- August 20, 2026
- By Fid Thompson
The number of U.S. adults dying of colorectal cancer has dropped by more than a third over the past two decades, but a disparity in mortality rates persists in some communities, according to a new study out Thursday in JAMA Oncology led by a University of Maryland researcher.
The analysis of colorectal cancer (CRC) death rates across age, race, ethnicity, sex and geography found that certain groups of people 45 years or older accounted for at least twice the national average in 2019: Black men in 182 counties, Indigenous men in 92 counties and Indigenous women in 13 counties. The latter number is particularly notable because CRC mortality rates are consistently higher in males than females.
“If we can use this data to locate which populations and geographic areas are dealing with these uniquely high death rates, then health authorities will have the information they need to target a potentially life-saving public health response,” said Paula Strassle, the study’s lead author and assistant professor of epidemiology at UMD’s School of Public Health.
Colorectal cancer is the second-most common cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., killing over 55,000 people annually, but preventing most forms of the disease can be relatively straightforward: Regular screening can detect and prevent colorectal cancer by identifying polyps before they turn cancerous.
Researchers drew data from a variety of sources, including the National Vital Statistics System and the National Center for Health Statistics, analyzing information from over 3,110 counties and roughly 306 million individuals per year from 2000 to 2019.
“We have a huge amount of detailed information at the local level, which will help researchers such as myself pinpoint areas and groups in need of better prevention and treatment support,” said Strassle.
The next step, she said, is to explore why these communities are at much higher risk of colorectal cancer death than the rest of the country. Are they exposed to more risk factors? Do they have less access to high-quality cancer care? Are they not screening as often? Strassle and colleagues hope to find answers that can help policymakers and medical providers ensure everyone is getting timely and appropriate care.