Clinical Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2005; 11(44): 7007-7013
Published online Nov 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i44.7007
Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristic of 736 patients undergoing colonoscopy in Kuwait
Characteristicn (%)
Gender
Male415 (56.4)
Female321 (43.6)
Age (yr)
Mean age (SD)43.6 (16.6)
<1531 (4.2)
15-49441 (59.9)
≥50264 (35.9)
Referring clinician
General physician255 (34.6)
Surgeon246 (33.4)
Gastroenterologist205 (27.9)
Pediatric gastroenterologist22 (3.0)
Other18 (1.1)
Clinical status
Inpatient130 (17.7)
Outpatient606 (82.3)
Table 2 Indications for colonoscopy among 468 patients referred for reasons generally indicated according to the 2000 ASGE guidelines1
Indicationn (%)
1 Hematochezia151 (20.5)
2 Clinically significant diarrhea of unexplained origin65(8.8)
3 Irritable bowel syndrome or chronic abdominal pain: colonoscopy done once to rule out organic disease48(6.5)
4 Chronic inflammatory bowel disease of the colon, if more precise diagnosis or determination of the extent of activity of disease will influence immediate management34 (4.6)
5 Unexplained iron deficiency anemia27 (3.7)
6 Following adequate clearance of neoplastic polyp(s) survey at 3-5 year intervals24 (3.3)
7 Colonoscopy to remove synchronous neoplastic lesions at or around time of curative resection of cancer followed by colonoscopy at 3 years and 3-5 years thereafter to detect metachronous cancer23 (3.1)
8 Evaluation of an abnormality on barium enema or other imaging study, which is likely to be clinically significant, such as a filling defect or stricture19 (2.6)
9 Presence of fecal occult blood12 (1.6)
10 Examination to evaluate the entire colon for synchronous cancer or neoplastic polyps in a patient with treatable cancer or neoplastic polyp11 (1.5)
11 Excision of colonic polyp9 (1.2)
12 Balloon dilation of stenotic lesions (e.g., anastomotic strictures)9 (1.2)
13 Melena after an upper GI source has been excluded8 (1.1)
14 In patients with ulcerative or Crohn's pancolitis eight or more years' duration or left sided colitis 15 or more years' duration every 1-2 years with systematic biopsies to detect dysplasia8 (1.1)
15 Treatment of bleeding from such lesions as vascular malformation, ulceration, neoplasia, and polypectomy site (e.g., electrocoagulation, heater probe, laser or injection therapy)7 (1.0)
16 Family history of sporadic colorectal cancer before the age of 60: colonoscopy every 5 years beginning at the age of 10 years earlier than the affected relative or every three years if adenoma is found6 (0.8)
17 Intraoperative identification of a lesion not apparent at surgery (e.g., polypectomy site, location of a bleeding site)3 (0.4)
18 Family history of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: colonoscopy every two years beginning at the age of 25, or five years younger than the earliest age of diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Annual colonoscopy beginning at the age of 402 (0.3)
19 Palliative treatment of stenosing or bleeding neoplasms (e.g., laser, electrocoagulation, stenting)2 (0.3)
Table 3 Indications for colonoscopy among 149 patients referred for reasons generally not indicated according to the 2000 ASGE guidelines1
Indicationn (%)
1 Chronic, stable, irritable bowel syndrome or chronic abdominal pain117 (15.9)
2 Routine follow-up of inflammatory bowel disease15 (2.0)
3 Acute diarrhea7 (1.0)
4 Metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site in the absence of colonic signs or symptoms when it will not influence management6 (0.8)
5 Upper GI bleeding or melena with a demonstrated upper gastrointestinal source4 (0.5)
Table 4 Indications for colonoscopy among 119 patients referred for reasons not listed in the 2000 ASGE guidelines1
Indicationn (%)
1 Constipation71 (9.6)
2 Unexplained weight loss14 (1.9)
3 Normochromic anemia7 (1.0)
4 Perianal abscess or fistula6 (0.8)
5 Abdominal mass of unknown origin4 (0.5)
6 Periodic follow up of healed benign lesions4 (0.5)
7 Surveillance after resection of colonic polyps or cancer, at different intervals from those recommended3(0.4)
8 Intestinal obstruction2 (0.3)
9 Routine examination of the colon in patients with no colon-related signs or symptoms about to have elective abdominal surgery for non-colonic disease2 (0.3)
10 Others6 (0.8)
Table 5 Appropriateness of indication and diagnostic yield of colonoscopy according to patients’ characteristics
Characteristic (no. of patients)Appropriateness of referral1n (%)
Diagnostic yield (%)
Generally indicatedGenerally not indicatedNot listed
All patients (736)468 (63.6)149 (20.2)119 (16.2)27.2
Diagnostic yield37.80%4.70%13.40%-
Gender
Male (415)263(63.4)87 (21.0)65 (15.7)28
Female (321)205 (63.9)62 (19.3)54 (16.8)26.2
Age (yr)
Mean age (SD)44.7 (17.3)38.2 (12.1)46.3 (17.3)
<15 (31)24 (77.4)2 (6.5)5 (16.1)48.4
15-49 (441)247 (56.0)130 (29.5)64 (14.5)22.2
≥50 (264)197 (74.6)17 (6.4)50 (18.9)33
Referring clinician
General physician (255)154 (60.4)63 (24.7)38 (14.9)18
Surgeon (246)153 (62.2)34 (13.8)59 (24.0)27.6
Gastroenterologist (205)137 (66.8)49 (23.9)19 (9.3)36.6
Pediatric gastroenterologist (22)18 (81.8)1 (4.5)3 (13.6)50
Other2 (8)6 (75.0)2 (25.0)00
Clinical status
Inpatient (130)89 (68.5)19 (14.6)22 (16.9)35.4
Outpatient (606)379 (62.5)130 (21.5)97 (16.0)25.4
Table 6 Clinical findings on colonoscopy by appropriateness of referral
Appropriateness of referral1n (%)
Generally indicatedGenerally not indicatedNot listed
Cancer21 (4.5)0a3 (2.5)
Adenoma54 (11.5)1 (0.7)c4 (3.4)a
IBD262 (13.2)6 (4.0)c8 (6.7)
Other colitides336 (1.3)01 (0.8)
Angiodysplasia5 (1.1)00
Table 7 Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for association between selected clinical parameters and diagnostic yield of colonoscopy
Parameter (n)Diagnostic yield (%)OR1 (95% CI2)P
Gender
Female (321)26.21-
Male (415)281.1 (0.8-1.5)>0.50
Age (years)
<50 (472)23.91.0 -
≥50 (264)331.6 (1.1-2.2)<0.05
Clinical status
Outpatient (606)25.41-
Inpatient (130)35.41.6 (1.1-2.4)<0.05
Referring clinician
Other (531)23.51-
Gastroenterologist (205)36.61.9 (1.3-2.7)<0.001
Appropriateness of indication3
Generally not indicated (149)4.71-
Not listed (119)13.43.2 (1.3-7.9)<0.05
Generally indicated (468)37.812.3 (5.7-27.0)<0.001