The association between food insecurity and colorectal cancer screening: 2018–2021 New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

To assess the association between food insecurity and colorectal cancer screening uptake in screening eligible participants in New York State.

We analyzed 28,154 adults who participated in New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 2018 to 2021, were age-eligible for colorectal cancer screening based on the USPSTF guidelines at the time of survey administration and answered a version of the administered survey that included the module on food insecurity. Participants were defined as food insecure if they self-reported being always, usually, or sometimes stressed about having enough money to buy nutritious meals in the past 12 months. We compared demographic, healthcare access, overall health status, food insecurity by colorectal cancer screening status. Multivariable analyses were performed to assess the association of food insecurity and colorectal cancer screening status after adjusting for relevant covariates. Weighted analyses were performed using survey procedures to obtain population estimates.

Food insecurity was statistically significantly associated a decreased likelihood of being up to date on colorectal cancer screening (OR_adj 0.83, 95% CI [0.72, 0.94]) and being ever screened for colorectal cancer (OR_adj 0.74, 95% CI [0.64, 0.87]) after adjusting for overall health status, healthcare coverage, interview year, age, race/ethnicity, sex, educational attainment, and income. Health status, health coverage, age, and Non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity showed positive, statistically significant association with ever being screened and with being up to date for colorectal cancer screening. Lower income, lower educational attainment, and non-Hispanic Asian race/ethnicity were statistically significant inverse predictors of ever being screened and being up to date on screening.

This project assessed the association between food insecurity and colorectal cancer screening uptake using the BRFSS survey. Food insecurity may be an important predictor for colorectal cancer screening uptake in eligible adults in the United States. The results from the study can inform future interventions and policies designed to improve participation in routine colorectal cancer screening.