Black Americans have a higher occurrence of colon polyps, according to a new study. This is a significant finding considering the incidence of colon cancer among Black men has increased and remained unchanged among black women during the last 20 years.
The article will be published in the Sept. 24, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The new study, led by David A. Lieberman, head of gastroenterology at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine and the Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center, measured the incidence and location of colon polyps that were more than 9 mm in diameter, about the size of a pencil eraser, in men and women of all age groups who had undergone colonoscopy screenings at 67 sites across the United States.
Lieberman and colleagues found that of 5,464 Black patients and 80,061 White patients who had undergone a colonoscopy, 7.7 percent of Black patients and 6.2 percent of White patients had at least one or more large polyps. Black men had a 16 percent greater chance of having larger polyp, while Black women had a 62 percent greater chance.
"These data show that Blacks who receive screening are more likely to have serious polyps, compared to Whites, and are therefore likely to benefit from more intensive screening. Black men and women age 50 years and older should be strongly encouraged to receive colon cancer screening," said Lieberman, who also is co-director of the OHSU Digestive Health Center at the Center for Health & Healing and a member of the OHSU Cancer Institute.
According to the researchers, colorectal cancer prevalence and death are higher among Black patients. Death rates for Black men and women are 38 percent to 43 percent higher than for White men and women, and incidence rates are 15.5 percent to 23 percent higher in Black individuals.
