A reanalysis of Sweden’s population-based fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening program suggests that the mortality benefit of colorectal cancer screening may have been substantially underestimated. Researchers analyzed 376,511 adults aged 60–69 years in the Stockholm-Gotland region, using a prospective cohort design in which birth cohorts were assigned to receive screening invitations at different times. The original analysis had estimated a 14% reduction in CRC mortality associated with being invited to screening, but the researchers identified two sources of bias: contamination of the control group, in which about two-thirds of controls were eventually invited to screening, and CRC deaths occurring after participants were no longer considered exposed to screening.
43% Lower Mortality Seen in Colorectal Screening Participants (HCP Live)
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