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. 2022 Feb 23;14(5):1153.
doi: 10.3390/cancers14051153.

Diagnostic Performance of a Fecal Immunochemical Test-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Program According to Ambient Temperature and Humidity

Gemma Ibáñez-Sanz  1   2   3   4 , Núria Milà  4   5   6 , Núria Vives  5   6 , Carmen Vidal  5   6 , Gemma Binefa  4   5   6 , Judith Rocamora  1   4 , Carmen Atencia  1 , Víctor Moreno  1   3   4   7 , Rebeca Sanz-Pamplona  1   3   4 , Montse Garcia  4   5   6 , On Behalf Of The Msic-Sc Research Group
Affiliations

Diagnostic Performance of a Fecal Immunochemical Test-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Program According to Ambient Temperature and Humidity

Gemma Ibáñez-Sanz et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Exposure of the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to different ambient temperatures and humidity is unavoidable in population-based screening programs in Southern European countries, and it could lead to a decrease in target colorectal lesions. The objective was to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature and humidity on the FIT sensitivity in a population-based screening program for colorectal cancer (CRC) using an ecological design. The retrospective cohort included individuals aged 50−69 years who participated in CRC screening (Barcelona) from 2010−2015, and were followed until 2017 to identify interval CRCs. The positivity rate, and detection rates for advanced polyps and CRC were compared according to ambient temperature, humidity, and quarters of the year. A positive FIT was defined as the detection of ≥20 μg Hb/g in feces. The monthly ambient temperature and humidity were recorded on the day that the FIT was performed. In total, 92,273 FIT results from 53,860 participants were analyzed. The FIT positivity rate was lower at >24 °C than at ≤24 °C (p = 0.005) but was not affected by humidity. The temperature’s impact on positivity did not lead to a decrease in the FIT detection rate for advanced neoplasia or the interval cancer detection rate in a program where the samples were refrigerated until the analysis and screening invitations were discontinued in July and August.

Keywords: fecal immunochemical test; humidity; interval colorectal cancer; screening program; temperature.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the participants included in this analysis. CRC: colorectal cancer; FIT: Fecal immunochemical test. a Negative colonoscopy was defined as having low-risk lesions or no preneoplastic lesions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Monthly fluctuations in positivity for the FIT over the year (red line) and the monthly temperature (a) and humidity (b) during the study period, respectively. The extremes in the confidence intervals represent the minimum and maximum temperature of each month.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Monthly fluctuations in positivity for the FIT over the year (red line) and the monthly temperature (a) and humidity (b) during the study period, respectively. The extremes in the confidence intervals represent the minimum and maximum temperature of each month.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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