The researchers will continue the study over time to see if the value of colonoscopy in reducing mortality improves over time.
The world’s first randomized study of the use of colonoscopy for prevention of colorectal cancer (of the colon) shows that the test in question does not prevent the fatal disease as effectively as previously thought.
The NordICC study (Nordic-European Initiative on Colorectal Cancer), led by Professor Mikael Brethauer of the Norwegian University and Oslo University Hospital, which was presented at the United European Gastroenterology “2022 UEG Week” in Vienna and published in the internationally prestigious American medical journal “New England Journal of Medicine”, analyzed data on almost 85,000 healthy people aged 55 to 64 in four European countries (Norway, Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands).
The participants they broke up randomly divided into two groups: One had a bowel check with a colonoscopy, while the other had no test. All the people were followed for ten years – on average – to see to what extent colonoscopy did reduce the chance of bowel cancer diagnosis and death.
It found that 1.2% of people who had not had a colonoscopy were diagnosed with bowel cancer over a decade, compared to 0.98% (almost 1%) in the colonoscopy group. This equates to an 18% reduction in new cases of colon cancer.
On the other hand, only three in a thousand they died from the disease over the decade, regardless of whether they had a colonoscopy or not, as there was no appreciable reduction in mortality in the colonoscopy group (risk of death 0.28%) compared to those who did not have a colonoscopy (risk of death 0.31 %).
“Unfortunately, the colonoscopy it is not the miracle cure for colorectal cancer. According to our study, it’s not even better than stool samples,” said Dr. Brethauser. He noted that as treatment options for colorectal cancer have improved over time, screening colonoscopy has become less effective in reducing deaths from the disease.
The researchers will continue to study the same people over time to see if the value of colonoscopy in reducing mortality improves over time. Their next announcement is expected in two years.
See the scientific publication here
RES-EMP
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