Abstract
Background and Aims
The occurrence of colorectal cancer has been declining in the United States. The aim of the present study was to confirm such time trends using hospitalization data for colorectal cancer from the past four decades.
Methods
U.S. hospital utilization data were available for individual years from 1970 to 2010 through the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Colon and rectum cancer were analyzed separately stratified by their ICD-9CM codes. Hospitalizations during consecutive 5-year periods were expressed as annual rates per 100,000 living U.S. population.
Results
After an initial rise between 1970 and 1985, U.S. hospitalizations for colorectal cancer have declined ever since. Similar trends were found in men and women, and for colon and rectum cancer analyzed separately. The rise and fall of both cancer types were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The decline was most pronounced in the 65 years and older age group.
Conclusions
Hospitalizations for colorectal cancer have declined in the United States since the mid-1980s. The onset of this decline preceded the widespread use of screening for colorectal cancer. Other mechanisms besides screening may have contributed to this observed decline.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2012. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012;62:10–29.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for colorectal cancer. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Rockville, MD; 2008. Last accessed: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspscolo.htm on 4 May 2013.
Edwards BK, Ward E, Kohler BA, et al. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2006, featuring colorectal cancer trends and impact of interventions (risk factors, screening, and treatment) to reduce future rates. Cancer. 2010;116:544–573.
Levin B, Bond JH. Colorectal cancer screening: recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. American Gastroenterological Association. Gastroenterology. 1996;111:1381–1384.
Dennison C, Pokras R. Design and operation of the National Hospital Discharge Survey: 1988 redesign. Vital Health Stat 2000; Series 1, No. 39. Last accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_01/sr01_039.pdf on 4 May 2013.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) publications and reports. Last accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhds/nhds_publications.htm#nhds on 4 May 2013.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Compressed mortality file, underlying cause-of-death mortality. Last accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html on 4 May 2013.
Sonnenberg A. Effects of birth cohort on long-term trends in mortality from colorectal cancer. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;10:1389–1394.
Sonnenberg A, Lee BY. Birth-cohort analysis of colorectal cancer incidence in the United States (letter). Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11:582–583.
Lee BY, Sonnenberg A. Time trends of mortality from colorectal cancer in the United States: a birth-cohort analysis. JAMA Int Med. 2013;173:148–150.
Zhao YS, Wang F, Chang D, Han B, You DY. Meta-analysis of different test indicators: helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of colorectal cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2008;23:875–882.
Zumkeller N, Brenner H, Zwahlen M, Rothenbacher D. Helicobacter pylori infection and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Helicobacter. 2006;11:75–80.
Sonnenberg A, Genta RM. Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for colonic neoplasms. Am J Gastroenterol. 2013;108:208–215.
Cole BF, Logan RF, Halabi S, et al. Aspirin for the chemoprevention of colorectal adenomas: meta-analysis of the randomized trials. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101:256–266.
Conflict of interests
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sonnenberg, A., Byrd-Clark, D.D. U.S. Hospitalizations for Colorectal Cancer 1970–2010. Dig Dis Sci 59, 282–286 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2921-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2921-5