Colorectal cancer, a health issue usually associated with older adults, has become more prevalent at younger ages. It is now the No. 1 cause of cancer death for 20- to 49-year-old men and the No. 2 cause of cancer death for women in that age group, according to a recent report from the American Cancer Society. While colorectal cancer remains most common among adults 65 and older, the rate of diagnosis has declined in that age group over the past two decades.
“What is alarming about these findings is that the typical twentysomething, thirtysomething, or fortysomething adult wouldn’t think of colorectal cancer as a health issue that would concern them,” said Urvashi Patel, PhD, vice president of data and analytics at the Evernorth Research Institute.
Dr. Patel stressed the importance for health plans and plan sponsors to educate adult members under 50 about their potential risk of colorectal cancer and the need for early screening. She noted that a recent study by the Institute has linked medically appropriate screenings with reduced risks of developing advanced stages of colorectal cancer as well as lower total costs of care. This research also revealed a need to address social determinants of health that can impede access to colorectal cancer screenings.
New recommendations have significantly increased colorectal cancer screenings among people 45 to 49
Even before the American Cancer Society released its recent report, emerging evidence showed that colorectal cancer was becoming more common among 40- to 49-year olds, with incidence rates increasing by almost 15%. In response, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended in 2021 that all adults begin regular colorectal cancer screening at age 45, five years earlier than the previous recommendation.
Evernorth’s analysis of pharmacy and medical claims from the Komodo Healthcare Map found a significant increase in the prevalence of colorectal cancer screening from 2019 through 2022 across all age groups recommended to have regular screenings. Notably, the percentage of 45- to 49-year-olds who underwent recommended screenings increased by 149% during that period (from 4.9% in 2019 to 12.2% in 2022). The greatest surge was in 2021 and 2022, which suggests the updated guidelines have been effective. Other age groups also saw increases: 30.6% for people 50 to 64 (from 24.2% in 2019 to 31.6% in 2022) and 29.1% for people 65 to 75 (from 25.8% in 2019 to 33.3% in 2022). The USPSTF recommends people older than 75 discuss their individual need for colorectal cancer screening with their health care provider.