Socioeconomic differences in participation and diagnostic yield within the Dutch national colorectal cancer screening programme with faecal immunochemical testing

Miriam P van der Meulen, Esther Toes-Zoutendijk, Manon C W Spaander, Evelien Dekker, Johannes M G Bonfrer, Anneke J van Vuuren, Ernst J Kuipers, Folkert J van Kemenade, M-L.F. van Velthuysen, Maarten G J Thomeer, Harriët van Veldhuizen, Harry J de Koning, Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, Monique E. van Leerdam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: CRC mortality rates are higher for individuals with a lower socioeconomic status (SES). Screening could influence health inequalities. We therefore aimed to investigate SES differences in participation and diagnostic yield of FIT screening.

METHODS: All invitees in 2014 and 2015 in the Dutch national CRC screening programme were included in the analyses. We used area SES as a measure for SES and divided invitees into quintiles, with Quintile 1 being the highest SES. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the participation rate, positivity rate, colonoscopy uptake, positive predictive value (PPV) and detection rate across the SES groups.

RESULTS: Participation to FIT screening was significantly lower for Quintile 5 (67.0%) compared to the other Quintiles (73.0% to 75.1%; adjusted OR quintile 5 versus quintile 1: 0.73, 95%CI: 0.72-0.74), as well as colonoscopy uptake after a positive FIT (adjusted OR 0.73, 95%CI: 0.69-0.77). The detection rate per FIT participant for advanced neoplasia gradually increased from 3.3% in Quintile 1 to 4.0% in Quintile 5 (adjusted OR 1.20%, 95%CI 1.16-1.24). As a result of lower participation, the yield per invitee was similar for Quintile 5 (2.04%) and Quintile 1 (2.00%), both being lower than Quintiles 2 to 4 (2.20%-2.28%).

CONCLUSIONS: Screening has the potential to reduce health inequalities in CRC mortality, because of a higher detection in participants with a lower SES. However, in the Dutch screening programme, this is currently offset by the lower participation in this group.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0264067
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aged
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis
  • Early Detection of Cancer/methods
  • Ethnicity/statistics & numerical data
  • Feces/chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunochemistry/methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands/epidemiology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Socioeconomic Factors

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