Increasing Disparities in the Age-Related Incidences of Colon and Rectal Cancers in the United States, 1975-2010

The overall incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been decreasing since 1998 but there has been an apparent increase in the incidence of CRC in young adults.

To evaluate age-related disparities in secular trends in CRC incidence in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) CRC registry. Age at diagnosis was analyzed in 15-year intervals starting at the age of 20 years. SEER*Stat was used to obtain the annual cancer incidence rates, annual percentage change, and corresponding P values for the secular trends. Data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's SEER registry for all patients diagnosed as having colon or rectal cancer from January 1, 1975, through December 31, 2010 (N = 393 241). MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: Difference in CRC incidence by age.