Demographic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screenings Exposed in New Study

Researchers at Yale University conducted a comprehensive study of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening patterns among privately insured adults in the United States, revealing significant disparities in the use of various screening tests and procedures based on sex, socioeconomic status, and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan residence. The study, published in the JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from over 24 million individuals and found that the use of colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) decreased, while stool DNA test use increased during the study period. These findings have important implications for addressing health disparities and improving screening for CRC, a leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that colonoscopy and FIT use declined among privately insured adults, while stool DNA test use increased during the study period.
• Men had higher use of colonoscopy, while women had higher use of stool DNA tests.
• Areas with higher socioeconomic status and metropolitan residency had more frequent use of both screening options.
• Despite commercial insurance coverage, significant variations in CRC screening uptake were observed, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to improve screening.
• The study's findings suggest that developing targeted interventions to improve CRC screening rates, particularly in underserved populations, is crucial to reach the national target of 80% screening participation.

Statistics:

• Approximately 61% of adults aged 50-75 years in 2022 were screened for CRC, falling short of the national target of 80%.
• CRC is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
• The incidence and mortality of CRC have decreased in the past two decades, largely due to increased screening participation.
• The study analyzed data from 24,973,624 privately insured adults.
• The researchers used advanced time series methodology to categorize 96 months into 48 consecutive two-month periods to capture potential shifts in screening patterns.

Sources:

• Siddique, S., et al. (2025). Demographic disparities in the uptake of colorectal cancer screening tests and procedures in the United States. JAMA Network Open, 8(10), e235421.
• Yale University. (2025, October 28). Study reveals demographic disparities in uptake of colorectal cancer screenings. News.yale.edu.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS). (n.d.). Homepage.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Colorectal cancer statistics.