Time from positive screening fecal occult blood test to colonoscopy and risk of neoplasia.

Gellad ZF, Almirall D, Provenzale D, Fisher DA. Time from positive screening fecal occult blood test to colonoscopy and risk of neoplasia. Digestive diseases and sciences. 2009 Nov 1; 54(11):2497-502.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• RCD 03-174 – Implementation Research of Quality Measures in GI

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Abstract:

There is no guideline defining the optimal time from a positive screening fecal occult blood test to follow-up colonoscopy. We reviewed records of 231 consecutive primary care patients who received a colonoscopy within 18 months of a positive fecal occult blood test. We examined the relationship between time to colonoscopy and risk of neoplasia on colonoscopy using a logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders such as age, race, and gender. The mean time to colonoscopy was 236 days. Longer time to colonoscopy (OR = 1.10, P = 0.01) and older age (OR 1.04, P = 0.01) were associated with higher odds of neoplasia. The association of time with advanced neoplasia was positive, but not statistically significant (OR 1.07, P = 0.14). In this study, a longer interval to colonoscopy after fecal occult blood test was associated with an increased risk of neoplasia. Determining the optimal interval for follow-up is desirable and will require larger studies.