Predictive values of colorectal cancer alarm symptoms in the general population: a nationwide cohort study

British Journal of Cancer
Sanne RasmussenDorte Ejg Jarbøl

Abstract

Alarm symptoms are used in many cancer referral guidelines. The objectives were to determine the 1-year predictive values (PVs) of colorectal cancer (CRC) alarm symptoms in the general population and to describe the proportion of alarm symptoms reported prior to diagnosis. A nationwide prospective cohort of 69,060 individuals ≥40 years randomly selected from the Danish population was invited to complete a survey regarding symptoms and healthcare-seeking in 2012. Information on CRC diagnoses in a 12-month follow-up came from the Danish Cancer Registry. PVs and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. A total of 37,455 individuals participated (response rate 54.2%). Sixty-four individuals were diagnosed with CRC. The single symptom with the highest positive PVs (PPV) and LR+ was rectal bleeding. PPVs were generally higher among individuals aged ≥75 years and highest among those reporting at least one specific alarm symptom that led to a GP contact. In general, the PPVs of CRC alarm symptoms are low and the NPVs high, especially in the youngest age groups. The LR +  show a relative association with specific symptoms like rectal bleeding. Future campaigns on early diagnosis of CRC should focus on healthcare-seeking ...Continue Reading

References

Aug 19, 1995·BMJ : British Medical Journal·A Crosland, R Jones
Jun 8, 2007·Annals of Epidemiology·Sandro Galea, Melissa Tracy
Dec 21, 2007·Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice·Rachel A NakashJoanne Fisher
Aug 1, 2008·European Journal of Cancer : Official Journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)·Rikke EgebergIben Holten
Jun 13, 2009·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·William Hamilton
Nov 3, 2010·Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery·Fatima A Haggar, Robin P Boushey
May 31, 2011·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·Margaret AstinWilliam Hamilton
Aug 4, 2011·Scandinavian Journal of Public Health·Marianne Lundkjær Gjerstorff
Sep 25, 2012·BMC Gastroenterology·Barbara-Ann AdelsteinLes Irwig
Feb 27, 2014·Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP·Gui-Xian TongDe-Bin Wang
Jun 23, 2015·Colorectal Disease : the Official Journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland·T L KhongS Shah
Nov 9, 2016·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·Marcela EwingJörgen Månsson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

STATA
SurveyXact

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cancer Incidence & Mortality

Cancer has emerged as a global concern due to its increase in incidence and mortality. Efforts are underway to evaluate and develop action plans to reduce the global burden of cancer. Currently, lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer are the leading causes of cancer mortality. Here is the latest research on cancer incidence and mortality.