Social inequalities in stage at diagnosis of rectal but not in colonic cancer: a nationwide study

B L Frederiksen, M Osler, H Harling, T Jørgensen, Danish Colorectal Cancer Group

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We investigated stage at diagnosis in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) among 15 274 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed in 1996-2004 nationwide in Denmark. The effect of SES on the risk of being diagnosed with distant metastasis was analysed using logistic regression models. A reduction in the risk of being diagnosed with distant metastasis was seen in elderly rectal cancer patients with high income, living in owner-occupied housing and living with a partner. Among younger rectal cancer patients, a reduced risk was seen in those having long education. No social gradient was found among colon cancer patients. The social gradient found in rectal cancer patients was significantly different from the lack of association found among colon cancer patients. There are socioeconomic inequalities in the risk of being diagnosed with distant metastasis of a rectal, but not a colonic, cancer. The different risk profile of these two cancers may reflect differences in symptomatology.
Original languageEnglish
JournalB J C
Volume98
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)668-73
Number of pages6
ISSN0007-0920
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Feb 2008

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colonic Neoplasms
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Rectal Neoplasms
  • Risk
  • Social Class

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