Long-term effect of faecal occult blood screening on incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer

Abstract Background Several randomized trials have shown a reduction of colorectal cancer mortality by screening using guaiac-based faecal occult blood tests. However, little is known on the long-term effect of screening at the population level in everyday practice. Methods Small-sized geographic areas including a total of 91,199 individuals were allocated to either biennal screening using the Hemoccult-II test or no screening. The expected mortality and incidence in the cohort invited to screening was determined using mortality and incidence in the non-screened population. Results Colorectal cancer mortality was significantly lower in the population invited to screening than in the non-scr…