TPW 2.01 The Influence of Socioeconomic Deprivation on Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis and Time to First Treatment: A Tertiary Center Experience in the United Kingdom
Socioeconomic deprivation is linked to lower bowel cancer screening uptake, potentially resulting in later-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses. This retrospective study explored whether it influences CRC stage at diagnosis and time to first treatment (TFT). Anonymised patient data were sourced from Lower Gastrointestinal (LGI) Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) files. Deprivation ranks were determined via the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (EIMD). Multivariable regression and survival analyses examined the link between socioeconomic deprivation, CRC stage at diagnosis, and its relation to TFT. In 162 patients, socioeconomic deprivation does not affect CRC stage progression at diagnosis in a linear fashion (OR = 1.065, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.207, p = 0.3238), does not predict advanced disease (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.93 – 1.24, p = 0.0338), does not predict metastatic disease (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.24, p = 0.41), does not affect TFT (estimate = - 0.04, 95%CI - 0.17 to 0.08, p = 0.17). Age is a significant independent predictor of earlier CRC stage (OR = 0.964, 95% CI 0.928 to 0.992, p = 0.0117), non-advanced (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.93 – 1.24, p = 0.0338) and non-metastatic CRC disease (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.99, p = 0.049). Socioeconomic deprivation doesn't affect CRC stage at diagnosis or TFT. Younger age independently predicts more advanced CRC at presentation. Public and healthcare provider awareness is needed for timely evaluation of younger patients with possible CRC symptoms.