Age-related cancer detection rate and costs for one cancer detected in one screening by immunochemical fecal occult blood test

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess, from the aspects of screening efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the optimal lower limit of age in immunochemical occult blood screening for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Seven thousand four hundred asymptomatic individuals were the subjects of this study. They gave samples for an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (OC-Hemodia (R)), and colonoscopy was performed during a medical checkup. They were divided into three groups according to their ages: younger (40-49), middle (50-59), and older (60+) groups. The detection rate for colorectal cancer and the average costs to detect one patient with colorectal cancer were evaluated among the three groups. RESULTS: The detection rate for colorectal cancer and the average costs to detect one cancer patient were calculated as 0.3 percent and $6024 for the younger group, 1.6 percent and $1425 for the middle group, and 1.7 percent and $1410 for the older group, respectively. The cancer detection rate was significantly different between the younger and middle groups (P < 0.05) and between the younger and older groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that the subjects aged less than 50 have some disadvantage when carrying out the immunochemical fecal occult blood test, OC-Hemodia (R) for colorectal. cancer screening, from the aspects of screening efficiency and cost-effectiveness.