Colorectal Neoplasia in Vietnamese Patients Under 50 Years of Age: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background/aims: Few studies have examined the colonoscopic findings of Asian individuals under 50 years of age, with some focusing on specific age cohorts. The present study examined the prevalence, endoscopic characteristics, and histology findings of colorectal neoplasia in Vietnamese patients under 50 years of age and compared these results across age groups.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Patients aged 18-49 years who underwent a colonoscopy and were diagnosed with colorectal neoplasia were included. The prevalence of colorectal neoplasia was analyzed across three age groups: 18-29, 30-39, and 40-49 years.

Results: This study included 1,696 patients (52.9% male) with a median age of 41 years. The prevalence of colorectal neoplasia and advanced colorectal neoplasia was 13% and 3.7%, respectively. The prevalence of colorectal neoplasia increased significantly with age: 4.1% in the 18-29 age group, 9.9% in 30-39, and 16.6% in 40-49 (p<0.01). Adenomas were more prevalent than serrated polyps (10.7% vs. 0.5%, p<0.01), and the incidence increased with age (3.3%, 7.2%, and 14.3% in the 18-29, 30-39, and 40-49 year group, respectively; p<0.01). The overall prevalence of colorectal cancer was 1.6%, with no significant difference among the age groups (p=0.51).

Conclusions: Colorectal neoplasia is not uncommon in Vietnamese individuals under 50 years, and the prevalence notably increases to 16.6% among those aged 40-49 years. These findings highlight the need for the prompt investigation and management of symptoms in this population. Nevertheless, further research in asymptomatic populations is needed to inform screening recommendations in Vietnam.