Improving the ascertainment of families at high risk of colorectal cancer: a prospective GP register study
Improving the ascertainment of families at high risk of colorectal cancer: a prospective GP register study
Background: Screening for colorectal cancer is effective in family members with a high risk of this condition, owing to single gene mutations. However, it is not known which is the most effective method of ascertaining these families at high risk.
Aims: To investigate whether a case-finding approach using computerised general practitioner (GP) registers would improve the ascertainment of families at high risk of colorectal cancer due to family history.
Design of study: Prospective GP register study.
Setting: General practices in Oxfordshire.
Method: Identification of patients with colorectal cancer using GP registers, followed by a family history questionnaire survey to identify those at high risk.
Results: Using GP registers, 758 patients with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer were identified; a prevalence of 172 cases per 100 000 (95% confidence interval = 159 to 184). Of these, 305 patients, diagnosed under the age of 65 years, were sent a family history questionnaire. Two hundred and one (66%) patients responded to the survey; 10 (5%) patients were assessed as having high-risk families and 47 (23%) patients were assessed as having families at moderate risk. Eight of the high-risk patients had 34 first degree relatives who would benefit from routine disease surveillance, and 37 moderate-risk patients had 153 first degree relatives. Only two high-risk and six moderate-risk patients identified were previously known to the local Clinical Genetics Department.
Conclusion: A case-finding approach using GP records and a family history questionnaire is an effective way of identifying families at high risk of developing colorectal cancer, who can then be offered disease surveillance.
colorectal cancer, colorectal neoplasms, hereditary nonpolyposis, medical records, primary health care
267-271
Rose, Peter W.
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Murphy, Michael
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Munafo, Marcus
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Chapman, Cyril
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Mortensen, Neil
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Lucassen, Anneke
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2004
Rose, Peter W.
c66fd4d9-8565-4634-9e67-57782924ac10
Murphy, Michael
ceb616d9-ead2-4c6e-8b55-80e91c96f601
Munafo, Marcus
e89963f1-d24c-4228-ac63-af177ce7b58a
Chapman, Cyril
9c212d76-9893-471c-b815-9bca302685ba
Mortensen, Neil
1a30c7f1-4887-4774-973f-414e10a5093e
Lucassen, Anneke
3f282fe4-b839-443c-8c81-6b8a507153c7
Rose, Peter W., Murphy, Michael, Munafo, Marcus, Chapman, Cyril, Mortensen, Neil and Lucassen, Anneke
(2004)
Improving the ascertainment of families at high risk of colorectal cancer: a prospective GP register study.
British Journal of General Practice, 54 (501), .
Abstract
Background: Screening for colorectal cancer is effective in family members with a high risk of this condition, owing to single gene mutations. However, it is not known which is the most effective method of ascertaining these families at high risk.
Aims: To investigate whether a case-finding approach using computerised general practitioner (GP) registers would improve the ascertainment of families at high risk of colorectal cancer due to family history.
Design of study: Prospective GP register study.
Setting: General practices in Oxfordshire.
Method: Identification of patients with colorectal cancer using GP registers, followed by a family history questionnaire survey to identify those at high risk.
Results: Using GP registers, 758 patients with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer were identified; a prevalence of 172 cases per 100 000 (95% confidence interval = 159 to 184). Of these, 305 patients, diagnosed under the age of 65 years, were sent a family history questionnaire. Two hundred and one (66%) patients responded to the survey; 10 (5%) patients were assessed as having high-risk families and 47 (23%) patients were assessed as having families at moderate risk. Eight of the high-risk patients had 34 first degree relatives who would benefit from routine disease surveillance, and 37 moderate-risk patients had 153 first degree relatives. Only two high-risk and six moderate-risk patients identified were previously known to the local Clinical Genetics Department.
Conclusion: A case-finding approach using GP records and a family history questionnaire is an effective way of identifying families at high risk of developing colorectal cancer, who can then be offered disease surveillance.
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Published date: 2004
Keywords:
colorectal cancer, colorectal neoplasms, hereditary nonpolyposis, medical records, primary health care
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 26576
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/26576
ISSN: 0960-1643
PURE UUID: 03069ab7-3fe9-415f-bd39-fb401cc7068c
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Date deposited: 20 Apr 2006
Last modified: 22 Jul 2022 20:35
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Contributors
Author:
Peter W. Rose
Author:
Michael Murphy
Author:
Marcus Munafo
Author:
Cyril Chapman
Author:
Neil Mortensen
Author:
Anneke Lucassen
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