Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24780021›Full record

ArticleAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England2014

The yield of colorectal cancer among fast track patients with normocytic and microcytic anaemia.

I G Panagiotopoulou, D Fitzrol, R A Parker, J Kuzhively, N Luscombe, A D Wells, M Menon, F M Bajwa, M A Watson

Abstract readComparative StudyMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

I G PanagiotopoulouDorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
D Fitzrol
R A Parker
J Kuzhively
N Luscombe
A D Wells
M Menon
F M Bajwa
M A Watson

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionWe receive fast track referrals on the basis of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) for patients with normocytic anaemia or for patients with no iron studies. This study examined the yield of colorectal cancer (CRC) among fast track patients to ascertain whether awaiting confirmation of IDA is necessary prior to performing bowel investigations.

methodsA review was undertaken of 321 and 930 consecutive fast track referrals from Centre A and Centre B respectively. Contingency tables were analysed using Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate significant predictors of CRC.

resultsOverall, 229 patients were included from Centre A and 689 from Centre B. The odds ratio for microcytic anaemia versus normocytic anaemia in the outcome of CRC was 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-3.9) for Centre A and 1.6 (95% CI: 0.8-3.3) for Centre B. In a logistic regression analysis (Centre B only), no significant difference in CRC rates was seen between microcytic and normocytic anaemia (adjusted odds ratio: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.9-3.9). There was no statistically significant difference in the yield of CRC between microcytic and normocytic anaemia (p=0.515, Fisher's exact test) in patients with anaemia only and no colorectal symptoms. Finally, CRC cases were seen in both microcytic and normocytic groups with or without low ferritin.

conclusionsThere is no significant difference in the yield of CRC between fast track patients with microcytic and normocytic anaemia. This study provides insufficient evidence to support awaiting confirmation of IDA in fast track patients with normocytic anaemia prior to requesting bowel investigations.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overAnemiaAnemia, Iron-DeficiencyColorectal NeoplasmsFemaleFerritinsGeneral PracticeHumansMaleMiddle AgedReferral and ConsultationRetrospective StudiesTime-to-TreatmentFerritins

Identifiers

PMID24780021
PMCPMC4574412

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