Current guidelines
recommend colonoscopy every 10 years, after a colonoscopy with normal findings
(negative colonoscopy results, as the preferred screening strategy for
colorectal cancer.
A study published Dec.
17, 2018 in JAMA Internal Medicine has
provided evidence that corroborates this recommendation.
A retrospective cohort
study was conducted in an integrated health care delivery organization serving
more than 4 million members across Northern California. A total of 1 251 318
average-risk screening-eligible patients, aged 50-75 years, between January 1,
1998, and December 31, 2015, were included. The hazard ratios (HRs) for
colorectal cancer and related deaths were calculated according to time since
negative colonoscopy result (or since cohort entry for those unscreened).
The results showed that
at 10 years after a negative colonoscopy, the risk for colorectal cancer and
related deaths was 46% and 88% lower in patients who underwent colonoscopy,
respectively, versus patients who were unscreened. A reduced risk of colorectal
cancer and related deaths was also observed after at least 12 years of
follow-up after the initial exam.
Lead author Jeffrey K.
Lee, MD, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland,
said that with the results of this study, physicians "can feel
confident" about the guideline-recommended 10-year rescreening interval
after a negative colonoscopy in which no colorectal cancer or polyps were
found.
(Source: JAMA Intern Med. Published online
December 17, 2018)
Dr KK
Aggarwal
Padma
Shri Awardee
President
Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)
Group
Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President
Heart Care Foundation of India
Immediate
Past National President IMA
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