 70.4%
Among racial groups
- 62.6% of White, non-Hispanics had been screened
- 59.0% of Black, non-Hispanics
- 55.9% of Asian or Pacific Islanders
- 48.4% of Native Americans/Alaskan Natives
- 46.2% of those who called themselves other
There were also wide disparities among states ranging from 51.8 percent in Mississippi to 70.5 percent in Connecticut.
In an editorial note accompanying the statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted,
The findings in this report indicate that overall use of colorectal cancer tests increased from 2002 to 2006. Although this increase is encouraging, disparities persist in colorectal cancer test use. Colorectal cancer test use increased among racial/ethnic minorities, those without health insurance, those with annual household incomes <$35,000, and those with less than a high school education; however, these groups had a substantially lower prevalence of colorectal cancer test use than did other groups surveyed. Factors that might contribute to disparities in colorectal cancer test use include lack of awareness of the need for screening, lack of recommendation for screening from a physician, lack of health insurance, and lack of a usual source of health care.
Answers to questions asked during the survey were limited because they did not make a difference between flexible sigmoidoscopy which is recommended every 5 years and colonoscopy with an every 10 year guideline. People responding to the survey also didn’t indicate whether their endoscopy was for screening or because they had symptoms of colorectal cancer.
SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 14, 2008.
