Publications

From 2010 to 2014, researchers recruited 600 people aged 52 to 64 to participate in the case-control study. The frequency of colorectal advanced adenoma in 200 asymptomatic siblings of subjects with advanced adenomas was compared with 400 age-matched and sex-matched siblings of subjects with normal colonoscopies and no family history of colorectal cancer. Findings in both groups were validated by colonoscopy. Results show that subjects from the affected families had 6 times the chance of advanced adenoma compared with the subjects from the control group. They were also 3 times more likely to have adenoma of all kinds.

Researchers in HK conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients with aspirin-associated lower GI bleeding between 2000 and 2007. They were identified and clinical data of 295 patients were analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups (the Non-user group and Aspirin group) according to their cumulative exposure to aspirin during a 5-year period. The results showed that among aspirin users with a history of lower GI bleeding, discontinuation of aspirin would lead to a 61% increase in serious cardiovascular events including nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death from vascular causes, while the risk of recurrent lower GI bleeding decreased by 63%.

From 2008 to 2010, researchers randomly selected 922 subjects to measure their liver fat and fibrosis. Among them, 658 subjects did not have fatty liver disease. After 3 years, 565 of those without fatty liver disease were invited to take the tests again. The result indicated that 76 out of 565 participants developed new NAFLD. Therefore, it is suggested that incidence of NAFLD in Hong Kong is 13.5% over 3 to 5 years.

Researchers in HK followed up 5700 participants in a bowel cancer screening programme who chose Fecal immunochemical Test (FIT) for annual screening for 4 years. Participants were given phone reminders and they found that the compliance rates to FIT were 95.1%, 79.9%, 66.2% and 68.4% at years one to four, respectively. Also, analysed from the data, male subjects, younger participants, smokers and those with positive family history of CRC were more likely to be non-compliant. To enhance screening effectiveness, individual reminders were suggested for those who are more likely to be screening non-compliance.

Researchers in HK analyzed data from 7,845 participants in a bowel cancer screening programme. Results showed that many participants changed their mind after the educational session about colorectal cancer and its related screening tools (27.1 % changing from colonoscopy to fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and 8 % changing from FIT to colonoscopy). Those with family history of CRC and high self-perception of CRC risk were more likely to choose colonoscopy and perception of overall health status, occupation, low income, younger age, and negative perceptions of CRC screening were associated with high probability to change screening choice. Detailed explanations by primary care physicians was suggested for those have higher probability to change decision to secure a more informed and considered choice.

Researchers in Hong Kong analyzed data from a bowel cancer screening programme for asymptomatic local Chinese. They could choose between fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and colonoscopy. Among 3430 participants, 48.7% chose FIT and 51.3% chose colonoscopy. Those with younger age, family history of bowel cancer and self-perceived poor health status preferred to choose colonoscopy.

Researchers form the CUHK has undergone a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies from 28 different countries with 1.4million of participants in total. They found that smoking was associated with a significantly increased risk of bowel cancer. The associated risk was higher for men than that for women. It was also higher for ex-smokers than that for non-smokers. The association of tobacco consumption and bowel cancer risk appeared to be dose-related.

Researchers in Hong Kong have simulated a cost-effective analysis of routine fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. FOBT is found to be the most cost-effective for CRC screening in individuals aged 50 or above.

Researchers of Asia Pacific Working Group on Colorectal Cancer initiated a multinational multicenter bowel tumor study, 5464 people from Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand had undergone colonoscopy screening. Advanced neoplasm was found in 9.4% of participants. Data shows that gender, age and ethnicity (When compared to Chinese, Japanese and Korean have higher risk) are associated with advanced neoplasm formation.