Clinically relevant findings are common among hospitalized patients who undergo colonoscopy, and the implementation of high-quality parameters such as bowel preparation and adequate colon cleansing will further increase the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy procedures. This is according to research published in Digestive and Liver Disease.

Researchers conducted a prospective, multicenter study of 1302 adult inpatients (mean age, 71±16 years) who underwent colonoscopy for any indication at 12 hospitals across Italy between February 2019 and November 2019. Researchers investigated both the indications and diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in these patients. Clinically relevant findings of colonoscopies included obvious cancers, polyps, signs of active inflammation, and potentially or actively bleeding lesions.

Patients underwent colonoscopy after a median of 5 days spent in the hospital. Indications for colonoscopy were iron deficiency anemia (43.3%), lower gastrointestinal bleeding (25.7%), and positive fecal immunochemical test with or without anemia (9.8%).

The diagnostic yield for relevant findings was 45%; the diagnostic yield for cancer was 8.6%. Approximately 65% of patients used a split-dose/same-day regimen for bowel preparation, and 68.8% of the patient population achieved adequate colon cleansing. Adequate cleansing was associated with a higher diagnostic yield than inadequate colon cleansing (50%; 95% CI, 46.7%-53.3% vs 34%; 95% CI, 29.4%-38.8%; P <.001).

Variables associated with the detection of any clinically relevant finding at colonoscopy included being 70 years old or more (relative risk [RR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.20-1.46; P <.001), male gender (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03-1.20; P =.006), evidence of blood loss as an indication for colonoscopy (RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.08-1.38; P =.001), and adequate cleansing (RR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.44-1.82; P <.001).

Quality Parameters Increase Clinically Relevant Colonoscopy Findings Including Colorectal Diseases and Cancer

Want to read more?

Want to read more?