The frequency of colorectal lesions in the first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal lesions among PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study population (PGCS)

TL;DR

This study found that first-degree relatives of people with colorectal lesions have a high risk of developing similar issues, especially if they are older, smoke, or eat fewer vegetables.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the familial risk and lifestyle factors associated with colorectal lesions in the Iranian population.

Findings

34.6% of first-degree relatives had colorectal polyps, with 52 being neoplastic.

Age over 60 and smoking significantly increased the risk of colorectal polyps.

Eating vegetables more than three times daily reduced the risk of polyps.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of colorectal lesions in the first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal lesions among the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN )Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS) population.

In this cross-sectional study, 162 first-degree relatives with a history of colorectal lesions were randomly selected from 52 participants in PGCS. All subjects underwent total colonoscopy by a gastroenterologist, and a pathologist evaluated colorectal biopsies. Also, individuals’ demographic information, clinical data, and dietary habits were recorded.

The mean age of the participants was 56.55 ± 7.04. Of 86 colon polyps, 52 neoplastic and 34 non-neoplastic polyps were observed in 56 patients (34.6%). Individuals with age > 60 years had 3.29-fold increased odds of developing colorectal polyps (OR = 3.29, 95% CI: 1.13–9.56, P = 0.029). The smokers were 2.73 times more susceptible to developing colorectal polyps than non-smokers (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.24–6.02, P = 0.013). Moreover, consumption of vegetables more than three times per day was associated with decreased OR of colorectal polyp development (OR = 0.43, CI: 0.19–0.98, P = 0.045).

Considering the high prevalence of neoplastic colorectal polyps among the first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal lesions, early screening is recommended for individuals with a family history of colorectal lesions.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-024-03177-z.