Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in Germany

Background: Germany has a long-standing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening offer. We aimed to quantify and characterize screen-detected colorectal cancers (sdCRCs) in Germany. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a healthcare database covering ~20% of the German population; we incl...

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Main Authors: Michel Hornschuch, Sarina Schwarz, Ulrike Haug
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2024-11-01
Series:Acta Oncologica
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Online Access:https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/40234
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author Michel Hornschuch
Sarina Schwarz
Ulrike Haug
author_facet Michel Hornschuch
Sarina Schwarz
Ulrike Haug
author_sort Michel Hornschuch
collection DOAJ
description Background: Germany has a long-standing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening offer. We aimed to quantify and characterize screen-detected colorectal cancers (sdCRCs) in Germany. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a healthcare database covering ~20% of the German population; we included CRC patients aged ≥ 55 years diagnosed in 2010–2018. Patients with a screening colonoscopy or a fecal occult blood test followed by colonoscopy within 180 days before diagnosis were classified as sdCRCs and compared to non-sdCRCs regarding age, stage and comorbidities. Results: In 2018, 25% of male and 22% of female CRC patients were screen-detected. Regarding characteristics of all included CRC cases (N = 82,538), sdCRC patients were younger than non-sdCRCs (average difference men / women: 2.6 / 4.4 years). The proportion of advanced CRC among sdCRCs and non-sdCRCs, respectively, was 33 and 42% in women (men: 36 and 45%). Severe comorbidities were more prevalent in non-sdCRCs compared to sdCRCs (e.g. in male / female patients aged 65–74: 35% vs. 27% / 26% vs. 19%). Prevalences of hypertension and obesity were similar in both groups. Interpretation: Our study suggests that about one fourth of CRCs in Germany are screen-detected. Among patients with non-sdCRC, not only advanced stage but also severe comorbidity was more common than in sdCRCs.
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spelling doaj-art-dafb9afa28c9451eacfd056aa008d47d2025-08-20T02:33:05ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Oncologica1651-226X2024-11-0163110.2340/1651-226X.2024.40234Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in GermanyMichel Hornschuch0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8385-2019Sarina Schwarz1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7926-2032Ulrike Haug2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1886-2923Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, GermanyDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, GermanyDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, GermanyBackground: Germany has a long-standing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening offer. We aimed to quantify and characterize screen-detected colorectal cancers (sdCRCs) in Germany. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a healthcare database covering ~20% of the German population; we included CRC patients aged ≥ 55 years diagnosed in 2010–2018. Patients with a screening colonoscopy or a fecal occult blood test followed by colonoscopy within 180 days before diagnosis were classified as sdCRCs and compared to non-sdCRCs regarding age, stage and comorbidities. Results: In 2018, 25% of male and 22% of female CRC patients were screen-detected. Regarding characteristics of all included CRC cases (N = 82,538), sdCRC patients were younger than non-sdCRCs (average difference men / women: 2.6 / 4.4 years). The proportion of advanced CRC among sdCRCs and non-sdCRCs, respectively, was 33 and 42% in women (men: 36 and 45%). Severe comorbidities were more prevalent in non-sdCRCs compared to sdCRCs (e.g. in male / female patients aged 65–74: 35% vs. 27% / 26% vs. 19%). Prevalences of hypertension and obesity were similar in both groups. Interpretation: Our study suggests that about one fourth of CRCs in Germany are screen-detected. Among patients with non-sdCRC, not only advanced stage but also severe comorbidity was more common than in sdCRCs. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/40234Screeningcolonoscopyfecal occult blood testGermany
spellingShingle Michel Hornschuch
Sarina Schwarz
Ulrike Haug
Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in Germany
Acta Oncologica
Screening
colonoscopy
fecal occult blood test
Germany
title Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in Germany
title_full Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in Germany
title_fullStr Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in Germany
title_full_unstemmed Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in Germany
title_short Proportion and characteristics of screen-detected and non-screen-detected colo­rectal cancers in Germany
title_sort proportion and characteristics of screen detected and non screen detected colo rectal cancers in germany
topic Screening
colonoscopy
fecal occult blood test
Germany
url https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/40234
work_keys_str_mv AT michelhornschuch proportionandcharacteristicsofscreendetectedandnonscreendetectedcolorectalcancersingermany
AT sarinaschwarz proportionandcharacteristicsofscreendetectedandnonscreendetectedcolorectalcancersingermany
AT ulrikehaug proportionandcharacteristicsofscreendetectedandnonscreendetectedcolorectalcancersingermany