Prevalence and predictive factors of colorectal sessile serrated lesions in younger individuals

Abstract Background Sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) are obscured lesions predominantly in the right-sided colon and associated with interval colorectal cancer; however, their prevalence and risk factors among younger individuals remain unclear. Methods This retrospective study enrolled individuals who underwent index colonoscopy. The primary outcome was the SSL prevalence in the younger (<50 years) and older (≥50 years) age groups, while the secondary outcomes included clinically significant serrated polyps (CSSPs). Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify predictors. Results Of the 9854 eligible individuals, 4712 (47.8%) were categorized into the younger age group. Individuals in the younger age group exhibited lower prevalences of adenomas (22.6% vs. 46.2%; P<0.001) and right-sided adenomas (11.2% vs. 27.2%; P<0.001) compared with their older counterparts. However, both groups exhibited a similar prevalence of SSLs (7.2% vs. 6.5%; P=0.16) and CSSPs (10.3% vs. 10.3%;P=0.96). Multivariable analysis revealed that age 40–49 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.81, 95%CI 1.01–3.23), longer withdrawal time (OR 1.17, 95%CI 1.14–1.20, per minute increment), and endoscopist performance (OR 3.35, 95%CI 2.44–4.58) were independent predictors of SSL detection in the younger age group. No significant correlation was observed between adenoma and SSL detection rates among endoscopists. Conclusion SSLs are not uncommon among younger individuals. Moreover, diligent effort and expertise are of paramount importance in SSL detection. Future studies should explore the clinical significance of SSLs in individuals of younger age.