Early onset colorectal cancer in Pakistan: Frequency and association with stage and grade.

e15709 Background: The disproportionate rise in early onset colorectal cancer (CRC) constitutes a critical public health issue. The objective of the study was to determine the sociodemographic and clinicopathological characteristics of early onset CRC (CRC< 50 years of age) versus late onset CRC ( > 50 years of age). Methods: Data was acquired from Aga Khan University Cancer Registry where CNExT Registry Software is used for standard cancer reporting. A total of 450 patients diagnosed with CRC between 2017 and 2019 who met the inclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. Results: The mean age of early onset CRC was 37.1years (SD ±9.3). Of 450 patients with CRC, 209 (46%) were early onset CRC. Early onset CRC was found to be significantly associated with late-stage CRC (adjusted odds ratio aOR 1.78, 95%CI:1.05, 3.00). Early onset CRC cases had significantly stronger association with poorly differentiated grades as compared to the late onset CRC (aOR 5.96, 95% CI: 2.67, 13.26). Conclusions: Early onset CRC is a significant public health problem in Pakistan, presenting at a more advanced stage and with poorer tumor differentiation . It underscores the need for further research to identify risk factors contributing to early onset CRC. Meanwhile focus is needed in increasing awareness about CRC for its prevention and early diagnosis with better prognosis.