The crude mortality rates for EOCRC from 2012 to 2020 are detailed in Table 1, revealing significant trends and disparities across various demographic groups. The overall crude mortality rate for EOCRC remained relatively stable over the study period, fluctuating marginally between 1.7 and 1.8 per 100,000 individuals. This stability suggests a consistent overall burden of EOCRC mortality within the U.S. population during this timeframe (Fig. 1 and Table 1).

This chart illustrates the trends in the crude mortality rate of EOCRC in the USA from 2012 to 2020

The mortality rate for females remained relatively constant, varying between 1.5 and 1.6 per 100,000. There was no significant change observed over the study period. The mortality rate for males was consistently higher than for females, ranging from 1.9 to 2.0 per 100,000. A slight increase was noted, from 1.9 in 2012 to 2.0 in 2018, and this rate remained steady through 2020 (Fig. 2).

Crude mortality rate of EOCRC in the USA from 2012 to 2020, sub-grouped by gender

The mortality rate for individuals aged 20–29 years demonstrated minor fluctuations, ranging from 0.28 to 0.34 per 100,000. The rate was highest in 2012 and 2020 at 0.34, with a slight decrease observed in the intervening years, reaching its lowest point in 2018 at 0.28. For those aged 30–39 years, the mortality rate exhibited slight variability, ranging from 1.67 to 1.86 per 100,000. The highest rate occurred in 2018 at 1.86, showing a general upward trend from 2014 onwards, with a minor dip in 2019. The 40–49 age group experienced the highest mortality rates, ranging from 6.34 to 6.99 per 100,000. There was a gradual increase over the years, peaking in 2018 at 6.99, with a slight decrease to 6.94 by 2020 (Fig. 3).

Crude mortality rate of EOCRC in the USA from 2012 to 2020, sub-grouped by age group

The mortality rate for White individuals was stable, remaining around 1.7 to 1.8 per 100,000 throughout the study period. This group exhibited higher mortality rates compared to Whites, with rates fluctuating between 2.0 and 2.2 per 100,000. The highest rate was observed in 2014 at 2.2, with a slight decline in 2019 (1.9) before increasing again in 2020 (2.1).

The mortality rate for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals was lower, ranging from 1.1 to 1.4 per 100,000. There was a gradual increase from 1.1 in 2014 to 1.4 in 2020. This group showed considerable variability in mortality rates, ranging from 0.6 to 1.4 per 100,000. The highest rate was in 2016 (1.4), with a notable dip in 2017 (0.6) and a gradual increase thereafter (Fig. 4).

This figure illustrates the trend in the crude mortality rate of EOCRC in the USA from 2012 to 2020, with data segmented according to different racial groups

Mortality rates were not available for some of the states in the USA. Higher mortality rates were observed in Mississippi and Alabama, while the lowest mortality rate was observed among the Midwest regions (Fig. 5).

This illustrates the trend in the crude mortality rate of EOCRC in the USA from 2012 to 2020, sub-grouped by states

Table 2 presents the AAMR for different racial groups in the USA from 2012 to 2020. Throughout the study period, Black or African American individuals consistently exhibited the highest AAMR, ranging from 18.5 to 22.3 per 100,000 population, followed by White individuals with rates ranging from 14.6 to 16.6 per 100,000. American Indian or Alaska Native and Asian or Pacific Islander groups generally showed lower AAMRs compared to Black or African American and White populations.

As illustrated in Table 3, there has been a notable decrease in the AAMR for both men and women over the analyzed period. In 2012, the AAMR for men stood at 20.6 (20.3–20.8), declining to 18.1 (17.9–18.3) by 2020. Likewise, for women, the AAMR decreased from 14.1 (14.0–14.3) in 2012 to 12.2 (12.1–12.4) in 2020. This longitudinal examination highlights an overall enhancement in health outcomes for both genders over time. However, despite this positive trend, the data consistently reveal higher mortality rates for men compared to women throughout the evaluated period, underscoring the necessity for further investigation into the underlying factors contributing to this disparity.