Quantitative FIT stratification is superior to NICE referral criteria NG12 in a high-risk colorectal cancer population

• Published in: Techniques in coloproctology 2021-10, Vol.25 (10), p.1151-1154
• Main Authors: Bailey, J. A., Ibrahim, H., Bunce, J., Chapman, C. J., Morling, J. R., Simpson, J. A., Humes, D. J., Banerjea, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Anemia; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Colorectal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Colorectal Surgery; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Gastroenterology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Occult Blood; Proctology; Referral and Consultation; Sensitivity and Specificity; Short Communication; Surgery
• ISSN: 1123-6337; 1128-045X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10151-021-02466-z

Background Guidelines for urgent investigation of colorectal cancer (CRC) are based on age and symptom-based criteria. This study aims to compare the diagnostic value of clinical features and faecal immunochemical test (FIT) results to identify those at a higher risk of CRC, thereby facilitating effective triage of patients. Methods We undertook a review of all patients referred for investigation of CRC at our centre between September 2016 and June 2018. Patients were identified using a prospectively recorded local database. We performed a logistic regression analysis of factors associated with a diagnosis of CRC. Results One-thousand-and-seven-hundred-eighty-four patients with FIT results were included in the study. Change in bowel habit (CIBH) was the most common referring clinical feature (38.3%). Patients diagnosed with CRC were significantly older than those without malignancy (74.0 years vs 68.9 years, p  = 0.0007). Male patients were more likely to be diagnosed with CRC than females (6.5% vs 2.5%, Chi-squared 16.93, p