Incidence, risk and protective factors of symptoms after colonoscopy

Background: Few studies focused on minor adverse events which may develop after colonoscopy. Aims: To investigate the incidence and factors associated to post-colonoscopy symptoms. Methods: This is a prospective study conducted in 10 Italian hospitals. The main outcome was a cumu-lative score combining 10 gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms occurring the week following colonoscopy. The analyses were conducted via multivariate logistic regression. Results: Of 793 subjects included in the analysis, 361 (45.5%) complained the new onset of at least one GI symptom after the exam; one symptom was reported by 202 (25.5%), two or more symptoms by 159 (20.1%). Newly developed symptoms more frequently reported were epigastric/abdominal bloating (32.2%), pain (17.3%), and dyspeptic symptoms (17.9%). Symptoms were associated with female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.54), increasing number of symptoms developed during bowel preparation intake (OR = 1.35) and somatic symptoms (OR = 1.27). An inverse association was observed with better mood (OR = 0.74). A high-risk profile was identified, represented by women with bad mood and somatic symptoms (OR = 8.81).Conclusion: About half of the patients develop de novo GI symptoms following colonoscopy. Improv-ing bowel preparation tolerability may reduce the incidence of post-colonoscopy symptoms, especially in more vulnerable patients. (c) 2022 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and factors associated with post-colonoscopy symptoms. The study found that approximately half of the patients developed new gastrointestinal symptoms after the examination, with epigastric/abdominal bloating, pain, and dyspeptic symptoms being the most common. Symptoms were associated with female sex, an increasing number of symptoms developed during bowel preparation, and somatic symptoms, while a better mood was inversely associated with symptoms. The findings suggest that improving bowel preparation tolerability may reduce the incidence of post-colonoscopy symptoms, especially in more vulnerable patients.