Influence of faecal haemoglobin concentration (f-Hb) on clinical decision-making in patients (n, (%)) with new bowel symptoms (n=5372)
| Total n | f-Hb <10 µg/g n (%) | f-Hb ≥10 µg/g n (%) | P value† | |
| Patients with valid f-Hb result | 5372 | 4197 (78.1) | 1175 (21.9) | |
| Not referred by GP | 2521 | 2403 (95.3) | 118 (4.7) | <0.001 |
| Acute admission | 3 | 1 (33.3) | 2 (66.6) | |
| Referred to secondary care and triaged | 2848 | 1794 (63.0) | 1054 (37.0) | <0.001 |
| Referral rejected | 71 | 57 (80.3) | 14 (19.7) | <0.001 |
| Colonoscopy | 1381 | 621 (45.0) | 760 (55.0) | <0.001 |
| Routine | 345 | 258 (74.8) | 87 (25.2) | <0.001 |
| Urgent | 617 | 268 (43.4) | 349 (56.6) | 0.0011 |
| Urgent suspected cancer | 419 | 95 (22.7) | 324 (77.3) | <0.001 |
| Gastroenterology clinic | 672 | 521 (77.5) | 151 (22.5) | <0.001 |
| Sigmoidoscopy | 462 | 373 (80.7) | 89 (19.3) | <0.001 |
| Upper GI endoscopy only | 138 | 127 (92.0) | 11 (8.0) | <0.001 |
| CT colonoscopy | 83 | 62 (74.7) | 21 (25.3) | <0.001 |
| Other clinic* | 41 | 33 (80.5) | 8 (19.5) | <0.001 |
*Other clinic encompasses referrals to general surgical (25), liver (8), pelvic floor (3), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, 3), paediatrics (1) and genetics (1) clinics.
†χ2 test.
GI, gastrointestinal; GP, general practitioner.