Optimal Colonoscopic Surveillance Interval After Normal Baseline Screening Colonoscopy

The optimal colonoscopic surveillance interval in the Chinese population is unclear. The present study aimed to assess the optimal colonoscopic surveillance interval after normal baseline screening colonoscopy to avoid overuse or underuse of colonoscopy. This retrospective study included individuals with normal baseline colonoscopy who had undergone at least 2 follow-up colonoscopy examinations at the Digestive Endoscopy Center of our hospital between 2000 and 2013. The risk factors for adenoma and the optimal colonoscopic surveillance interval were assessed. A total of 1,005 individuals (419 men; mean age, 49.34 ± 13.29 years) were included in the study. Of these, 169 individuals had adenomas at colonoscopic surveillance (mean, 1.32 ± 0.79 procedures). The mean adenoma diameter was 0.54 ± 0.38 cm, and the mean number of adenomas was 1.76 ± 1.29. The mean adenoma surveillance interval was 4.76 ± 2.89 years. The risk factors for adenoma identification were age more than 50 years and male gender. The optimal colonoscopic surveillance interval was 4.76 years according to an adenoma detection rate of 5%. The optimal colonoscopic surveillance interval is around 5 years for individuals with normal baseline colonoscopy. Age more than 50 years and male gender are risk factors for adenoma identification.