Researchers recommend extending colonoscopy screening interval for low-risk patients

Editor's Note

Individuals with negative colonoscopy screening (NCS) results face significantly lower long-term risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality, suggesting the recommended 10-year rescreening interval could be safely extended for low-risk populations, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology. Healio reported on the results January 15.

As detailed in the article, researchers analyzed data from nearly 200,000 participants over a median follow-up of 12 years, comparing CRC outcomes between those with NCS results and those who did not undergo endoscopy. CRC risk among individuals with NCS results remained significantly reduced over the long term, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.51 for incidence and 0.56 for mortality after adjusting for multiple variables.

Additionally, CRC risk among low-risk individuals with NCS results remained below the 10-year CRC incidence threshold for high-risk individuals even after 25 years. Intermediate-risk individuals with NCS results did not reach the same threshold until 16 years post-screening. As detailed in the article, researchers say this persistent reduction in risk aligns with prior studies suggesting that NCS results confer lasting protection against CRC, potentially for up to 20 years or longer.

Researchers also emphasized that most average-risk individuals undergoing screening colonoscopies receive negative findings, meaning they are free of neoplasia. Current US and European guidelines recommend rescreening every 10 years, but findings from this study support extending the interval for low-risk individuals, Healio reports.