Colorectal cancer screening among individuals with intellectual disabilities: cohort study in Denmark

Colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality is elevated among individuals with intellectual disabilities, possibly because of delayed diagnosis. A nationwide cohort study in Denmark, where all residents aged 50 to 74 years are invited to biennial, free-of charge CRC screening, compared CRC screening participation and completion among individuals with and without intellectual disabilities. The study included 17,117 individuals with and 149,162 individuals without intellectual disabilities, who were invited to CRC screening at least once between 2014 and 2023. Screening participation and completion were significantly lower in the cohort with intellectual disabilities compared with the reference cohort. The proportion returning a stool sample increased with intellectual disability severity, whereas the proportion undergoing diagnostic examination after a positive screening test result decreased. The authors conclude that these findings indicate substantial inequities, highlighting the need for tailored strategies to ensure equitable CRC screening access for individuals with intellectual disability.