The Relevance of Sex and Age as Non-Modifiable Risk Factors in Relation to Clinical-Pathological Parameters in Colorectal Cancer

Background and objectives: We aimed to assess the significance of sex and age compared to other clinical-pathological parameters in colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and methods: Our study included a retrospective approach to CRC patients who underwent surgery at the 'Pius Brinzeu' County Clinical Emergency Hospital in Timisoara (PBECCHT), Romania. The analyzed parameters were: patient age and sex, tumor location, histological type, differentiation grade (G), extent of tumor (pT), lymph-node status (pN), distant metastasis status (pM), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI). The population was divided into three groups based on age, with those under 49 years old, 50 to 69 years old, and elderly (>70). Results: The study's inclusion criteria were met by 1885 patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.39:1. There were significant differences between the sexes in the anatomical location of tumors (p < 0.0001). Younger patients were more likely to have deeply invasive tumors (p = 0.0096), LVI (p = 0.0332), lymph-node metastases (p = 0.0158), and metastatic disease (p = 0.0017). Conclusions: Over the ten-year period reviewed, the frequency of CRC cases has progressively increased, with males being diagnosed more often. In terms of patient age, the young population exhibits clinical features of aggressive evolution. Patient sex did not influence the analyzed parameters, except for tumor location, where right colon tumors are slightly more common in females.