Analysis of age and gender attributes of abnormal colonoscopy findings in surgical patients with overt lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage: A single-center study

Background: Overt lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common encounter in general surgical practice. The pattern of clinical presentation of LGIB is largely influenced demographic indices, which vary globally. LGIB is the most common indication for colonoscopy in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to determine the association of age and gender characteristics on colonoscopy findings of patients with LGIB. Methods: Between December 2010 and June 2025, the colonoscopy records of all patients who had colonoscopy performed by the surgeons in our institution were reviewed. Gender, age, and characteristics of the patients and results of their colonoscopy were analyzed. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 23. Results: LGIB was the primary indication for colonoscopy in 70 patients. There were 26 females (37.1%) and 44 males (62.9%) with a male-to-female ratio of 1–1.7. In all cases, the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy for LGIB in this study was obtained in 59 out of 70 colonoscopies (84.2%). The mean age of all patients was 52.6 ± 16 years. The most positive findings on colonoscopy were in patients between 50 and 59 years. Seventeen patients (24.3%) were found within this age group. Hemorrhoids were the most common finding at colonoscopy. Neoplastic lesions of the colon accounted for 14.3% of abnormal colonoscopy findings and are most common in the middle-aged male gender. Conclusion: this study highlights some disparities in abnormal colonoscopy findings in LGIB by age and gender. Regardless of gender, benign colorectal lesions were most frequently diagnosed. Neoplastic lesions accounted for 14% of the colonoscopy findings and are most common in middle-aged males. Targeted colonoscopy screening programs for Nigerians in the middle-aged may be considered for future studies.