Abstract
BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health issue due to high morbidity and mortality. Different screening programs were implemented to reduce its burden.ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of CRC screening uptake using fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or guaiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) in Emirati nationals. Other objectives were to measure the incidence of CRC in the screened population, to measure the outcomes of follow-up screening colonoscopy after positive FIT/gFOBT and to identify the causes of not performing follow-up screening colonoscopy after positive FIT/gFOBT.MethodologyAdult Emirati nationals aged 40–75 years who visited Ambulatory healthcare services clinics, Abu Dhabi in 2015–2016 were included in the study. The electronic medical records of the eligible individuals were reviewed retrospectively. The prevalence of CRC screening was measured among the eligible population using the FIT/gFOBT. The IBM SPSS Statistics program, version 21.0.0, was used for analysis.Result45,147 unique individuals were eligible for screening, and only 23.5% were screened using FIT/gFOBT. Of the screened individuals, 13.5% had positive FIT/ gFOBT, and 30.5% of those underwent follow-up screening colonoscopy. CRC was diagnosed in 11 individuals. Colonic polyp were found in 30.5% of individuals who had undergone a follow-up colonoscopy. Collectively 933 individuals did not undergo follow-up screening colonoscopy after having a positive FIT/gFOBT, and about 36.3% had collected the result and referred to a gastroenterologist but did not attend the appointment.ConclusionCRC screening uptake using FIT/gFOBT is low among the adult Emirati nationals.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health issue due to high morbidity and mortality
Individuals should be screened with colonoscopy and other investigations should be performed according to their medical conditions if they are at an increased risk of CRC or at high risk of CRC
As per the new Department of Health (DOH) CRC screening program specifications in 2019, individuals at average risk of CRC are to be screened by fecal immunochemical test (FIT) annually if they refused to undergo screening colonoscopy [12]
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health issue due to high morbidity and mortality. Almansoori et al BMC Cancer (2021) 21:897 studies had shown that different CRC screening methods reduced colorectal cancer-associated mortality [5, 6]. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), significant changes have occurred over the last 40 years in different sectors including the economic, social, and demographic sectors. These changes led to improvement in the healthcare sector, thereby resulting in an increase in the life expectancy, decrease in the incidence of communicable diseases, and increase in the incidence of noncommunicable diseases including cancer, which became the third leading cause of death in the UAE in 2010 [7]. In 2016, colon cancer caused 6.9% of all cancer-related deaths (7.7% in men and 6% in women) in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
