The impact of delayed screening colonoscopies during the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical outcomes.
Cancer Epidemiol
; 92: 102629, 2024 Jul 31.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39088893
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening services in Ireland were cancelled or postponed for periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of screening colonoscopy delays after a positive FIT on clinical and histopathological outcomes due to these restrictions.METHODS:
Participants in the Irish National Bowel Screening Programme with a positive Immunochemical Faecal Test (FIT) during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-December 2021) were included. Patients were categorised into attended for a colonoscopy <3 months and attended for colonoscopy ≥3-17â¯months post positive FIT. Chi-Square Test of independence was performed using WinPepi.RESULTS:
3227 individuals had a complete index colonoscopy <3 months and 262 attended colonoscopy from ≥3 to 17â¯months post positive FIT. Of the clients whose colonoscopy was between ≥3-17â¯months from positive FIT, the median wait time was 3 months. There was no significant difference found between the two groups for CRC (5.8â¯% vs 5.0â¯%, p=0.544) or for the proportion of cancer stage I, stage II and unknown (33.7â¯%, 40.6â¯%, 25.7â¯%, p=0.411). There was no difference in the proportions of adenomas (57.8â¯% vs 58.4â¯%, p=0.849) and the proportion of advanced adenomas (7.7â¯% vs 10.7â¯%, p=0.077) detected between the two groups. A similar proportion of polyps were detected in individuals whose index colonoscopies were postponed <3 months from positive FIT (66.9â¯% vs 66â¯%, p=0.786).CONCLUSION:
A median delay of 3 months in screening colonoscopies after a positive FIT does not adversely impact clinical or histopathological outcomes. There was no significant difference in cancer staging, advanced adenomas or polyps detected between those who attended colonoscopies <3 months and ≥3-17â¯months post positive FIT. COVID-19 related disruptions to the normal functioning of the Irish bowel screening programme did not compromise our key objectives of advanced adenoma and cancer detection.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Cancer Epidemiol
Journal subject:
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
/
NEOPLASIAS
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Country of publication: