Location a factor in colon screening gaps

DAVIS, Calif., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Geography plays a key role in colon cancer screening disparities among non-whites, U.S. researchers say.

Thomas Semrad of the University of California, Davis, found African-Americans and whites in Iowa had nearly identical screening rates, suggesting they shared similar access to screening.

However, the study, published online in the journal Cancer, found that while the screening rate among whites in San Jose, Calif., was similar to the rate in Iowa -- about 45 percent -- the rate was extremely low by comparison among San Jose African-Americans -- 29 percent.

The researchers found whites were more likely than other races everywhere except Hawaii to be up-to-date on screening. Screening rates among Asian-Pacific Islanders in Hawaii were significantly higher than screening rates for whites -- 52 percent vs. 38 percent.

"This is a stunning finding," Semrad says in a statement. "Screening rates among Asians in Hawaii were the highest of any group in any cancer registry area, including whites."

Semrad and his team analyzed data from 53,990 Medicare enrollees ages 69-79 in eight states and 11 regions.