Comprehensive Analysis of Factors Associated with Treatment Delays in Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Publication date: Jul 19, 2025

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the USA. Many modifiable factors affect prognosis, including but not limited to diet, smoking, alcohol, and time of diagnosis to initial treatment (TTT). Studies have found that patients who had a delay in surgery of greater than one month during the COVID pandemic and a TTT of greater than 31 days were at increased risk of death. The purpose of this study is to uncover the factors associated with treatment delay (surgery, systemic therapy, or radiation therapy) in patients with CRC. We analyzed data from patients diagnosed with CRC between 2000 and 2022 at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Patients initiating treatment ≥ 31 days after diagnosis were categorized as having a delayed treatment. Binary logistic regressions were used to identify predictors, adjusting for clinical and pathological factors. A total of 3192 patients were analyzed. 1128 (35. 3%) patients experienced delayed treatment. On multivariable analysis, patients with older age demonstrated a progressively increased odds of delayed treatment, with odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1. 35 (95% CI 1. 02-1. 79; p = 0. 039) for patients aged 50-59 years to 1. 81 (95% CI 1. 32-2. 47; p 

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