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Gregory S Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to Gregory S Cooper.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Colorectal screening after polypectomy: a national survey study of primary care physicians.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations by primary care physicians for colorectal screening after polypectomy will influence rates of colonoscopy in open-access systems that do not require consultation by a gastroenterologist before colonoscopy. OBJECTIVE: To determine the surveillance recommendations of primary care physicians after polypectomy and compare them with recommendations from the U.S. Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of physicians. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 500 physicians from the American College of Physicians and 500 physicians from the American Academy of Family Physicians, obtained by using a mail survey. MEASUREMENTS: Physicians were asked when they would recommend repeated colonoscopy for a hypothetical 55-year-old man with no family history of colorectal cancer after the following 6 results on colonoscopy: hyperplastic polyp, one 6-mm tubular adenoma, two 6-mm tubular adenomas, one 12-mm tubulovillous adenoma, one 12-mm tubular adenoma with focal high-grade dysplasia, and no polyp but a previous tubular adenoma. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 57% (568 physicians). Of the respondents, 48% were internists and 52% were family practitioners. Sixty-one percent of respondents would survey a hyperplastic polyp in 5 years or less, 71% would survey a single tubular adenoma in 3 years or less, and 80% would survey 2 tubular adenomas in 3 years or less. LIMITATIONS: The results are based on physicians' self-reported practices from clinical vignettes and may not match actual practice. CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians recommend postpolypectomy colonoscopic surveillance more frequently than is recommended by practice guidelines, especially if the colonoscopy showed a hyperplastic polyp or a single small adenoma.

Adenoma, Villous↗
PubMed2006

Endoscopic ultrasonography and prognosis of esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) staging is used for management of esophageal cancer, but its effect on the outcome of patients is unknown. Our aim was to study the association of receipt of EUS and overall survival in a cohort of patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: All persons 65 years or older who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer between January 1994 and December 1999 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database were identified. Relevant demographic, cancer-specific information and EUS procedural information were extracted. RESULTS: Two thousand eight hundred thirty patients with esophageal cancer (48% squamous cell cancer) were eligible for analysis. Only 303 (10.7%) patients underwent a EUS examination. Patients who had EUS evaluation were more likely to undergo esophageal resection (21.1% vs 14.7%, P = .01) and more likely to have received adjuvant therapy (11.2% vs 6.7%, P = .008). When adjusted for age at diagnosis, race, gender, comorbidity, histology, and tumor stage, receipt of EUS was associated with a reduced risk of death (relative hazard, 0.594; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.68; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Undergoing EUS in patients with esophageal cancer is independently associated with improved survival, possibly because of improved stage-appropriate management such as use of adjuvant therapy and surgical resection.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Temporal trends in colorectal procedure use after colorectal cancer resection.

BACKGROUND: After curative cancer resection, routine colon surveillance is recommended. It is not known whether trends over time in cancer survivors parallel that of the general population. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe temporal changes in the use of posttreatment procedures. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Linked tumor registry and Medicare claims data. PATIENTS: Medicare beneficiaries >65 years old who were diagnosed with local or regional stage colorectal cancer from 1992-2002 and who underwent surgical resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Use of colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or barium enema within 1 year, 18 months, or 3 years of diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 62,882 patients were followed up for 1 year and 35,784 for 3 years. Colonoscopy within 1 year was performed in 25.9%, within 18 months in 53.8%, and within 3 years in 70.3%. Corresponding rates for sigmoidoscopy were 7.4%, 10.2%, and 14.9%, respectively, and were 3.4%, 5.1%, and 7.9%, respectively, for barium enema. There was a decrease over time in the receipt of colonoscopy within 1 year of diagnosis (31.3% in 1992 to 20.6% in 2002), no change in 18-month rates, and a smaller increase in colonoscopy use within 3 years (66.5% to 72.3%). The use of sigmoidoscopy and barium enema declined over time. Overall procedure use within 1 year and 18 months also decreased and 3-year rates were essentially unchanged. These differences were maintained in multivariate analyses. LIMITATIONS: Accuracy of procedure coding and indications for tests could not be measured. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal trends in procedure use in cancer survivors were consistent with the general population. Importantly, despite guideline recommendations and Medicare reimbursement, 25% of patients who undergo curative treatment do not receive surveillance examinations and this was unchanged over time.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Use of guideline recommended follow-up care in cancer survivors: routine or diagnostic indications?

BACKGROUND: After potentially curative cancer treatment, patients may receive procedures for routine monitoring for recurrence or for evaluation of symptoms or signs. OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize surveillance care guideline-recommended and other procedures performed in cancer survivors according to routine versus diagnostic indications. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of paper and electronic medical records between 1990 and 2000 from a large midwestern U.S. integrated health care delivery system of 500 patients who received curative treatment of breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, or prostate cancer. Our measures were the indications for potential surveillance procedures as recommended by clinical practice guidelines or otherwise. RESULTS: Among 14,670 procedures of interest received, 82.0% were performed for routine surveillance, whereas 10.6% were performed for diagnostic indications and 7.3% had indeterminate indications. Office visits most were often delivered for routine indications (91.6%), followed by guideline recommended tests for local recurrence (range 74.1-98.4%, depending on the specific test and cancer). In general, tests that were not recommended in established guidelines were for the purposes of detection of metastatic recurrence and were less often delivered for routine indications (overall frequency 59.2%, P<0.0001 compared with recommended testing). CONCLUSION: Office visits and testing for local recurrence of cancer generally are performed for routine surveillance, regardless of recommendation by practice guidelines. Because procedures not recommended by practice guidelines were more often for diagnostic purposes, classification of patients as undergoing intensive surveillance may be misleading and may require record review to confirm.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2006

Colorectal cancer screening in the elderly population: disparities by dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollment status.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening between elderly dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollees (or duals), the most vulnerable subgroup of the Medicare population, and nonduals. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: The 1999 Medicare Denominator File, the Medicare Outpatient Standard Analytic Files, and Physician Supplier Part B files. In addition, the 1998 Area Resource File was used as a source for county-level attributes. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: CRC screening procedures for 1999-fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FLEX), colonoscopy with FOBT and/or FLEX (COL-WFF), and colonoscopy only (COL-ONLY)-were extracted from claim records, using diagnostic and procedure codes. Duals (n = 2.5 million) and nonduals (n = 20.2 million) receiving their care through the fee-for-service system were identified from the Denominator file. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for individual- and county-level characteristics. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Compared with nonduals, duals were disproportionately represented by female, older-old, and minority individuals (respectively 74.4 versus 58.5 percent; 19.3 versus 10.8 percent; 35.7 versus 8.0 percent), and CRC screening was significantly lower in duals than in nonduals (5.1 versus 12.2 percent for FOBT adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.48, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.51); 0.7 versus 1.9 percent for FLEX, (AOR: 0.55, 95 percent CI: 0.49-0.61); 0.4 versus 0.8 percent for COL-WFF (AOR: 0.60, 95 percent CI: 0.54-0.67); and 1.8 versus 2.5 percent for COL-ONLY (AOR: 0.85, 95 percent CI: 0.80-0.89); p < .001 for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Duals are significantly less likely than nonduals to undergo CRC screening, even after adjusting for individual- and county-level covariates. Future studies should evaluate the contribution of comorbidity and low socioeconomic status to these disparities.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Temporal trend in relative risk of second primary colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are at a higher risk for developing a second primary. Factors (such as survival rate, rate of receipt of surveillance procedures, and the overall incidence of CRC) with potential impact on the risk for second primary CRC have changed over the last three decades. Thus, it is likely that the risk for second primary CRC also has changed over the years. OBJECTIVES: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results public-use database to assess whether the relative risk of second primary CRC has changed in patients with initial primary CRC. METHODS: The temporal trend in the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for a second primary CRC was estimated. Also, the clinical features of the second primary CRC were compared in two subgroups based on the year of diagnosis of the first primary CRC: Group A (1973-1977) and Group B (1988-1992). RESULTS: During the period of 1973 to 2002, 216,751 patients developed a primary CRC and over a follow-up period of 1,250,687 person-years, 5,595 of these patients developed a second primary CRC, with an SIR of 1.36 (95% CI 1.32-1.39). In a Cox regression model, the period of diagnosis of the first primary CRC was an independent risk factor for a subsequent primary CRC, with a relative hazard of second colon cancer in Group B compared with Group A being 1.18 (95% CI 1.06-1.31), after controlling for age at diagnosis, site, stage of first primary, gender, and race. CONCLUSION: The relative risk of the second primary CRC has increased since early 1990s. These subsequent cancers are being diagnosed at an earlier stage. Increased surveillance may be one of the factors contributing to this temporal difference.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Receipt of colorectal testing prior to colorectal carcinoma diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with established colorectal carcinoma, the prior use of procedures for colorectal carcinoma screening is unknown. In addition, the association of disease stage at the time of diagnosis with previous procedure use has not been studied previously at a population level. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results tumor registry files identified 5806 patients age >or=70 years with an initial colorectal carcinoma diagnosis in 1999. Medicare claims data from 1995 through diagnosis were extracted and identified receipt of fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium enema. Time intervals were divided into >6 months prior to diagnosis and or=1 procedures >6 months before diagnosis, with FOBT the most frequent procedure (36%). Colonoscopy was performed in only 6% of patients prior to the 6-month peridiagnostic period. Compared with patients who underwent no procedures or who underwent procedures only within 6 months of diagnosis, those who underwent procedures >6 months earlier presented with earlier stages of carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The receipt of colorectal procedures in the interval >6 months prior to a diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma was low, suggesting the under use of screening in this population. The association of procedure use with earlier stage at presentation as well as unmeasured benefits in reducing carcinoma incidence suggest beneficial effects of this testing.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

The polyp detection rate of colonoscopy: a national study of Medicare beneficiaries.

National-level data on the proportion of colonoscopies in routine practice that result in polyp detection are limited. Our goal was to determine the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy among population subgroups. We reviewed Medicare claims data for all fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years or older who underwent colonoscopy in 1999. With the use of diagnosis and procedure codes, the proportion of procedures with polyps was estimated. Three different criteria for polyp detection were used. Approximately 1.8 million colonoscopy procedures were identified. Depending on the specific criteria used, 23.9% to 35.7% of examinations noted polyps. The detection rate was highest in younger patients, men, and whites. The apparent yield of colonoscopy in terms of polyp detection is at least 24%. These data may be informative in predicting resource allocation for therapeutic procedures associated with colonoscopy. Future studies should determine the use and yield of serial colonoscopies for polyp surveillance.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

The yield of bleeding scans in acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

GOALS/BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated low yield and conflicting results as to the ability of technetium-99m labeled red blood cell (TRBC) scintigraphy to accurately localize the site of bleeding in acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of TRBC scintigraphy in clinical day-to-day practice at our institution and to determine predictors of a positive test. METHODS: A retrospective medical records review of all patients who underwent TRBC scintigraphy over a 5-year period was conducted at a single academic medical center. The site of bleeding found on TRBC scintigraphy was correlated with the endoscopic, angiographic, surgical, and pathologic findings in each patient. RESULTS: A total of 127 scans were performed in 115 patients. Forty-nine scans were positive (39%) and 78 were negative (61%). Forty-two patients had further evaluation after a positive scan, and the bleeding site was confirmed to be accurate in 20 of 42 patients (48%). A contradictory bleeding site was found in 5 of 49 positive scans (10%). Patients transfused greater than 2 units of packed red blood cells within 24 hours preceding the TRBC scan were twice as likely to have a positive scan (64%) than those transfused 2 units or less (32%) (P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the number of units of blood transfused within 24 hours prior to the TRBC scan and the lowest recorded hematocrit were significantly different between patients with positive and negative scans. There was no difference in the rate of endoscopy between patients with a positive or negative scan result. CONCLUSIONS: TRBC scintigraphy has a relatively low yield in the evaluation of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Objective selection criteria such as number of units of packed red blood cells transfused prior to obtaining the scan may increase the overall yield.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Use of preventive services by Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries: does spillover from managed care matter?

BACKGROUND: Health care delivery varies with the level of managed care activity (MCA) in an area, potentially affecting health care for those not participating in managed care programs. However, the extent to which MCA is associated with the use of cancer screening by fee-for-service beneficiaries (FFS) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to study colorectal cancer screening among Medicare FFS beneficiaries in relation to levels of Medicare MCA. RESEARCH DESIGN: This study linked 1999 Medicare denominator and Part B claims data with the 1998 Area Resource File. After categorizing MCA as low (<10%), moderate (10-29.99%), or high (> or =30%), we assessed the association between colorectal cancer screening among FFS beneficiaries and MCA, controlling for individual demographic variables and county-level attributes of socioeconomic status and physician resources. SUBJECTS: We included Medicare FFS beneficiaries 65 years of age or older with both Part A and Part B coverage for the entire calendar year from large counties in the study. MEASURES: We measured the likelihood of undergoing fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FLEX), or colonoscopy (COL). RESULTS: Compared with Medicare FFS beneficiaries residing in counties with low MCA, those in high MCA counties were significantly more likely to undergo FOBT (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.16), FLEX (AOR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.18), or colonoscopy, after receiving FOBT/FLEX (AOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13). CONCLUSIONS: From a public health perspective, an association between higher levels of MCA and colorectal cancer screening among those not enrolled in managed care may translate into modest increases in use of colorectal cancer screening and possibly earlier detection.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Association of ampullary and colorectal malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Because of the similarities in terms of carcinogenesis and natural history between cancer of the ampulla of Vater and colorectal cancer, the authors examined whether ampullary and colorectal malignancies occur in the same individuals at increased rates. METHODS: We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute for the period from January 1973 through December 1999. Person-years of follow-up for patients with ampullary (or colorectal) cancer were used to calculate the expected number of cases of colorectal (or ampullary) cancer as a second primary malignancy. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Byar limits and assuming a Poisson distribution. RESULTS: The authors identified 2043 white patients with ampullary cancer who were included in the SEER registry between 1973 and 1999. Over an aggregate 5674 person-years of follow-up, 30 patients, compared with an expected 14, developed colorectal cancer, yielding an overall SIR of 2.14 (95% CI, 1.45-3.06). Similarly, 57 of 262,066 white patients with colorectal cancer developed ampullary cancer over an aggregate 1,270,255 person-years of follow-up, yielding an SIR of 2.18 (95% CI, 1.69-2.85). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ampullary cancer are at increased risk for a second primary colorectal malignancy, and patients with colorectal cancer are at increased risk for a second primary ampullary malignancy. These findings suggest that ampullary and colorectal malignancies share common environmental and/or genetic risk factors.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2004

Racial disparities in the use of and indications for colorectal procedures in Medicare beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND: African Americans are diagnosed more frequently with colorectal carcinoma at a later stage compared with Caucasians. One potential reason for the disparity is a lower rate of screening examinations. METHODS: Using Outpatient and Physician-Supplier claims for all Medicare beneficiaries age > or = 65 years in 1999, indications for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium enema were divided into diagnostic, surveillance, or screening categories. Annualized rates were calculated based on the number of eligible fee-for-service months. RESULTS: Rates of FOBT (18.24% vs. 11.86%; P < 0.001) and sigmoidoscopy (3.07% vs. 2.17%; P < 0.001) were higher in Caucasians compared with African Americans, whereas rates of barium enema were higher in African Americans (2.26% vs. 1.88%; P < 0.001). Colonoscopy use was more frequent among men only in Caucasians compared with African-Americans (8.00% vs. 6.97%; P < 0.001). For FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy, the racial differences in procedures performed for diagnostic purposes were of smaller magnitude than for screening; and, for colonoscopy, the use of diagnostic procedures actually was higher for African Americans. CONCLUSIONS: Racial disparities exist not only in the use of colorectal procedures but also in the indications for such testing, with African Americans less likely to undergo screening tests. The differences are consistent with delay in diagnosis until symptoms or signs develop and may contribute to disparities in cancer mortality.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2004

Diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Ohio Medicaid patients: practice patterns and temporal trends.

PURPOSE: There is a paucity of data about the use of procedures and prescription medications in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in actual clinical practice. METHODS: Outpatient Ohio Medicaid claims from 1994 to 1998 were searched to identify patients with an initial diagnosis of GERD along with associated prescriptions and gastrointestinal procedures. Complications of GERD and comorbid illnesses were also determined. RESULTS: A total of 5579 patients were identified. Histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RA's) were prescribed in 59%, followed by proton pump inhibitors (PPI's) (30%) and prokinetic drugs (17%). PPI's were more frequently prescribed to patients with GERD-related complications, peptic ulcer disease and major comorbidities, and patients who received PPI's were also more likely to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The frequencies of upper endoscopy and barium studies were 20% and 11% respectively, with no change over the study period. There was an increased frequency of PPI therapy (17-43%) and decreased frequency of H2RA therapy (72-47%) from 1994 to 1998 which persisted after adjusting for potential differences in case mix. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, prescription of PPI's increased over time which likely reflected changes in clinician practice rather than patient mix. Despite a greater awareness of GERD complications, use of upper endoscopy did not increase. Although the cohort consists of predominantly low socioeconomic status, female patients, further studies should be conducted in other populations to confirm these findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The sensitivity of Medicare data for identifying incident cases of invasive melanoma (United States).

BACKGROUND: The completeness of Medicare claims for identifying patients with melanoma for purposes of conducting population-based studies of melanoma is unknown. METHODS: Using a linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) tumor registry-Medicare database, the sensitivity of Medicare claims for identifying 5372 patients age > or =65 years diagnosed with invasive melanoma between 1992 and 1996 was determined. Sensitivity was calculated as the proportion of incident cases of melanoma reported by SEER that was also captured by Medicare claim diagnostic codes. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity of combined Part A and Part B Medicare for incident cases of melanoma was 90.1%. Part B Medicare and Part A Medicare alone had 89.5% and 16.5% sensitivity respectively. Sensitivity was lower for patients with unrecorded Breslow depth and for patients with unstaged or distant stage melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare Part B claims have a high sensitivity for detecting melanoma incidence; Medicare Part A has low sensitivity. This sharply contrasts with published studies of other cancers, for whom Part A rather than Part B Medicare captures the predominant portion of incident cases. Medicare Part B or combined Part A and Part B administrative data is a potentially valuable resource for population-based melanoma research in the elderly. Further research characterizing the specificity and predictive value of Medicare data is needed to assess the potential implications of false positive melanoma diagnostic codes.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Geographic and patient variation in receipt of surveillance procedures after local excision of cutaneous melanoma.

Little is known about variation in surveillance practices following the diagnosis of invasive melanoma. The objective of this study was to characterize geographic, patient, and tumor variation in the use of follow-up surveillance testing in patients with local or regional stage melanoma. A cohort of Medicare beneficiaries > or =65 y diagnosed with invasive melanoma during 1992 to 1996 living in a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry area was studied. Outpatient and inpatient Medicare claims 3 mo following diagnosis were examined for up to 2 y for surveillance procedures of interest. Use of chest X-ray, chest computed tomography scan, abdominal and/or pelvic computed tomography scan, abdominal ultrasound, head computed tomography scan, head magnetic resonance imaging, laboratory testing, and skin examinations were compared between patient groups and geographic regions. A total of 3389 patients were identified for the analysis. Surveillance testing was relatively common, ranging from 13% for abdominal ultrasound to 80% for laboratory testing. Follow-up skin examinations were performed in 70% to 90% of patients. The use of most surveillance procedures was associated (p<0.01) with younger age, male gender, regional stage tumors, and geographical area, with up to 2-fold differences observed. In contrast, there was much less variability in the receipt of skin examinations. Further studies are needed to determine the etiology and impact of such disparities, and the influence of surveillance procedures on morbidity and mortality.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Success and shortcomings of a clinical care pathway in the management of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

OBJECTIVES: Acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is the most common medical emergency encountered by gastroenterologists resulting in high patient morbidity and cost. We sought to establish if a GI bleeding clinical care pathway could improve the quality and cost effectiveness of inpatient medical care. METHODS: A disease management program for acute upper GI bleeding was established. Length of stay, time to endoscopy, utilization of potentially unnecessary radiological tests, acid suppression, and cost of care were compared between patients pre- and postinitiation of GI bleeding pathway guidelines. RESULTS: The instituted GI bleeding management program significantly reduced the use of intravenous H2-blockade from 65.3% to 47.7% (p = 0.002). The use of radiological tests, time to endoscopy, and length of hospital of stay were unchanged. There was a trend toward a reduction in total cost and variable direct cost per patient admitted with acute upper GI bleeding, from $5,381 to $4,627 and from $2,269 to $1,952, respectively. CONCLUSION: A clinical care pathway may affect the management of acute upper GI bleeding and reduce costs. However, there are significant limitations and barriers to the overall effectiveness of such a pathway in actual clinical practice.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Geographic variation among Medicare beneficiaries in the use of colorectal carcinoma screening procedures.

OBJECTIVES: To study geographic variation in the use of recommended screening procedures for colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: All Medicare claims for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema and two reference procedures, upper endoscopy, and upper gastrointestinal series in patients > or = 65 yr were obtained from the 1997-1999 physician-supplier and outpatient files. State-level procedure rates and the change in rates from 1997 to 1999 were calculated. RESULTS: The median annual rates were as follows: FOBT, 14.54%; flexible sigmoidoscopy, 3.03%; colonoscopy, 6.22%; barium enema, 2.21%; upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 4.88%; and upper gastrointestinal series, 2.78%. Whereas there was at least a 50% difference between the 25th and 75th percentiles for state rates of FOBT and sigmoidoscopy, the variation in other procedures was more modest. State-level rates of colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were highly correlated (r = 0.79; p < 0.0001), as were the rates of barium enema and upper gastrointestinal series (r = 0.68; p < 0.0001). Universal increases in colonoscopy use (median +25.0%) and decreases in barium enema use (median -20.9%) from 1997 to 1999 were observed among individual states. CONCLUSIONS: There is variation at the state level in the use of some, but not all colorectal procedures, as well as fairly consistent temporal trends. The etiology of the differences is not clear, but the correlation in the rates of selected procedures suggests the presence of local practice patterns.

Aged↗