Evidence for improved prognosis of colorectal cancer diagnosed following the detection of iron deficiency anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is common in colorectal cancer (CRC), especially, in right-sided CRC which is known to have an overall worse prognosis. The associations between diagnostic pathway (Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP), IDA, symptomatic) and tumour side/stage was assessed using logistic regression models in 1138 CRC cases presenting during 2010–2016 at a single secondary-care centre in the UK. In the IDA sub-group, the relationship between CRC stage and the event of having a blood count prior to CRC diagnosis was examined using Bayesian parametric survival model. IDA was found as the only significant predictor of right-sided CRC (OR 10.61, 95% CI 7.02–16.52). Early-stage CRC was associated with both the IDA (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.18–2.29) and BCSP pathway (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.75–3.37). At any age, the risk of detecting CRC at late-stage was higher in those without a previous blood count check (hazard ratio 1.53, 95% credibility interval 1.08–2.14). The findings of this retrospective observational study suggest a benefit from diagnosing CRC through the detection of IDA, and warrant further research into the prognosis benefit of systematic approach to blood count monitoring of the at-risk population.