Does age influence screening for colorectal cancer?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether patients' age influenced colorectal cancer screening by internal medicine resident physicians in an ambulatory care clinic.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of 200 patients aged >50 years to assess the performance of rectal examinations, faecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy.


RESULTS
Physicians performed rectal examinations in 21 patients 10.5%, faecal occult blood testing in 85 (42.5%) and flexible sigmoidoscopies in 95 (47.5%). Significantly more rectal examinations were performed in patients aged 50-60 years than in patients aged 61-70 years (P < 0.005) or > or = 71 years (P < 0.00002). There was significantly more faecal occult blood testing in patients aged 50-60 years than in those aged > or = 71 years (P < 0.02). In women, there were more rectal examinations in those aged 50-60 years than in those aged 61-70 years (P < 0.05) or > or = 71 years (P < 0.008). Men aged 61-70 years had more rectal examinations than men aged > or = 71 years (P < 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Colorectal cancer screening is performed less often in older patients attending a hospital for health maintenance evaluation. Chronological age alone should not determine whether physicians screen for colorectal cancer.
Borum
M L
ML
Department of Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors