Bowel preparation protocol for hospitalized patients ages 50 years or older: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer progressively increase with age and become particularly prominent after the age of 50 years. Therefore, the population that is ≥ 50 years in age requires long-term and regular colonoscopies. Uncomfortable bowel preparation is the main reason preventing patients from undergoing regular colonoscopies. The standard bowel preparation regimen of 4-L polyethylene glycol (PEG) is effective but poorly tolerated. AIM To investigate an effective and comfortable bowel preparation regimen for hospitalized patients ≥ 50 years in age. METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to group 1 (2-L PEG + 30-mL lactulose + a low-residue diet) or group 2 (4-L PEG). Adequate bowel preparation was defined as a Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS) score of ≥ 6, with a score of ≥ 2 for each segment. Non-inferiority was prespecified with a margin of 10%. Additionally, the degree of comfort was assessed based on the comfort questionnaire. RESULTS The proportion of patients with a BBPS score of ≥ 6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2, as demonstrated by intention-to-treat (91.2% vs 91.0%, P = 0.953) and per-protocol (91.8% vs 91.0%, P = 0.802) analyses. Furthermore, in patients ≥ 75 years in age, the proportion of BBPS scores of ≥ 6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2 (90.9% vs 97.0%, P = 0.716). Group 1 had higher comfort scores (8.85 ± 1.162 vs 7.59 ± 1.735, P < 0.001), longer sleep duration (6.86 ± 1.204 h vs 5.80 ± 1.730 h, P < 0.001), and fewer awakenings (1.42 ± 1.183 vs 2.04 ± 1.835, P = 0.026) than group 2. CONCLUSION For hospitalized patients ≥ 50 years in age, the bowel preparation regimen comprising 2-L PEG + 30-mL lactulose + a low-residue diet produced a cleanse that was as effective as the 4-L PEG regimen and even provided better comfort.