AN EVALUATION OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES IN COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENTS OVER AND UNDER THE AGE OF 50 PRESENTING TO ACADEMIC CENTERS IN JOHANNESBURG.

BACKGROUND: As in other developing countries, the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa have seen an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer. Repeatedly, the indigenous populations have shown a skewing of incidence in favour of patients below the age of 50. As part of a larger study, and through funding from the Medical research Council of South Africa, the Wits MRC Oncology group has set out to identify the epidemiological characteristics and disease progression of patients under the age of 50 presenting with colorectal cancer.

METHOD: Data was collected from the clinical experience of patients with colorectal cancer seen in four Wits academic hospitals (CMJAH, CHBH, WDGMC and Edenvale Hospital), through collection of clinical notes, interviews with patients and clinicians. This was achieved through a research nurse and the information was put into a REDCap database for further analysis.

RESULTS: On assessment of the data, there was a weak association between those below the age of 50 and black ethnicity and a weak association between those under 50 and male gender. In assessment of the other variables, similarly, association was demonstrated between those over the age of 50 and an abnormal waist circumference. A trend toward a greater BMI amongst the over 50 and lower BMI amongst the under 50 years of age at presentation also appears to be emerging.

CONCLUSION: The difference in risk profiling and epidemiology of young verses old patients may indicate a binary predisposition to colorectal cancer. These Results, however, need to be interpreted with caution, numbers accrued in this study are small and the assessments as a result are underpowered.