Disparities in the Epidemiology of Anal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Time Series

Purpose: To assess the trends and sociodemographic disparities of anal cancer. Methods: For this time series, billing claims were reviewed for all encounters between 2007 and 2011 in the Yale New Haven Health System. Results: There were 80 new cases identified. Decreasing trends were seen in women and increasing trend in men (−30.1% and 27.3%). Diagnoses were more common in areas with the highest proportion of racial minorities (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.75; p≤0.01) and poverty (IRR=1.72; p=0.04). Conclusions: Anal cancer continues to rise in men during the postvaccine era. Communities with the highest proportion of poverty and racial/ethnic minority groups bear the highest burden of disease.