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UPDATED COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES: WHO IS MEETING CRITERIA?
Meredith Gunder
*, Michael Egger
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Introduction: Incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing in the United States, particularly in younger patients. In May 2021, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated recommendations for colorectal cancer screening to start at age 45 instead of age 50. Compliance with the new guidelines has not been studied.
Methods: Data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was reviewed to identify survey respondents aged 45-49 and 50-79 who had any screening test for colorectal cancer within the recommended time period. Demographics were analyzed to identify predictive factors for compliance with screening guidelines.
Results: Of the survey participants aged 45-49, 25.6% met USPSTF screening guidelines for colorectal cancer. In comparison, 70.3% of participants aged 50-79 met screening guidelines (p<2.2e-16). Rate of colorectal cancer screening was highest in black patients (30%) compared to Caucasian (26.1%), Hispanic (22.2%), Asian (16.8%), and multiracial patients (26.6%). Patients who did comply with screening guidelines were more likely to be female than male (26.8% vs 24.4%, p=0.000009858), live in urban areas versus rural areas (26.5% vs 23.2%, p=0.000908), have health insurance (26.9% VS 9.8%, p<2.2e-16), and have a primary care physician (PCP) (27.9% vs 12.4%, p<2.2e-16). Patients with higher education level and higher income level were also more likely to be adherent to updated recommendations (27.5% vs 16.3%, p=2.31e-10, and 29.9% vs 23.5%, p<2.2e-16 respectively).
Conclusion: In the first full year of the updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines, compliance in patients aged 45-49 was low. Work is needed to increase awareness of new recommendations in both the general population and medical community.
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