Summary
Background and Aims
Patients with colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Current guidelines recommend endoscopic surveillance, yet epidemiological studies show poor compliance. The aims of our study were to analyse adherence to endoscopic surveillance, its impact on advanced colorectal lesions, and risk factors of non‐adherence.
Methods
A retrospective multicentre study of IBD patients with criteria for CRC surveillance, diagnosed between 2005 and 2008 and followed up to 2020, was performed. Following European guidelines, patients were stratified into risk groups and adherence was considered when surveillance was performed according to the recommendations (±1 year). Cox‐proportional regression analyses were used to compare the risk of lesions. p‐values below 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
A total of 1031 patients (732 ulcerative colitis, 259 Crohn’s disease and 40 indeterminate colitis; mean age of 36 ± 15 years) were recruited from 25 Spanish centres. Endoscopic screening was performed in 86% of cases. Adherence to guidelines was 27% (95% confidence interval, CI = 24–29). Advanced lesions and CRC were detected in 38 (4%) and 7 (0.7%) patients respectively. Adherence was associated with increased detection of advanced lesions (HR = 3.59; 95% CI = 1.3–10.1; p = 0.016). Risk of delay or non‐performance of endoscopic follow‐up was higher as risk groups increased (OR = 3.524; 95% CI = 2.462–5.044; p < 0.001 and OR = 4.291; 95%CI = 2.409–7.644; p < 0.001 for intermediate‐ and high‐ vs low‐risk groups).
Conclusions
Adherence to endoscopic surveillance allows earlier detection of advanced lesions but is low. Groups at higher risk of CRC are associated with lower adherence.
Background
Patients with colon Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) have a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) than general population. Current guidelines establish endoscopic surveillance recommendations; however, epidemiological studies show poor compliance. The main aim of our study was to analyse adherence to endoscopic surveillance guidelines. Secondary aim was to evaluate the prevalence and time-to advanced lesions or CRC.
Methods
Retrospective multicentre study of patients with IBD followed-up in the participating centres between 2005 and 2020, who were diagnosed of IBD between 2005 and 2008, with criteria for CRC surveillance. Patients with CRC before IBD diagnosis were excluded. The ECCO 2013–2017 guidelines were used to evaluate adherence. Adenomatous lesions with >25% of villous component, >1cm or with high-grade dysplasia or serrated lesions >1cm or with any degree of dysplasia were considered advanced lesions. Software used for all analysis was R in its 3.6.1 version. Normality was checked with the Shapiro-Wilks test. Mean comparison was carried out using t-Student test while normality assumptions held true, otherwise, Mann-Whitney test. Time-to advanced lesions or CRC event between patients that had adherence to ECCO guidelines versus those who did not was performed through Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank test. P-values below 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
A total of 1004 (713 Ulcerative Colitis, 252 Crohn’s disease and 39 Indeterminate Colitis; 52% male) patients from 25 centres were recruited with a median age of 36 (26–47) years. 87% of all patients were included in the endoscopic surveillance programme. The main reasons for non-inclusion were the absence of indication by the physician (38%) and the presence of inflammatory activity (37%). Adherence to the first or subsequent surveillance colonoscopies was 45% and 61%, respectively, with a total adherence rate of 32%. Prevalence of advanced lesions or CRC was 4% and 7 cases of CRC were detected. Time-to-detection of these lesions since IBD diagnosis was significantly longer in non-adherent patients (13.4 + 1.3 vs13.04 + 1.7; p<0.001). Adherence was associated to a higher detection of advanced lesions or CRC compared to non-adherent patients (HR: 1.97; IC: 1.02–3.79; p=0.043) (Figure 1).
Conclusion
Adherence to ECCO guidelines for endoscopic surveillance is low in this Southern European population. A higher and earlier detection of advanced lesions or CRC was identified in the adherent group. The results of this study highlight the need to improve compliance with the recommendations to obtain better outcomes.
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