Table 4 Breakdown of the study population based on the appropriateness of FOBT testing
From: Use and abuse of fecal occult blood tests: a community hospital experience
Potentially appropriate population 87 (11.9%) | Potentially inappropriate population 642 (88.1%) |
|---|---|
 • 87 patients aged 50–75 | • 125 patients aged < 50 |
 • Not taking medications known to alter testing (NSAIDS, anticoagulants, aspirin, vitamin C) | • 225 patients aged > 75 |
 • No patients with active gastrointestinal bleed | • 247 patients on medication between age group 50–75 (NSAIDS, aspirin, anticoagulants and vitamin C) |
 • FOBT positive in 31/87 patients (38.27%) | • 45 patients between 50 and 75 with active gastrointestinal bleeding |
 • 23/31 (74.19%) patients had gastrointestinal consult | • FOBT positive 259/642 (40.34%) patients |
 • 13/31 (41.93%) patients had colonoscopy | • 210/259 (81.08%) patients had gastrointestinal consultation |
• 73/259 (28.18%) patients underwent colonoscopy |