Population-based case-control study of demographic, birth, and parental characteristics and risk of early-onset colorectal cancer

The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC, diagnosed before the age of 50 years) is increasing. A population-based case-control study in California investigated the association of demographic, birth, and parental characteristics with the risk of EOCRC. The study included 1221 EOCRC cases born in California during 1988 through 2021 and 61,050 frequency-matched controls based on birth year. Based on multivariable analysis, males had a 34% higher risk of EOCRC compared to females (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.20-1.51) and Hispanic ethnicity was associated with 43% higher risk (versus non-Hispanic White 1.43; 1.23-1.66). Having a foreign-born mother was associated with a lower risk of EOCRC (OR 0.85; 95%CI 0.73-0.93). Among females, every 500-g increase in birthweight was associated with 10% increase in EOCRC risk (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.01-1.21). No other demographic, birth, and parental characteristic was significantly associated with EOCRC risk. The authors conclude that these factors require future research for validation and evaluation of possible mechanisms (graphical abstract).