The effects of socioeconomic deprivation on colorectal cancer outcomes; a retrospective regional cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Although colorectal cancer (CRC) survival and outcomes are improving worldwide, there is emerging recognition of the impact of social deprivation on disparities in CRC outcomes. The reasons for the disparities in incidence and mortality amongst different socioeconomic groups are complex and not fully understood. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on CRC presentation, treatment course and outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients with CRC at University Hospital Limerick was performed. A mixed-effects logistic regression analysis approach was utilised to determine the association between socioeconomic deprivation and various CRC outcomes. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS V29.0.2.0 (20).

RESULTS

Six hundred thirty-one patients were eligible for inclusion. Twenty were more likely to present with metastatic disease (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.002-3.497, p = 0.049) or present as an emergency (OR 3.47, CI 2.283-5.274) than non-socioeconomically deprived groups. Of the 466 patients that were treated with curative intent, persons with a lower social deprivation score were more likely to require a stoma (OR 0.25, CI 0.152-0.439) and develop disease recurrence (OR 2.60, CI 1.491-4.467).

CONCLUSION

Those living in more deprived areas face barriers to accessing timely healthcare and are more likely to present as an emergency or with metastatic CRC. These findings could help inform more effective targeting of public health interventions for CRC.