DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Colorectal cancer remains a significant global health concern, ranking as the fifth most frequent cancer in Pakistan. Projections indicate a rapid increase in colorectal cancer cases worldwide over the next two decades, with emerging nations expected to account for the majority of the cases. Objective: This research aimed to monitor the clinical and demographic details of patients with colorectal cancer treated. Methods: The study included all patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and treated at the Surgical and Oncology Department of Jinnah Hospital Lahore between January 2020 to January 2023. Gender, age, co-morbid conditions, presenting symptoms, histopathology, grade of histopathology, and T/N/M staging were assessed. Results: One hundred fifteen individuals were examined, comprising 31.3% females and 64.3% males. The majority of patients (31.3%) were under 50 years old, with no significant difference in mean ages between sexes (p = 0.42). The mean age of patients was 45.46±15.2 years. Smoking history was present in 2.6%, diabetes in 11.3%, and hypertension in 1.3% of cases. Abdominal pain was the predominant presenting complaint (15.7%), followed by diarrhea (2.6%). Histopathology revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in 38.3% of cases, with grade 2 tumors being the most common (32.3%). Conclusions: The study highlights an increased risk of colorectal cancer, even in younger individuals in the Pakistani population. Encouraging screening among the youth with family history and getting the general population to look into their symptoms early on is crucial to identify patients in the early stages of the disease, thereby enhancing the chances of survival.