Organized, biennial fecal immunochemical testing-based screening linked to lower colorectal cancer mortality
An organized fecal immunochemical testing (FIT)-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program is associated with a sustained decline in CRC mortality, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
An organized fecal immunochemical testing (FIT)-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program implemented in the Basque Country, Spain in 2009 has been linked to a significant decline in CRC mortality, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. The research, conducted by Luis Bujanda and colleagues, analyzed data from 2004 to 2024 among the region's population of approximately 2.2 million individuals aged 50-69 years.
The study found a 29.6% decrease in age-standardized CRC mortality during this period, with a marked 50.1% reduction specifically among those aged 50-69 years. This decline reached its peak three years after screening was introduced. An estimated 46.2% relative reduction in CRC mortality was observed in the 50-69 age group when compared to projected trends without the screening program.
Among the 4,892 CRC cases detected through screening, 70.8% were diagnosed at stages I or II. The findings suggest that organized FIT-based screening can effectively reduce CRC-related mortality, supporting its role as a public health strategy.
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