Key takeaways:
- Non-white individuals are less likely to undergo CRC screening and colonoscopy than white individuals.
- However, non-white individuals are more likely to use noninvasive testing modalities.
CHICAGO — Even as colorectal cancer screening rates have risen among older adults across race and ethnicity, racial disparities in cancer screenings have not improved comparatively, according to data presented at Digestive Disease Week.
An analysis of 2015-2023 National Health Interview Surveys showed that despite an annual 1.6% increase in CRC screening overall, individuals who identify as Black, Hispanic or Asian are still less likely to undergo screening than white individuals.
Even as colorectal cancer screening rates have risen among older adults across race and ethnicity, racial disparities in cancer screenings have not improved comparatively. Image: Robert Stott.
“We found colorectal cancer screening rate growth in all racial groups with an increased use of colonoscopy and noninvasive screening modalities,” Sophie Montgomery, MD, internal medicine resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said during a presentation.
“We did not detect narrowing of racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening overall or for any specific modality. I think what this analysis highlights is that noninvasive modality alone has not addressed barriers in colorectal cancer screening.
“The existence of these tests isn’t going to solve our problems,” she added. “What we need is robust implementation programs.”
Montgomery and colleagues analyzed CRC screening trends by self-reported race among adults aged 50 to 75 years.
The analysis included 45,398 participants who completed surveys in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
The overall rate of CRC screening improved during the survey period — rising from 60.8% in 2015 to 72.2% in 2023 — reflecting a 1.6% (95% CI, 1.3%-1.8%) annual increase.
Increases were observed across all racial groups, including non-Hispanic white (64% to 75%), non-Hispanic Black (59.7% to 71.7%), Hispanic/Latino (45.4% to 61.2%) and non-Hispanic Asian (53% to 66.1%), with no significant differences detected by race.
However, compared with white individuals, CRC screening prevalence was 4.1% lower among Black individuals, 11.5% lower among Asian individuals and 15% lower among Hispanic individuals.
Researchers also did not detect significant differences in noninvasive screening trends by race, which rose across all groups.
However, rates of noninvasive screening were higher among all racial groups compared with white individuals (Hispanic, 4.6% higher; Asian, 3% higher; Black, 1.8% higher), although colonoscopy rates remained lower (Hispanic, 20% lower; Asian, 14.9% lower; Black, 6.9% lower).
Overall, results show that systemic changes are necessary for CRC screening to be equally accessed by all.
“If we want to address racial disparities, we need to address the social determinants of health more broadly,” Montgomery said.
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Montgomery S, et al. Rising use of stool-based testing is not bridging racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening: The National Health Interview Survey 2015-2023. Presented at: Digestive Disease Week; May 2-5, 2026; Chicago.
Disclosures:
Healio could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at time of publication.
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