Background and study aim: Clinical trials and real-world studies show a 1L polyethene glycol and ascorbic acid solution (1L PEG-ASC) to be an effective and safe bowel preparation for colonoscopy in the general population. Here, the effectiveness and safety of 1L PEG-ASC were evaluated in patients aged 80 years or over in a real-world setting. Patients and methods: A post-hoc analysis of an observational, multicentre, retrospective study assessed the effectiveness and safety of 1L PEG-ASC on out-patients aged ≥80 years old undergoing a colonoscopy at 8 centres in Spain and Portugal. Cleansing quality was assessed using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale, with overall scores ≥6 and all segmental scores ≥2 considered adequate colon cleansing, and overall scores ≥8 or 3 in the right colon considered high-quality cleansing. The caecal intubation rate, withdrawal time, polyp and adenoma detection rates, and adverse events (AEs) were also monitored. Results: Data were analysed from 423 patients aged ≥80 years; mean age 83.5 (±3.2) years and 49.2% males. The adequate colon cleansing success rate was 88.9%, with high-quality cleansing of the overall and right colon achieved in 54.1% and 46.1% of the patients, respectively. Colonoscopy was complete in 94.1% of cases, and the adenoma detection rate was 51.3%. At least one AE was experienced by 4.5% of participants, the most frequent being mild dehydration (2.8%) and nausea (1.2%). Conclusions: This post-hoc analysis confirms 1L PEG-ASC to be an effective and safe bowel cleansing preparation for patients aged 80 years or over in a real-world setting.
Read full abstract