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Colorectal cancers (CRC) were the second most common cause of cancer-related death for both men and women worldwide in 2020. More common in men, the risk of developing it increases with age, although there has been a concerning increase in the number of diagnoses among those under 50 years of age. There are several well-characterised risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC), but also opportunities for intervention through screening and prevention.
Danielle Newby, Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in Real World Evidence at NDORMS said: ‘While CRC incidence and mortality have shown some improvements in the UK in recent years, it still has one of the poorest CRC survival rates compared to other high-income countries. Our research uses real-world, population-level data to understand the incidence of CRC so that healthcare decision makers can better plan for enhanced CRC screening and early detection strategies to improve those survival rates.’
The researchers analysed data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD and Aurum databases, which include comprehensive primary care records across the UK. The analysis included over 24 million individuals, focusing on those diagnosed with CRC. The team calculated incidence rates and survival outcomes by age, sex, and year of diagnosis with the results published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Key Findings:
- CRC incidence rates decreased by 3.3% per year among adults aged 50 and older but increased by 2% per year among those under 50.
- 5-year overall survival improved overall, from 64.3% for cases diagnosed in 2000-2004 to 67.5% for cases diagnosed in 2010-2014.
- Survival rates were lower for men compared to women.
Patricia Pedregal-Pascual, joint first author and clinician specialising in gastroenterology from Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona said: ‘While 5-year survival rates are improving overall, our findings underscore a critical need for enhanced CRC screening and early detection strategies, particularly for younger populations. We would urge healthcare decision makers to allocate resources towards more comprehensive CRC management, emphasising preventive measures, patient education, and access to timely diagnostics.’
Danielle added: ‘This research highlights a strong international collaboration between NDORMS, the University of Oxford, and the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona. We are excited to build on this partnership, utilising international datasets and clinical expertise to explore disparities in cancer care and enhance patient outcomes across populations.’
The research was undertaken by the European Health Data & Evidence Network (EHDEN) which received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative and was partially supported by the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.