There is room for improvement in the time it takes for patients to receive colonoscopy after positive fecal blood tests, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Here are six insights:
1. Researchers examined 62,384 individuals, ages 50 to 89 years, with a positive fecal blood test.
2. Most patients who received a colonoscopy did so within 6 months of their positive fecal blood test.
3. However, follow-up colonoscopy rates varied across healthcare systems (P <0.001).
4. Median days to colonoscopy ranged from 41 to 174.
5. Increasing age and comorbidity score were associated with lower follow-up rates.
6. Understanding the timing of colonoscopy after positive fecal blood tests and characteristics associated with lack of follow-up may inform future efforts to improve follow-up, study authors note.