PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

15-Dec-2014

Contact: Megan Hanks mhanks@acponline.org 215-351-2656 American College of Physicians @ACPinternists

1. Earlier detection could close the race gap on colon cancer deaths

Racial disparities in colon cancer survival rates may be explained by overall health at the time of diagnosis rather than differences in treatment received, according to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Colon cancer is the fourth-most common cancer in the United States. Black patients have higher incidence of colon cancer than white patients and are more likely to die from the disease. Researchers sought to determine the extent to which differences in overall health at diagnosis or differences in treatment could explain this disparity in survival. A total of 7,677 black patients with colon cancer were sequentially matched with three groups of white patients. Patients were matched first by demographic characteristics, then presentation (overall health including tumor size and comorbid conditions), and then treatment. The researchers found that treatment differences accounted for only a very small percentage of the overall racial disparity in 5-year survival. Most of the disparity in survival is explained by poorer health of black patients at diagnosis, with black patients presenting with more advanced disease and more comorbid conditions.

Note: The URL for this story will be live when embargo lifts. For a PDF, please contact Megan Hanks. To interview the lead author, please contact Dana Weidig at weidigd@email.chop.edu or

267-426-6092.

2. Emphysema on CT an important independent risk factor for death

Emphysema-like lung found on computed tomography (CT) is associated with an increased risk for mortality among people without airflow obstruction or COPD, according to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Emphysema was originally diagnosed on autopsy but is also a common "incidental" finding on chest CT done for other reasons. Reduced lung function is known to be associated with increased all-cause mortality and persons with COPD and CT-detected emphysema are known to have worse outcomes. However, the prognostic significance of emphysema on CT among patients without COPD is unknown. Researchers followed 2,965 patients who had no COPD on spirometry for six years. They found that emphysema-like lung assessed quantitatively on CT is associated with increased all-cause mortality and, therefore, is a clinically important finding.

Note: The URL will be live when the embargo lifts. For a PDF of the study, please contact Megan Hanks. To interview the lead author, please contact Lucky Tran at lt2549@columbia.edu or

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News from Dec. 16, 2014 Annals of Internal Medicine