Blacks' risk of colon polyps greater

PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said that colon polyps are more prevalent among black male and female patients, compared to white patients.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found 7.7 percent of black patients and 6.2 percent of white patients undergoing screening colonoscopies had at least one or more polyps larger than 9 mm -- about the size of a pencil eraser. Black men had a 16 percent greater chance of having polyps larger than 9 mm, black women had a 62 percent greater chance.

Study leader Dr. David Lieberman of Portland's Veterans Administration Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine said the study involved 5,464 black participants and 80,061 white participants screened at 67 U.S. sites.

"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," Lieberman said in a statement. "Black men and women age 50 years and older should be strongly encouraged to receive colon cancer screening."

Lieberman said research already shows colorectal 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.