Low-Volume Bowel Preparation Is Associated With Reduced Time to Colonoscopy in Hospitalized Patients: A...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Inadequate bowel preparation delays inpatient colonoscopies, increasing hospital length of stay (LOS) and costs.
• Low-volume bowel preparation (LV-BP) improves outpatient colonoscopy preparation but its inpatient efficacy is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of LV-BP on time to colonoscopy, hospital LOS, and bowel preparation quality in hospitalized patients.
• To compare LV-BP with high-volume bowel preparation (HV-BP) in an inpatient setting.

Main Methods:

• Propensity score-matched analysis of 1,807 adult inpatients undergoing colonoscopy.
• Comparison of LV-BP (sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate) versus HV-BP (polyethylene glycol).
• Multivariate regression models used to analyze study outcomes.

Main Results:

• LV-BP was associated with a shorter time to colonoscopy (β: -0.43).
• Adequate bowel preparation rates were similar between LV-BP and HV-BP (OR: 1.02, P=0.92).
• LV-BP significantly decreased hospital LOS in older patients (≥75 years), those with chronic kidney disease, and those hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding.

Conclusions:

• LV-BP is associated with decreased time to colonoscopy in hospitalized patients.
• Older inpatients, those with chronic kidney disease, and those with gastrointestinal bleeding may benefit most from LV-BP.
• Further prospective studies are recommended to confirm LV-BP's role in inpatient colonoscopies.