Abstract

Background/Aims
Currently, screening colonscopy is widely performed in the medical field. The initial time of screening is recommended at an age of 50 years, but the age to cease screening is unknown. Accordingly, we have investigated the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy according to indications in the elderly, and we evaluated if screening colonoscopy is useful in the elderly. Methods: We recruited asymptomatic individuals undergoing screening colonoscopy according to age (2830 subjects aged 50-74 years and 111 subjects ≥75 years-old), The colonoscopy findings of the study subjects were compared. In addition, colonoscopy findings of asymptomatic subjects more than 75 years-old were compared with the findings of symptomatic subjects with the same age. Results: The yield for overall neoplasia and advanced adenoma was higher in the group of subjects ≥75 years-old than in the 50-74 years age group (overall adenoma: 49.54% versus 24.98%, p＜0.001; advanced adenoma: 16.2% versus 8.23%, p=0.003). The overall frequency of neoplasms was higher in asymptomatic subjects ≥75 years-old than in symptomatic subjects ≥75 years-old (49.54% versus 28.19%, p＜0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of advanced adenoma increased with age. Screening colonoscopy was still significantly effective in elderly subjects ≥75 years-old. The lack of a decline in the frequency of adenoma, including advanced adenoma, justifies continuing screening colonoscopy in the elderly. (Intest Res 2008;6:25-30)

• Keywords: Colonoscopy; Mass Screening; Aged; Adenoma