Olufemi J. Adegoke, MBChB, MPH, DrPH¹, Marian O. Ladipo, MPH¹, Selwyn O. Rogers, MD², Steven C. Stain, MD¹, and Robert S. Levine, MD³. (1) Department of Surgery, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208, 615-327-5668, mladipo@mmc.edu, (2) Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, (3) Deptartment of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

PURPOSE: To examine the differences of gender, age, income, and insurance among white and black colorectal (CRC) subjects.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the 1997 to 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Only participants with a history of colon and/or rectal cancer were included in our analysis. A total of 1,032 CRC subjects were identified with a weighted sample size of 5,170,294 whites and 517,798 blacks. The NHIS data was linked to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to allow for insurance evaluation. Frequencies and chi-square test-statistic for comparisons were done. Statistical Analysis Software 8.2 (SAS) was used for all analyses.

RESULTS: We observed statistically significant differences by gender, age, income, and insurance status between black and white CRC study participants. In the study period, the proportion of participants aged 60 and over was consistently higher in whites than in blacks. We also observed an increasing trend in prevalence of CRC with a decrease in white to black prevalence ratio. With the exception of 2001, the prevalence of CRC among blacks was higher among females than males in the study period. Sporadic differences in income were observed in both white and black participants but majority of all the participants had insurance coverage.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the disparity in prevalence of CRC between whites and blacks is now decreasing, however, significant differences still exist by gender, age, income, and insurance status. A closer look at issues other than access to care such as education and survival rate is needed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this poster presentation, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify present trends among black and white colorectal cancer subjects in the United States.
• Describe the differences in insurance coverage among white and black colorectal subjects.
• Recognize that a multifactoral approach, other than access to care, is needed (education, survival rate, e.g.) to eliminate the disparity between white and black colorectal patients.

Keywords: Access, National Health Interview Survey

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.