Fecal immunochemical testing is more cost-effective than colonoscopy, according to a study published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Researchers compared risk ratios for differences in colorectal neoplasia detection rates between FIT and colonoscopy groups using the PubMed, Embase and National Health Services Economic Evaluation databases. They then used a random-effects model to pool these risk ratios and calculate the cost-effectiveness of FIT versus colonoscopy.
Researchers compared results from six controlled trials and 17 cost-effectiveness studies.
Here's what you should know:
1. More patients underwent FIT (41.6 percent) than colonoscopy tests (21.9 percent).
2. In an intention-to-treat analysis, annual or biennial FIT had a comparable colorectal cancer detection rate but a lower adenoma and advanced adenoma detection rate than one-time colonoscopy.
3. Annual or biennial FIT was more cost-effective than undergoing a colonoscopy every decade.
Researchers concluded, "These findings indicate, at least partly, that FIT is noninferior to colonoscopy in CRC screening in average-risk population," but advised that their findings "should be treated with caution and need to be further confirmed."