title: Prevalence and risk factors of advanced colorectal neoplasms in asymptomatic Korean people between 40 and 49 years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current guidelines recommend colon cancer screening for persons aged over 50 years. However, there are few data on colorectal cancer screening in 40- to 49-year-olds. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of colorectal neoplasms in 40- to 49-year-old Koreans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the results of screening colonoscopies of 6680 persons 40-59 years of age (2206 aged 40-49 and 4474 aged 50-59 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of overall and advanced neoplasms in the 40- to 49-year age group was lower than in the 50- to 59-year age group (26.7% and 2.4% vs 37.8% and 3.5%, respectively). However, the prevalence of overall and advanced neoplasms increased to 39.1% and 5.4%, respectively, in 45- to 49-year-old individuals with metabolic syndrome. In the 40- to 49-year age group, age, current smoking, and metabolic syndrome were associated with an increased risk of advanced neoplasms (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.30; OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.20-8.12; and OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.09-3.67, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals aged 40-49 years had a lower prevalence of colorectal neoplasms than those aged 50-59 years, but some 40- to 49-year-olds showed a similar prevalence to those aged 50-59 years. Age, current smoking habits, and metabolic syndrome are associated with an increased risk of advanced neoplasms in subjects aged 40-49 years. Further studies are needed to stratify the risks of colon cancer and guide targeted screening in persons younger than 50 years old.
authors.affiliation: Health Screening and Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ja Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Jo
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Health Screening and Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Health Screening and Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Health Screening and Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Health Screening and Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Health Screening and Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Myung
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk-Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D044466:Asian People; D056631:Colony Collapse; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking
keywords: colorectal adenoma; metabolic syndrome; risk factor; young adults