Research, presented at the 25th UEG Week Barcelona, suggests colorectal cancer screening should begin at 45 years old to combat rising mortality rates.
David Karsenti, MD, from the French Society of Digestive Endoscopy, and colleagues examined 6,027 colonoscopies.
Here's what they found:
1. Researchers found 45-year-old to 49-year-old adults had a 400 percent increase in neoplasia detection compared to 40-year-old to 45-year-old adults.
2. Neoplasia detection rate was also 8 percent higher for the 45-year-old to 49-year-old subgroup than in the 50-year-old to 54-year-old subgroup.
Researchers concluded patients should be screened for colorectal cancer starting when they turn 45 years old.
Dr. Karsenti added, "These findings demonstrate that it is at 45 years old that a remarkable increase in the colorectal lesions frequency is shown, especially in the detection rate of early neoplasia. Even when patients with a familial and personal history of polyps or cancer are excluded from the findings, there is still a noticeable increase in detection rates in patients from the age of 45."
The 25th UEG Week Barcelona is taking place in Barcelona, Spain from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.