Objective:

To examine trends and disparities in the prevalence of selected cancers among U.S. adults from 2019 to 2023.

Approach:

• Study Design: Cross-sectional study using data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults.
• Data Collection: Cancer prevalence based on self-reported physician diagnoses; stratified analyses by various demographic factors.
• Statistical Analysis: Joinpoint regression analysis assessed temporal trends with annual percentage change (APC) estimates.

Key Findings:

• Overall cancer prevalence remained stable from 2019 (9.6%, 95% CI: 9.3–9.9) to 2023 (9.8%, 95% CI: 9.5–10.1).
• White adults had the highest cancer prevalence (11.7%, 95% CI: 11.3–12.2), while Asians had the lowest (3.5%, 95% CI: 2.6–4.8).
• Breast cancer prevalence in females rose slightly from 3.2% (95% CI: 2.9–3.5) to 3.5% (95% CI: 3.2–3.8).
• Cervical cancer prevalence in females declined significantly from 1.1% (95% CI: 0.9–1.3) to 0.9% (95% CI: 0.8–1.1).
• Prostate cancer prevalence in males rose slightly from 2.3% (95% CI: 2.1–2.6) to 2.5% (95% CI: 2.3–2.8), with Black males having the highest prevalence (3.6%, 95% CI: 2.7–4.7).
• Skin cancer prevalence in females increased from 3.0% (95% CI: 2.7–3.3) to 3.3% (95% CI: 3.0–3.6), highest among White adults (4.7%, 95% CI: 4.4–5.0).
• Higher prevalence observed among older adults, non-MSA residents, and those with low social vulnerability.

Interpretation:

Significant disparities persist across demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic groups despite stable overall cancer prevalence.

Limitations:

• Data based on self-reported physician diagnoses, which may introduce reporting bias.
• Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.

Conclusion:

The findings emphasize the need for targeted cancer control strategies to address ongoing inequities.