Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Publication Date

2-1-2024

Journal

American Journal of Gastroenterology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Health status and life expectancy are important considerations for assessing potential benefits and harms of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs, particularly among older adults.

METHODS: We examined receipt of past-year CRC screening according to predicted 10-year mortality risk among 25,888 community-dwelling adults aged 65-84 years who were not up-to-date with screening in the nationwide National Health Interview Survey. Ten-year mortality risk was estimated using a validated index; from the lowest to highest quintiles of the index, risk was 12%, 24%, 39%, 58%, and 79%, respectively. We also examined the proportion of screening performed among adults with life expectancy <10 >years.

RESULTS: The prevalence of past-year CRC screening was 39.5%, 40.6%, 38.7%, 36.4%, and 35.4%, from the lowest to highest quintile of 10-year mortality risk. Odds of CRC screening did not differ between adults in the lowest vs highest quintile (adjusted odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.93-1.20). One-quarter (27.9%) of past-year CRC screening occurred in adults with life expectancy <10 >years, and more than half (50.7%) of adults aged 75-84 years had 10-year mortality risk ≥50% at the time of screening. In an exploratory analysis, invasive but not noninvasive screening increased as 10-year mortality risk increased ( P < 0.05) among adults aged 70-79 years.

DISCUSSION: Past-year CRC screening does not differ by predicted 10-year mortality risk. An age-based approach to CRC screening results in underscreening of older, healthier adults and overscreening of younger adults with chronic conditions. Personalized screening with incorporation of individual life expectancy may increase the value of CRC screening programs.

Keywords

Humans, Aged, Early Detection of Cancer, Colorectal Neoplasms, Surveys and Questionnaires, Prevalence, Life Expectancy, Mass Screening

DOI

10.14309/ajg.0000000000002536

PMID

37782288

PMCID

PMC10872814

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

2-1-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes

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