OBJECTIVES: Community health systems (CHS) in the US play a large role in the care of patients with cancer, with over 50% of patients with cancer cared for in CHS. The profile of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) seen in CHS within the US is not widely published. This analysis describes the demographic characteristics of patients with early versus late stage CRC at diagnosis across a sample of CHS.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed utilizing Syapse’s Learning Health Network^TM (LHN), an electronic medical record (EMR) derived database that collects cancer care data from within CHS across 33 states, 450+ hospitals and 1,900+ oncologists. Patients aged >18 yo at CRC diagnosis from January 1, 2010 - December 17, 2021 were identified from the LHN using ICD-10 codes. Data utilized for this analysis included structured data (EMR fields like sex, birth date) and unstructured data (physician notes) validated by Syapse’s Certified Tumor Registrars and descriptively summarized.

RESULTS: 1,112 patients with early stage (0-IIIA) CRC and 8,014 patients with late stage (IIIB+) CRC, at diagnosis, were included. Patient demographics for early stage patients included: median age of 69 yo at diagnosis; 50% male and 50% female; race including 84% White, 13% Black, 2% Asian; 5% of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. Demographics for those with late stage disease included: median age of 67 yo at diagnosis; 50% male/50% female; race including 79% White, 16% Black, 2% Asian; 5% of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS: Though the differences are modest, patients diagnosed with early stage CRC in CHS were slightly older, while black patients appeared at higher risk of presenting with advanced CRC at diagnosis, as compared to white patients. Additional analysis is planned to better understand demographic differences at diagnosis of CRC within CHS, to include possible evidence for healthcare disparities.