Research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found patients with adenomas don't receive follow-up colonoscopies at recommended times.
Researchers examined data from 6,909 patients across the U.S. with high risk adenomas aged 50 to 89 who had colonoscopies done at one of three Oakland, calif.-based Kaiser Permanente systems, or the Parkland Health & Hospital System , according to HealthDay Reporter.
Here are the research insights to know:
1. Among Kaiser Permanente patients, between 47 and 59.5 percent had a follow-up colonoscopy within three and a half years.
2. In the Parkland patient group, 18.3 percent had a follow-up colonoscopy. The lower rate at Parkland could be due to differences in resources and patient population, according to study author Jessica Chubak, PhD.
4. Patients with three or more high-risk adenomas were more likely to get a follow-up colonoscopy at the recommended time.
5. Patients between 60 and 74 years were the most likely to get follow-up colonoscopies than patients between 50 and 54 years, while patients in their 80s were less likely.
Researchers concluded, "Colonoscopy within the recommended interval following advanced adenoma was underutilized and varied by healthcare system, age, and number of adenomas."