Abstract B148: Colorectal cancer screening uptake and test use for individuals with diabetes in the U.S.: Implications for health equity
Authors: O'Malley Denalee M. , Ohman-Strickland Pamela , Andrews Tracy , Abraham Cilgy , Crabtree Benjamin F. , Hudson Shawna V. , Kinney Anita Y. 
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Individuals with diabetes mellitus have an estimated 27% elevated risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) and are disproportionately from health disparities populations. This study examined associations of race and ethnicity and CRC screening uptake and CRC test type used among individuals with diabetes to identify factors to consider in targeting CRC screening efforts to promote health equity. Methods: Merged Medical Expenditures Panel Survey Household Component (2012-2018) and National Health Interview Survey data sets were used to identify individuals with diabetes (non-Hispanic White (NHW) n=223,046; Hispanic n=54,791; Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) n=54,791). The main outcomes were self-reported up-to-date CRC screening based on United States Preventive Services Taskforce guidelines and screening test used (i.e., blood-stool test or direct visualization). The main independent variable of interest was race and ethnicity. Logistic regression models included socio-demographic and health-related co-variates. Results: Among individuals with diabetes 62.6% reported being up-to-date (UTD) with CRC screening, among the screened 5.8% used blood stool tests only and 56.8% used direct visualization tests.  In the final logistic model comparing relative risk of UTD screening to being unscreened, NHBs were more likely to be UTD for CRC screening [RR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.13-1.53, p=0.001] compared to NHWs. Individuals with no high school degree [RR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.65-0.99, p=0.3] were less likely to be UTD compared to college educated individuals. Individuals receiving recommended diabetes care were less likely to be unscreened [RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76-0.94, p=0.002]. Among screened individuals, race and ethnicity were insignificant in final models. Low-income individuals were less likely to be screened with direct visualization [RR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.97, p=0.03] compared to high-income individuals. Overweight individuals (BMI 26-29) were less likely to be screened with direct visualization [RR:0.75, 95% CI:0.57-0.99, p=0.41] compared to individuals with BMI ≤25. Individuals with five or more comorbidities were more likely to be screened using direct visualization [RR: 3.45, 95% CI: 1.86, 6.43, p&lt;0.001] compared to individuals with 1-2 comorbidities. Conclusions: Among individuals with diabetes, social determinants and health factors associated with UTD and testing type differed. Race, education, and diabetes care quality were determinants of receipt of any UTD CRC testing.  Among those screened, lower income and overweight individuals were more likely to use stool-based testing and those with greater comorbidity burdens were more likely to be screened with direct visualization. Efforts to improve CRC screening for patients with diabetes, specifically those in the primary care safety-net, should consider these factors when tailoring CRC prevention and early detection efforts.  

Citation Format: Denalee M. O'Malley, Pamela Ohman-Strickland, Tracy Andrews, Cilgy Abraham, Benjamin F. Crabtree, Shawna V. Hudson, Anita Y. Kinney. Colorectal cancer screening uptake and test use for individuals with diabetes in the U.S.: Implications for health equity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B148.