ORIGINAL
ARTICLE
Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics
of Colorectal Cancer Patients
Vlad-Alexandru
IONESCU1,2, Ioana-Alexandra BABAN2, Gina GHEORGHE1,2,
Alin-Bogdan DEACANU3, Crista-Loredana TIUCA1,2, Camelia
Cristina DIACONU1,2,4
1Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Emergency Hospital of
Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
2“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
3Rheumatology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital of Bucharest,
Romania
4Academy of Romanian Scientists
DOI 10.56082/annalsarscimed.2024.2.6
Correspondence: Ioana-Alexandra Baban, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and
Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; e-mail: ioana.baban@stud.umfcd.ro
Abstract: Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent malignant tumor and the
second leading cause of mortality, following bronchopulmonary cancer. The aim
of our study was to evaluate demographic, clinical, and paraclinical data in
patients with colorectal cancer, to find prognostic markers. Materials and
methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study, including 204 patients with colorectal cancer who were admitted in the Clinical
Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2024. Results:
We identified a slight male predominance (54% versus 46%) and an average age of
67 years. However, a
significant percentage of patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer before
the age of 50 years (11%). Regarding harmful behaviors, 24% of patients were
smokers, and only 2.5% confirmed chronic alcohol use. The most common
comorbidity of patients in our study was hypertension (65.7%), followed by
obesity (43%) and diabetes (24%). The sigmoid colon was identified as the
predilection location of colorectal cancer through endoscopic evaluation. The most common histopathological type was NOS
adenocarcinoma (76.5%), followed by mucinous adenocarcinoma (16.7%). Most
patients (77%) had moderately differentiated tumors (grade G2). The
in-hospital mortality rate was 2.5%, and the average duration of
hospitalization was 14.51 days. Conclusions: It is imperative to raise
public awareness regarding the risk of colorectal cancer, to encourage the
adoption of a healthy lifestyle and to facilitate the implementation of novel
strategies to manage this condition.
Keywords: colorectal cancer; screening; diagnosis; risk
factors; prognosis
