Colonoscopy

[Anaxagoras]

Effect of Colonoscopy Screening on Risks of Colorectal Cancer and Related Death (NEJM)

I wasn't able to read the whole thing, only the "free preview" of the article. There's an accompanying editorial, but that's mostly behind a paywall too.

From what I can glean from it, the benefits are real but modest. One's overall risk of death "from any cause" was only reduced by 0.01% and was within the margin of error.

The two groups that they compare were:

The participants were randomly assigned in a 1:2 ratio to either receive an invitation to undergo a single screening colonoscopy (the invited group) or to receive no invitation or screening (the usual-care group).

Of those who were invited to receive a screening, only 42% actually underwent the screening. In the other group (the control group) it isn't clear whether any of them had a screening colonoscopy for other reasons.

I would have been curious to see a comparison between a group who definitely had the screening with a second group who definitely did not. As it stands, we know that 42% of the former group were screened, but an unknown percentage of the latter group probably got screened too. :notsure:

[Doctor X]

You do not have to justify your fetish to us.

– J.D.

[Anaxagoras]

Oof! :x :x :x

[ed]

No mention of age in the selection process.

[Anaxagoras]

I believe that they said 55 to 64

[ed]

Missed it. I thought 55 was sorta young. In any event, if it is negative and there are no other reasons, aside from simple enjoyment, you don't really get it again for some time.

Why this unhealthy interest in drugs and anal probing suddenly?

[ed]

In this randomized trial, the risk of colorectal cancer at 10 years was lower among participants who were invited to undergo screening colonoscopy than among those who were assigned to no screening.

Almost 20%.

What is the problem? Are you upset that you were not invited?