Low income get fewer CRC exams

Community Action, Sept 20, 2004

OTTAWA -- Higher income people are more likely to have colorectal screening examinations in Ontario, according to a report in the August Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Only one-fifth of people in the screening-eligible age (50 to 79 years) group received any colorectal investigation. Multifactor analysis demonstrated a significant association between receipt of any colorectal investigation and income); people in the highest-income quintile had higher odds of receiving any colorectal investigation.

Further work is needed to determine the reason for this low rate and to explore whether it affects CRC mortality. The study was conducted between January 1995 and December 2001.