Large variation between hospitals in follow-up for colorectal cancer in southern Netherlands

Purpose The aims of the study were to describe the follow-up of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in southern Netherlands and examine their overall and disease-free survival. Methods Patients newly diagnosed with CRC in 2003–2005 and 2008 with a survival of at least 1 year after diagnosis and recorded in the retrospective Eindhoven Cancer Registry were included ( n = 579). Follow-up was defined as at least one liver imaging and at least two carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) measurements. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess determinants of follow-up. Proportions of patients undergoing colonoscopy, CEA measurements and liver and chest imaging were calculated. Overall and disease-free survival were calculated. Results Patients ≥75 years (odds ratio (OR) 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3–0.7)) were less likely to receive follow-up, contrasting patients