Rising use of surveillance colonoscopy and potential impacts.

OBJECTIVES

To quantify temporal changes in colonoscopy indication and assess appropriateness of surveillance use in older adults.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective longitudinal study of national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data of all patients who underwent outpatient colonoscopy in 2005-2014.

METHODS

After validating an electronic algorithm for classifying colonoscopy indication in VHA, we examined trends in colonoscopy indication over time and across patient characteristics.

RESULTS

The proportion of colonoscopies performed for postpolypectomy surveillance increased significantly during the study period, particularly among older patients with limited life expectancy, raising concern for possible overuse.

CONCLUSIONS

Guidelines should make clear recommendations about when and how to discontinue postpolypectomy surveillance colonoscopy. Doing so would potentially reduce harms due to complications from low-value procedures and in turn moderate demand and thereby enhance overall procedural access for patients more likely to benefit.