Use, appropriateness, and diagnostic yield of screening colonoscopy: an international observational study (EPAGE).

BACKGROUND Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) has been shown to decrease mortality. OBJECTIVE To examine determinants associated with having (1) a screening colonoscopy, (2) an appropriate indication for screening, and (3) a significant diagnosis at screening. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Twenty-one endoscopy centers from 11 countries. PATIENTS Asymptomatic patients who underwent a colonoscopy for the purpose of detecting CRC and who did not have a history of polyps or CRC, a lesion observed at a recent barium enema or sigmoidoscopy, or a recent positive fecal occult blood test. INTERVENTION Screening colonoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Appropriateness according to the European Panel on the Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE) criteria and significant diagnoses (cancer, adenomatous polyps, new diagnoses of inflammatory bowel disease, angiodysplasia). RESULTS Of 5069 colonoscopies, 561 (11%) were performed for screening purposes. Patients were more likely to have a screening colonoscopy if they were aged 45 to 54 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.60-3.99). Screening colonoscopies were appropriate, uncertain, and inappropriate in 26%, 60%, and 14% of cases, respectively. Eighty-one significant diagnoses were made, including 4 cancers. Significant diagnoses were more often made for uncertain/appropriate indications (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.12-9.17) than for inappropriate indications. LIMITATIONS Although data completeness was asked of all centers, it is possible that not all consecutive patients were included. Participating centers were a convenience sample and thus may not be representative. CONCLUSIONS About 1 of 10 colonoscopies were performed for screening, preferentially in middle-aged individuals. A higher diagnostic yield in uncertain/appropriate indications suggests that the use of appropriateness criteria may enhance the efficient use of colonoscopy for screening.

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