TITLE:
Geographical Disparities and Trends in Prevalence of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in the United States
AUTHORS:
Jasneet Gill, Ayobami Olafimihan, Hunter W. Brady, Chimezie Mbachi
KEYWORDS:
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Regional Health Disparities, Southern United States, Healthcare Access Inequities, Rural Cancer Care, Inpatient Epidemiology, Cancer Screening Utilization
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Epidemiology,
Vol.16 No.1,
February
27,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remains a major public health challenge in the United States, with notable disparities in regional prevalence and outcomes. The Southern U.S. has consistently demonstrated higher rates of advanced-stage diagnoses, potentially reflecting healthcare access and socioeconomic inequities. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016-2019. Adults with mCRC were identified using ICD-10 codes (C18.8, C18.9, C18.2, C18.4, C18.6, C18.7). Patients were stratified into four U.S. Census regions. Chi-square tests assessed regional differences in mCRC prevalence, and temporal trends were analyzed using the delta method. Statistical significance was set at p