Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2025
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
Positive faecal immunochemical test predicts the onset of inflammatory bowel disease: A nationwide, propensity
Eunyoung Lee1,2, Gil Ho Lee3, Bumhee Park1,2
1Department of Biomedical Informatics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Background & Aims:
The faecal immunochemical test (FIT), a non-invasive test for screening colorectal cancer (CRC), is being increasingly understood to reflect heightened inflammation. We aimed to investigate the association between abnormal FIT results and onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a disease characterized with chronic gut mucosal inflammation.
Methods:
Participants in the Korean National Cancer Screening Program for CRC between 2009-2013 were analysed and divided into positive and negative FIT result groups. The incidence rates of IBD after screening were calculated after excluding cases of haemorrhoids, CRC, and IBD at baseline. Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for IBD occurrence during follow-up, and 1:2 propensity score matching was performed as a sensitivity analysis.
Results:
In total, 229,594 and 815,361 participants were assigned to the positive and negative FIT result groups, respectively. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates of IBD in participants with positive and negative test results were 1.72 and 0.50 per 10,000 person-years, respectively. Adjusted Cox analysis revealed that FIT positivity was associated with a significantly higher risk of IBD (hazard ratio 2.93, 95% confidence interval: 2.46, 3.47, P <.001), which was consistent for both disease subtypes of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The results of Kaplan-Meier analysis in the matched population yielded identical findings.
Conclusions:
Abnormal FIT results could be a preceding sign of incident IBD in the general population. Those with positive FIT results and suspected IBD symptoms could benefit from regular screening for early disease detection.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:30Serum Laboratory Studies, Stool Test, Breath Test
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are: