Eric E. Elliott

The Impact of Bowel Cleansing on Follow-Up Recommendations in Average-Risk Patients With a Normal Colonoscopy

OBJECTIVES:Repeat colonoscopy in 10 years after a normal screening colonoscopy is recommended in an average-risk patient, and it has been proposed by American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) as a quality measure. However, there are little quantitative data about adherence to this recommendation or factors that may improve adherence. Our study quantifies adherence to this recommendation and the impact of suboptimal bowel preparation on adherence.METHODS:In this retrospective database study, endoscopy reports of average-risk individuals ≥50 years old with a normal screening colonoscopy were reviewed. Quality of colon cleansing was recorded using the Aronchick scale as excellent, good, fair, or poor. Main outcome measurements were quality of bowel preparation and recommendation for timing of repeat colonoscopy. Recommendations were considered consistent with guidelines if 10-year follow-up was documented after excellent, good, or fair prep or if ≤1-year follow-up was recommended after poor prep.RESULTS:Among 1,387 eligible patients, recommendations for follow-up colonoscopy inconsistent with guidelines were seen in 332 (23.9%) subjects. By bowel preparation quality, 15.3% of excellent/good, 75% of fair, and 31.6% of poor bowel preparations were assigned recommendations inconsistent with guidelines (P<0.001). Patients with fair (odds ratio=18.0; 95% confidence interval 12.0–28.0) were more likely to have recommendations inconsistent with guidelines compared with patients with excellent/good preps.CONCLUSIONS:Recommendations inconsistent with guidelines for 10-year intervals after a normal colonoscopy occurred in >20% of patients. Minimizing “fair” bowel preparations may be a helpful intervention to improve adherence to these recommendations.

Prevalence of adenomas and advanced adenomas in patients in the 40- to 49-year age group undergoing screening colonoscopy because of a family history of adenoma/polyp in a first-degree relative

BACKGROUND Per current guidelines, patients with a first-degree relative (FDR) with adenomas should get screened at age 40. Data on the prevalence of adenomas and advanced adenomas (AAs) in these patients are lacking. OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence of adenomas and AAs in 40- to 49-year-old individuals undergoing screening colonoscopy because of a family history (FH) of polyps and to compare these data with those of a control population of similar age. DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING Tertiary care academic medical center and Veterans Affairs medical center. PATIENTS Study subjects included all 40- to 49-year-old asymptomatic individuals undergoing initial screening colonoscopy at our institution from January 1, 2006, to June 1, 2009, because of an FDR with polyps. The control population consisted of all 40- to 49-year-old individuals who underwent their first colonoscopy during the same period because of abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation without an FH of polyps or colorectal cancer. INTERVENTION Colonoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS The prevalence of adenomas of any size, AAs, and risk factors associated with adenomas. RESULTS The prevalence of adenomas was greater in the FH of polyps group (n = 176) compared with the control sample (n = 178) (26.7% vs 13.5%; P = .002) but was not statistically greater for AAs (5.7% vs 3.4%; P = .3). After adjusting for confounders, FH of a polyp was associated with an increased prevalence of adenomas (odds ratio 2.8 [95% CI, 1.4-5.5]). LIMITATIONS Limited data on polyp histology in FDRs and limited sample size. CONCLUSIONS Among 40- to 49-year-old patients undergoing screening colonoscopy because of an FDR with polyps, the prevalence of adenomas was greater than in a control population. Prospective research is needed to quantify the prevalence of AAs in this group and to determine whether these individuals should undergo screening colonoscopy at age 40.

Prevalence of any size adenomas and advanced adenomas in 40- to 49-year-old individuals undergoing screening colonoscopy because of a family history of colorectal carcinoma in a first-degree relative

BACKGROUND Per current guidelines, patients with a first-degree relative (FDR) with colorectal cancer (CRC) should get screened at least at age 40. Data about the prevalence of adenomas and advanced adenomas (AAs) in these patients are lacking. OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence of adenomas and AAs in 40- to 49-year-old individuals undergoing screening colonoscopy for family history of CRC. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. PATIENTS Asymptomatic patients 40 to 49 years of age undergoing their first screening colonoscopy at the University of Michigan during the period 1999 to 2009 because of an FDR with CRC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Prevalence of adenomas (any size), AAs, and risk factors associated with adenomas. RESULTS Among 640 study patients, the prevalence of adenomas (any size) was 15.4% and 3.3% for AAs. Adenoma prevalence was lower if the FDR with CRC was younger than 60 years of age versus an FDR with CRC older than 60 years of age (12.4% vs 19%, P = .034). Male sex (odds ratio 2.6; 95% CI, 1.06-4.4) and advancing age (odds ratio 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.31) were associated with adenomas. LIMITATIONS Limited data on risk factor exposure and insufficient sample size to assess risk factors for AAs. CONCLUSIONS Among 40- to 49-year-old patients undergoing screening colonoscopy because of an FDR with CRC, the prevalence of adenomas and AAs is low. Further research should determine whether these individuals have a higher prevalence of adenomas compared with average-risk individuals.

Predictors of suboptimal bowel preparation in asymptomatic patients undergoing average-risk screening colonoscopy

AIM To identify risk factors for a suboptimal preparation among a population undergoing screening or surveillance colonoscopy. METHODS Retrospective review of the University of Michigan and Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital records from 2009 to identify patients age 50 and older who underwent screening or surveillance procedure and had resection of polyps less than 1 cm in size and no more than 2 polyps. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of colorectal cancer were excluded. Suboptimal procedures were defined as procedure preparations categorized as fair, poor or inadequate by the endoscopist. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of suboptimal preparation. RESULTS Of 4427 colonoscopies reviewed, 2401 met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Of our population, 16% had a suboptimal preparation. African Americans were 70% more likely to have a suboptimal preparation (95%CI: 1.2-2.4). Univariable analysis revealed that narcotic and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) use, diabetes, prep type, site (VA vs non-VA), and presence of a gastroenterology (GI) fellow were associated with suboptimal prep quality. In a multivariable model controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, procedure site and presence of a GI fellow, diabetes [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; 95%CI: 1.6-3.2], TCA use (OR = 2.5; 95%CI: 1.3-4.9), narcotic use (OR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.2-2.5) and Miralax-Gatorade prep vs 4L polyethylene glycol 3350 (OR = 0.6; 95%CI: 0.4-0.9) were associated with a suboptimal prep quality. CONCLUSION Diabetes, narcotics use and TCA use were identified as predictors of poor preparation in screening colonoscopies while Miralax-Gatorade preps were associated with better bowel preparation.