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. 2011 Nov;56(11):3122-8.
doi: 10.1007/s10620-011-1788-6. Epub 2011 Jun 17.

Predictors of colorectal cancer following a negative colonoscopy in the Medicare population

Amanpal Singh  1 , Yong-Fang Kuo, Taylor S Riall, G S Raju, James S Goodwin
Affiliations

Predictors of colorectal cancer following a negative colonoscopy in the Medicare population

Amanpal Singh et al. Dig Dis Sci. 2011 Nov.

Abstract

Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer following a normal colonoscopy in the Medicare population is not known.

Methods: A 5% national sample of Medicare enrollees from 1996 to 2005 was used to identify patients undergoing complete colonoscopy. A colonoscopy not associated with any procedure (e.g., biopsy, polypectomy or fulguration) was defined as a negative colonoscopy. Patients with history of inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer or death within 12 months of colonoscopy were excluded. A multivariable model was constructed to evaluate the factors associated with a new diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the period from 12 to 120 months following the negative colonoscopy.

Results: Among 200,857 patients (mean age 74 years, 61% female, 92% White) with a negative colonoscopy, the incidence of colorectal cancer was 1.8 per 1,000 person-years. The incidence rate for matched follow-up periods decreased from 2.0/1,000 person-years for patients undergoing colonoscopy during 1996-2000 to 1.2/1,000 person years during 2001-2005. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant regional variation in the incidence of colorectal cancer following a negative colonoscopy. The incidence was higher in patients >85 years, males and patients who underwent a negative colonoscopy by a non-gastroenterologist or endoscopist in the lowest volume quartile. On stratified analyses, endoscopist volume was a significant predictor for non-gastroenterologists only.

Conclusions: The specialty and experience of the endoscopist are significant predictors of the incidence rate of colorectal cancer in Medicare patients with a negative colonoscopy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with negative colonoscopy. The cumulative incidence was 0.4% at 3 years, 0.8% at 5 years and 2.3% at 10 years of follow-up in patients with negative colonoscopy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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