U.S. hospitalizations for colorectal cancer 1970-2010

The occurrence of colorectal cancer has been declining in the United States. The aim of the present study was to confirm such time trends using hospitalization data for colorectal cancer from the past four decades.

U.S. hospital utilization data were available for individual years from 1970 to 2010 through the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Colon and rectum cancer were analyzed separately stratified by their ICD-9CM codes. Hospitalizations during consecutive 5-year periods were expressed as annual rates per 100,000 living U.S. population.

After an initial rise between 1970 and 1985, U.S. hospitalizations for colorectal cancer have declined ever since. Similar trends were found in men and women, and for colon and rectum cancer analyzed separately. The rise and fall of both cancer types were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The decline was most pronounced in the 65 years and older age group.

Hospitalizations for colorectal cancer have declined in the United States since the mid-1980s. The onset of this decline preceded the widespread use of screening for colorectal cancer. Other mechanisms besides screening may have contributed to this observed decline.