NEJM study on Colon Cancer Screening

In 2021 it is estimated that approximately 52 980 persons died of colorectal cancer.  "Since 1980, the American Cancer Society has issued evidence-based recommendations for CRC screening in average-risk adults that are generally updated every 5 years" (source).  More than 15 million colonoscopies are performed in the US each year.  The results of the first random clinical trial on the effect of colonoscopy screening on the risks of colorectal cancer and related death have been published in NEJM, and the impact was much lower than expected.  A sample from the study:

The risk of death from colorectal cancer was 0.28% in the invited group and 0.31% in the usual-care group (risk ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.16). The number needed to invite to undergo screening to prevent one case of colorectal cancer was 455 (95% CI, 270 to 1429). The risk of death from any cause was 11.03% in the invited group and 11.04% in the usual-care group (risk ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.04).

There is also an editorial explaining the study here.

Cheers, 

Colin