Studies in the News

The New England Journal of Medicine just published an article on  Effect of Colonoscopy Screening on Risks of Colorectal Cancer and Related Death. This was a large study in Europe with 84,585 participants. Some news outlets are suggesting this study showed that a colonoscopy is not effective in preventing colon cancer. However, if you look at the data carefully the opposite is true. The study looked at people 55-64 years old who were “invited” to have a colonoscopy and compared them to “usual care”. Unfortunately, only 42% of those people who were recommended to have a colonoscopy actually had one. Despite the low follow-up for colonoscopies the study group did have an 18% decreased risk of developing colorectal cancer. But they only had a 10% reduction of dying from colorectal cancer. While a 10% may seem significant, it was not “statistically” significant. However, if you look at the 42% of the people who actually followed through with the colonoscopy recommendation there was a 31% reduction in colorectal cancer and a 50% risk of death from colorectal cancer! That reduction is statistically significant. Thus, the true message from the study is for people in the 55-64 year old age group, listening to your physician about colonoscopies can save your life!