Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study by collecting data from electronic files of inpatient and outpatient visits of Kaiser Permanente Northern California members for a total of 771 patients.
Results showed that 24.6 percent of patients underwent at least one surveillance colonoscopy within a two-year study period, with a maximum of 38.5 percent observed among patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Gender, age, race and education were not associated with surveillance. Factors associated with increasing surveillance included lack of significant comorbidity, more than three inflammatory bowel disease-related outpatient visits and use of mesalamine.
Researchers concluded utilization of surveillance colonoscopy in a two-year period was low, even among high-risk patients. A greater understanding of how patients and physicians decide on surveillance is also needed.
Read the study about the prevalence of colorectal cancer surveillance.
Read other coverage about colorectal screening:
