LEADING Austrian health experts have gathered at the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2024, held in Vienna, Austria, to push forward the implementation of a nationwide, quality-assured colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme starting at age 45. This call comes in response to alarmingly high mortality rates and a rising incidence of CRC across Austria and Europe.
CRC remains one of the deadliest forms of digestive cancer, and statistics from the UEG White Book 2 reveal a worrying trend. Between 2000–2019, CRC cases in Europe increased by 33%, and CRC mortality rose by 19%. In Austria, over 5,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2019, resulting in more than 2,500 deaths. In 2019, more than 20,000 women and over 23,000 men were living with CRC. Primary causes include lifestyle factors, including poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity.
Unlike other European countries such as Germany, which has offered widespread CRC screening for over two decades, Austria currently lacks a national screening initiative. Despite consensus on the benefits of early detection, the introduction of such a programme has been delayed due to differing interests within the Austrian healthcare system and varying approaches of federal states.
The Austrian Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ÖGGH), the Austrian Cancer Aid Society, and other stakeholders are united in their call for a standardised, nationwide screening programme for CRC. Experts emphasise that early detection through routine screening, particularly colonoscopy, is the most effective way to prevent CRC or detect it in its early, more treatable stages.
“The scientific evidence is clear. If polyps, which are potential precursors to CRC, are detected and removed during a colonoscopy, CRC can be prevented. This is a major advantage compared to other cancers. As a medical society, we urgently call for the nationwide implementation of a screening programme for everyone aged 45 to 75, as this could save many lives,” stated Harald Hofer, President of ÖGGH.
Ada Enesco, EMJ
Reference
United European Gastroenterology (UEG), Austrian Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ÖGGH). A call for comprehensive colorectal cancer screening. UEG Week, 12–15 October, 2024.
