Patients who actually completed an at-home colorectal cancer screening kit had a 43% lower risk of dying from the disease, according to a study published Aug. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University re-evaluated 14 years of follow-up data from Sweden’s Stockholm-Gotland screening program, covering 376,511 participants and 1,668 colorectal cancer deaths. The program uses at-home fecal occult blood test kits, with positive results triggering a colonoscopy referral.
Three findings, by analysis method:
- Patients who completed the test: 43% lower mortality risk.
- Patients merely invited to screen, regardless of participation: 26% lower risk.
- The program’s original headline estimate: just 14% reduction.
The gap between the original 14% figure and the new 43% figure comes from correcting for two things prior evaluations missed: contamination (about two-thirds of the “unscreened” control group eventually got screened anyway) and nonadherence among those invited.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
