Prevalence of a First-Degree Relative With Colorectal Cancer and Uptake of Screening Among Persons 40 to 54 Years Old

Korbinian Weigl, Kaja Tikk, Michael Hoffmeister, Jochen Hampe, Svitlana Igel, Frank Kolligs, Stefanie J. Klug, Ulrich Mansmann, Oliver Müller, Jutta M. Nagel, Marcus Pichler, Matthias Schwab, Dirk Schweigler, Anna Magdalena Stephan, Enrico N. De Toni, Hermann Brenner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background & Aims: People with a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer (CRC) are recommended to start CRC screening at age 40. However, there is limited information on how many people in different age groups have a known family history of CRC and how many of them have had a colonoscopy. Methods: We set up a multicenter, cross-sectional, population-based study in Germany to determine what proportions of persons in age groups from 40 to 54 years old have a known family history of CRC. We invited 160,000 persons to participate in an online survey from 2015 through 2016. We investigated what proportions of persons in each age group reported a family history of CRC and what proportions of persons underwent a colonoscopy examination using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models. Results: Of 28,711 responders to the online questionnaire (8428 were age 40–44 years, 9879 were age 45–49 years, and 10,404 were age 50–54 years), 2705 stated that they had a first-degree relative with CRC (9.4%). The prevalence of a first-degree relative with CRC increased with age: 7.5%, 9.6%, and 10.9% for people 40 to 44 years old, 45 to 49 years old, and 50 to 54 years old, respectively. The prevalence of a first-degree relative who received a diagnosis of CRC at age 70 years or older increased steadily with each age group. Although a greater proportion of people with a family history of CRC had undergone a colonoscopy examination (54.5%) than people without a family history of CRC (25.7%; P <.0001), large proportions of people within this risk group were not in compliance with the guidelines (54.8%, 47.6%, and 38.6% for ages 40–44 y, 45–49 y, and 50–54 y, respectively). Conclusions: One in 10 persons in Germany age 40 to 54 years old has a first-degree relative with CRC. Guidelines recommend initiation of screening at ages 40 to 45 years for people with a family history, yet at this age many people do not have a family history of CRC yet, and almost half of persons 40 to 54 years old with a family history of CRC have not yet received a screening colonoscopy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2535-2543.e3
JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Volume18
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Colorectal Neoplasms
  • Family History
  • Screening

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