Temporal trends in incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in Denmark from 2007 to 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the Western world and represents a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. We aimed to describe temporal trends in incidence, tumor characteristics, and survival for patients with CRC in a nationwide, population-based cohort in Denmark. We used population-based Danish healthcare registries to study all patients diagnosed with CRC from 2007 to 2022. Exactly 76,955 people in Denmark were diagnosed with CRC from 2007 to 2022. ASIRs were relatively stable from 2007 to 2013, with an ASIR of 65.8 per 100,000 for colon cancer and 32 per 100,000 for rectal cancer. In 2014, an increase in incidence was observed (79.8 per 100,000 for colon cancer and 37.4 per 100,000 for rectal cancer), followed by a decline in later years. Median survival times were 4.1 (IQR: 0.8 to 14.1) years for patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2010, 5.3 (IQR: 1.1 to -) years for patients diagnosed from 2011 to 2013, and 7.6 (IQR: 1.7 to -) years for patients diagnosed from 2014 to 2017. The assessment of mutational and molecular profiles increased consistently throughout the study period. We observed an initial increase in CRC incidence in 2014, corresponding with the implementation of the national screening program, followed by a subsequent decline. In recent years, the incidence has dropped below pre-screening levels. Additionally, the increasing use of molecular and mutational profiling reflects the growing complexity and multidisciplinary nature of CRC management.