Frequency of Use and Outcomes of Colonoscopy in Individuals Older Than 75 Years

IMPORTANCE: The benefits from colorectal cancer (CRC) screening may take 10 to 15 years to accrue. Therefore, screening is recommended for older adults who are in good health. OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of screening colonoscopies done in patients older than 75 years with a life expectancy of fewer than 10 years, diagnostic yield, and associated adverse events within 10 days and 30 days of the procedure. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study with a nested cohort between January 2009 and January 2022 in an integrated health system assessed asymptomatic patients older than 75 years who underwent screening colonoscopy in the outpatient setting. Reports with incomplete data, any indication other than screening, patients who had a colonoscopy within the previous 5 years, and patients with a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease or CRC were excluded. EXPOSURES: Life expectancy based on a prediction model from previous literature. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the percentage of screened patients who had limited (