Surveillance Colonoscopy in Older Adults: The SurvOlderAdults Study (NCT05994482)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death. Detection and removal of polyps can reduce risk for developing colorectal cancer. After finding and removing precancerous polyps, repeat colonoscopy is routinely recommended. However, it is unclear whether repeat additional colonoscopy further reduces risk for colorectal cancer. For older adults age 75 and older, the lack of this information is especially important, given that the risks of colonoscopy go up with age. This research will evaluate whether older adults with a prior history of precancerous polyps have higher colorectal cancer risks compared to older adults who had a prior normal colonoscopy, and whether, among those with prior precancerous polyps, repeating a colonoscopy after age 75 is associated with reduced cancer risk. The investigators will synthesize these data and gather perspectives from Veterans and clinical stakeholders to make recommendations on whether older adults with a prior history of polyps should continue or defer colonoscopy after age 75.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (35 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (11 items).
Location: VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA — San Diego, California
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria: Study Base and Exclusion Criteria, Aim 1:
- History of CRC prior to age 75
- History of sessile serrated adenoma/polyp/lesion (SSL), traditional serrated adenoma (TSA), or large serrated polyp (LSP, defined as hyperplastic polyp \>10mm) at qualifying colonoscopy
- History of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prior to age 75
- Absence of exposure to normal colonoscopy or colonoscopy with polypectomy between ages 65-75 Study Base and Exclusion Criteria for Cases and Subcohort, Aim 2:
- All candidate CRC cases and members for the subcohort will be included in the analytic sample unless they meet one of the following exclusion criteria:
- absence of a reviewable colonoscopy note
- absence of polypectomy with adenoma diagnosis at candidate qualifying colonoscopy event
- presence of a SSL, TSA, or LSP
- history of CRC or IBD
- history of hereditary cancer syndrome (this criteria is not used for Aim 1 because it cannot be reliably assessed with structured EHR data)
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA — San Diego, California
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA — West Los Angeles, California
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.