H. Nakama et al., Age-related cancer detection rate and costs for one cancer detected in onescreening by immunochemical fecal occult blood test, DIS COL REC, 44(11), 2001, pp. 1696-1699
PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess, from the aspects of screening
efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the optimal lower limit of age in immuno
chemical occult blood screening for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Seven thous
and four hundred asymptomatic individuals were the subjects of this study.
They gave samples for an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (OC-Hemodia
(R)), and colonoscopy was performed during a medical checkup. They were di
vided into three groups according to their ages: younger (40-49), middle (5
0-59), and older (60+) groups. The detection rate for colorectal cancer and
the average costs to detect one patient with colorectal cancer were evalua
ted among the three groups. RESULTS: The detection rate for colorectal canc
er and the average costs to detect one cancer patient were calculated as 0.
3 percent and $6024 for the younger group, 1.6 percent and $1425 for the mi
ddle group, and 1.7 percent and $1410 for the older group, respectively. Th
e cancer detection rate was significantly different between the younger and
middle groups (P < 0.05) and between the younger and older groups (P < 0.0
5). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that the subjects aged less than 50
have some disadvantage when carrying out the immunochemical fecal occult b
lood test, OC-Hemodia (R) for colorectal. cancer screening, from the aspect
s of screening efficiency and cost-effectiveness.