Studies presented at Digestive Disease Week supported screening colonoscopies for elderly patients who have not been screened before, contradicting a 2008 recommendation against such screenings for people over age 75, according to a report by Medscape.
Using a cost analysis based on microsimulation modeling, researchers found that people ages 75-85 would benefit in life years gained from screening colonoscopies. The cost analysis included screening, diagnosis, treatment, and complication costs but did not include the cost of biologics for treating colorectal cancer.
A second presentation showed data suggesting that the prevalence of colorectal neoplasia is high enough in persons aged 75 years and older, concluding that a 12-year average life expectancy at that age was long enough to consider screening.
In 2008, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended colonoscopy screenings for people ages 50-75 and then discontinuing if there were consistent negative findings.
Read the Medscape report on screening colonoscopies.
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