Reasons for referral and alarm features reported at time of referral: N = 304; percentages might not add to 100% because of missing data or patients having multiple entries.
| VARIABLE | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Reason for referral | |
| • Dyspepsia | 180 (59.2) |
| • Anemia not yet diagnosed | 55 (18.1) |
| • Positive fecal occult blood test result | 19 (6.3) |
| • History of rectal bleeding | 18 (5.9) |
| • History of change in bowel habits | 12 (3.9) |
| • History of upper GI bleeding | 8 (2.6) |
| • History of melena | 5 (1.6) |
| • Other | 7 (2.3) |
| Alarm features | |
| • No alarm feature | 47 (15.5) |
| • Age > 50 y | 179 (58.9) |
| • Active GI bleeding | 102 (33.6) |
| • Anemia | 86 (28.3) |
| • Melena | 52 (17.1) |
| • Vomiting | 47 (15.5) |
| • Unexplained weight loss | 34 (11.2) |
| • Dysphagia | 25 (8.2) |
| • Family history of colon cancer | 16 (5.3) |
| • Abdominal mass | 2 (0.7) |
GI—gastrointestinal.