Introduction: Screening colonoscopy is an effective means for early detection of colorectal carcinoma. Any exhaustive evaluation of the method must take further factors into account: epidemiology of colorectal adenomas and carcinomas in the target population, acceptance by the patients, structure, process, and outcome quality, and health economics.
Methods: The internet-based colonoscopy database of the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (ASHIP) for the year 2006 includes data on 86.05% of all outpatient colonoscopies performed in Bavarian ASHIP patients, or a total of 245 263 documented examinations.
Results: The rate of participation in preventive colonoscopies was low (1.5%) and showed considerable geographical variation. The rate of detection of histologically confirmed colorectal neoplasia in symptom-free screened individuals was almost 26.0%. Some 1.3% of those screened had colorectal carcinoma. In 76.31% of the participants a completely clean gut was achieved. The incidence of bleeding, perforation, and cardiorespiratory complications was 0.22%, 0.03%, and 0.06%, respectively.
Discussion: The complication rate of outpatient colonoscopy is on the order of tenths of a percent, while the process quality is high. The rate of detection of colorectal adenoma and carcinoma is high and the projected benefits for public health are considerable, but the rate of participation is too low.
Keywords: colonoscopy; epidemiology; prevention; quality control; screening.