Individualized colorectal cancer screening based on the clinical risk factors: beyond family history of colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background and Aims Individuals without a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) are screened uniformly despite interpersonal risk. To assess individual risk, we examined the age-specific prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACRN) according to clinical risk factors and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results.

Methods Participants without a family history of CRC who underwent screening colonoscopies and FITs were included. Clinical risk factors for ACRN were identified by using a logistic regression model. Point scores were assigned to each associated factor based on a regression coefficient.

Results A total of 34,658 participants were included. Age, male sex, smoking, and obesity were identified as risk factors. One-, 2-, and 1-point scores were assigned to male sex, smoking, and obesity, respectively. The prevalence of ACRN in individuals with 0, 1, and ≥2 risk score points was 1.4%, 1.6%, and 2.9% among those aged 50 to 51 years and 3.1%, 5.5%, and 7.5% among those aged ≥66 years, respectively. Among FIT-positive individuals, the prevalence of ACRN was 11.0% and 21.2% in those aged between 50 and 51 years and those aged ≥66 years, respectively. Among FIT-negative individuals with ≥2 risk score points, the prevalence of ACRN was 2.5% and 6.0% among those aged 50 to 51 years and those aged ≥66 years, respectively.

Conclusion If the clinical risk score is ≥2 points (persons with smoking history or obese men), early colonoscopy may be recommended, even with no family history of CRC. Additionally, FIT may be an appropriate initial screening modality for average-risk individuals if the clinical risk score is 0 to 1.