Prevalence of colorectal polyps in patients undergoing colonoscopy in Sulaimaniyah gastroenterology center: a retrospective study

Background & objectives: Colorectal cancers are believed to develop primarily through an adenoma-carcinoma sequence, with adenomatous polyps beginning as the primary precursor lesions. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of colorectal polyps with their characteristics and relation to age/gender and to aid in establishing a screening program to detect polyps and colorectal cancer in the early stages. Methods: In this retrospective study, the data of 2698 patients who underwent colonoscopy in Sulaimani Gastroenterology Center, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, for various complaints and asymptomatic patients from January 2019 to February 2021 were studied regarding colorectal polyps. Patients sociodemographic data (age, gender, and residency), presented symptoms, surveillance rate for colon cancer and polyps, and disease follow-up were studied. Briefly, patients were given bowel preparation solutions the day before the colonoscopy, and the process was performed under conscious sedation. Results: The mean±SD age of patients was 52.0±17.59 years, and most were females (55.1%)(p=0.000) and from urban areas (62.12%) (p?0.05). Among the studied patients, 14.3% were diagnosed with polyps, of which 17.1% were males and 12.1% were females. The high prevalence rate was found in patients aged >60 years (23.8%), followed by 50-60 years (17.71%), and then 40-49 years (13.07%). Conclusion: Colorectal polyp was common among patients undergoing colonoscopy for several gastrointestinal symptoms, especially after the age of forty.