Sex Differences in Colonoscopy Indications and Findings

This research article investigates sex-based differences in colonoscopy indications and findings between males and females. The study is a large, multi-center, cross-sectional, retrospective analysis that includes data from 287,930 colonoscopies performed between 2016 and 2021 across seven endoscopy departments. The results indicate that females more frequently undergo colonoscopy due to abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and anemia, while males have higher rates of colonoscopy for positive fecal occult blood tests, rectal bleeding, and post-polypectomy surveillance. The findings reveal that males exhibit higher rates of colorectal cancer and polyps compared to females, with significant differences in polyp detection rates across various indications. The study underscores the importance of understanding these differences to develop sex-specific approaches for diagnosing and managing gastrointestinal diseases, and it calls for further investigation into the factors contributing to these disparities.