28 Statistics on Colonoscopy Indications

Here are 28 statistics on the indications for colonoscopy by percentage of patients from 2001 to 2005, according to National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases' Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States report.

Surveillance of:

•    Adenomatous polyps: 13.5 percent
•    Colorectal cancer: 2 percent
•    Ulcerative colitis: 0.9 percent
•    Crohn's disease: 0.6 percent
•    Established Crohn's disease: 0.2 percent
•    Established ulcerative colitis: 0.2 percent

Screening:

•    Routine risk only: 21.6 percent
•    Family history of colorectal cancer: 12.1 percent
•    Family history of polyps: 2.8 percent

Symptoms:

•    Bleeding: 29.7 percent
•    Irritable bowel syndrome: 18.2 percent
•    Hematochezia: 17.9 percent
•    Abdominal pain/bloating: 9.1 percent
•    Diarrhea: 7.6 percent
•    Positive fecal occult blood test: 7.2 percent
•    Change in bowel habits: 7.1 percent
•    Anemia: 5.7 percent
•    Constipation: 5.4 percent
•    Weight loss: 1.6 percent
•    Melena: 0.7 percent
•    Iron deficiency without anemia: 0.3 percent

Follow-up diagnosis of:

•    Polyp found in flexible sigmoidoscopy: 1.5 percent
•    Abnormal study: 1 percent
•    History of non-GI cancer: 0.8 percent
•    Suspected IBS: 0.5 percent
•    Polyp found in barium enema: 0.2 percent
•    Polyp found in previous colonoscopy: 0.2 percent

Other:

•    6.5 percent

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