Sustaining Improvements in Colorectal Cancer Across Delaware:: A Look at Racial Disparities a Decade Later.

Abstract

A previously initiated statewide effort in Delaware improved outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) racial disparities. Objective. To examine whether improvements in racial disparities for CRC have been sustained a decade later and the status of Delaware's current cancer burden. Methods. Cancer incidence data from the Delaware Cancer Registry, mortality data from the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC)'s National Center for Health Statistics, and cancer screening data from CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed. Five-year age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were calculated, and comparisons were made between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White groups using rate ratios. Distributions by cancer stage were compared between time periods by race/ethnicity utilizing chi-square statistical tests. The prevalence of Delawareans meeting recommendations for CRC screening was compared between time points for each race/ethnicity group using the Rao-Scott Modified chi-square test. Results. Comparing 2006-2010 and 2015-2019, CRC incidence rates decreased for non-Hispanic Black Delawareans from 51.0 to 39.6 per 100,000 population and decreased for non-Hispanic White Delawareans from 46.6 to 37.6 per 100,000 population. Between 2006-2010 and 2015-2019, CRC mortality rates decreased for non-Hispanic Black Delawareans from 16.8 to 15.1 per 100,000 population and decreased for non-Hispanic White Delawareans from 16.8 to 13.3 per 100,000 population. There were no significant differences in CRC incidence or mortality rates by race/ethnicity in either period. The distribution of cases by stage comparing 2006-2010 and 2015-2019 were not significantly different for either race/ethnicity group. There were no significant differences in meeting CRC screening recommendations comparing 2010 and 2018 by race/ethnicity or directly comparing race/ethnicity groups in either year. Conclusions. Delaware has sustained improvements in CRC incidence, mortality rates, and disparities between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White groups but will continue to monitor CRC trends and outcomes to ensure early diagnosis and that disparities are eliminated.