Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34376179›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2021

Prevalence of self-reported abdominal symptoms among 50-74-years-old men and women eligible for colorectal cancer screening -a cross-sectional study.

Mette Bach Larsen, Heidi Heinsen Bachmann, Bo Søborg, Tinne Laurberg, Katrine J Emmertsen, Søren Laurberg, Berit Andersen

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2021. 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
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 41% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Mette Bach LarsenUniversity Research Clinic for Cancer Screening, Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital, Skovlyvej 15, NO, DK-8930, Randers, Denmark. metbacla@rm.dk.
Heidi Heinsen BachmannUniversity Research Clinic for Cancer Screening, Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital, Skovlyvej 15, NO, DK-8930, Randers, Denmark.
Bo SøborgUniversity Research Clinic for Cancer Screening, Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital, Skovlyvej 15, NO, DK-8930, Randers, Denmark.
Tinne LaurbergSteno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Hedeager 3, DK-8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
Katrine J EmmertsenDepartment of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 35, DK-8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
Søren LaurbergDepartment of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 35, DK-8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
Berit AndersenUniversity Research Clinic for Cancer Screening, Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital, Skovlyvej 15, NO, DK-8930, Randers, Denmark.
Regional Hospital Randers · DKAarhus University Hospital · DKSteno Diabetes Center · DK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundScreening is defined as the identification of unrecognized disease in an apparently healthy population. Symptomatic individuals are recommended to contact a physician instead of participating in screening. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening this approach may be problematic as abdominal symptoms are nonspecific. This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of self-reported abdominal symptoms among screening-eligible men and women aged 50-74 years.

methodsThis cross-sectional survey study included 11,537 individuals aged 50-74 years invited for CRC screening from 9 to 23 September 2019. Descriptive statistics of responders experiencing alarm symptoms of CRC, Low Anterior Resection Syndrome Score (LARS) and the Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) were derived. The association between abdominal symptoms and demographic and socioeconomic variables were estimated by prevalence ratio (PR) using a Poisson regression model with robust variance.

resultsA total of 5488 respondents were included. The respondents were more likely women, of older age, Danish, cohabiting and had higher education and income level compared to non-respondents. Abdominal pain more than once a week was experienced by 12.0% of the respondents. Of these, 70.8% had been experiencing this symptom for >1 month. Fresh blood in the stool was experienced by 0.7% and of these 82.1% for >1 month. About one third of those experiencing alarm symptoms more than once a week for >1 month had not consulted a doctor. A total of 64.1% of the respondents had no LARS, 21.7% had minor LARS and 14.2% had major LARS. The median PAC-SYM score was 0.33 (Interquartile range (IQR): 0.17;0.75), the median abdominal score was 0.50 (IQR: 0.00;1.00), median rectal score 0.00 (IQR:0.00;0.33) and median stool score 0.40 (IQR: 0.00;0.80). Men and those aged 65-74 reported less symptoms than women and those aged 50-64 years, respectively.

conclusionsThis study illustrated that abdominal symptoms were frequent among screening-eligible men and women. This should be taken into account when implementing and improving CRC screening strategies. A concerning high number of the respondents experiencing alarm symptoms had not consulted a doctor. This calls for attention to abdominal symptoms in general and how those with abdominal symptoms should participate in CRC screening.

Indexed as

Self ReportAgedAge FactorsColorectal NeoplasmsCross-Sectional StudiesEarly Detection of CancerFemaleHumansMaleMass ScreeningMiddle AgedPrevalencePublic Health SurveillanceSocioeconomic FactorsAbdominal symptomsLow anterior resection syndrome score (LARS)Mass screeningPatient assessment of constipation-symptoms (PAC-SYM)Prevalence

Identifiers

PMID34376179
PMCPMC8356437
OpenAlexW3187739808

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.