Colonoscopy in the nonagenarian population

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Colorectal Surgery

Background:

• Increasing life expectancy leads to more nonagenarians undergoing surgery.
• Assessing surgical benefit in nonagenarians is challenging.
• This study evaluates colonoscopy outcomes in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate clinical outcomes of colonoscopy in nonagenarians (≥90 years old).
• To determine if colonoscopy interventions are acceptable for this demographic.
• To assess safety and efficacy of colonoscopy in the very elderly.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of patients aged 90 and above undergoing colonoscopy.
• Data collected between January 2018 and November 2022.
• Exclusion of patients undergoing colonoscopy as part of a surgical procedure.

Main Results:

• Sixty nonagenarian patients (median age 91) were included.
• 11.7% of patients had colorectal malignancy detected.
• No post-colonoscopy complications, 30-day re-admission, morbidity, or mortality were observed.

Conclusions:

• Colonoscopy is a safe procedure for carefully selected nonagenarian patients.
• Low complication rates support the continued use of colonoscopy in this population.
• The findings indicate acceptable outcomes for interventions in the very elderly.