*EMBARGOED All research presented at the 2020 ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course is strictly embargoed until Monday, October 26, 2020, at 8:00 am EDT.


Deborah A. Fisher, MD, MHS
Deborah A. Fisher, MD, MHS

P0723 Lowering the Colorectal Cancer Screening Age Improves Predicted Outcomes in Pre-Medicare and Medicare Populations in the CRC-AIM Microsimulation Model

Author Insight from Deborah A. Fisher, MD, MHS, Duke University

What’s new here and important for clinicians?

A criticism of the lower age recommendations for CRC screening has been a concern for straining resources, especially colonoscopy resources, that would be better used for higher risk populations. The results of this modeling study support improved CRC-related outcomes with earlier screening initiation (age 45 vs age 50 years) using non-invasive screening strategies, without increasing the use of screening colonoscopy.

Perfect (100%) adherence assumptions predicted the population-based highest life-years gained, lowest CRC-incidence and CRC-mortality. Improved population-level outcomes were still predicted assuming real-world adherence rates although they were not as high as for perfect adherence. This highlights the importance of increasing patient uptake of initial screening and adherence to recommended follow-up to improve population-level CRC outcomes.

What do patients need to know?

CRC screening is critical to prevent CRC and death from CRC. Effective non-invasive stool-based options other than colonoscopy for CRC screening are available. However, if you are screened by a stool-based test and it is positive, it is important to have the follow-up colonoscopy to get the benefits of CRC screening.

Read the Abstract

Author Contacts
Deborah A. Fisher, MD, MHS, Duke University
deborah.fisher [at] duke [dot] edu


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