January 07, 2026

E5 - Colorectal Screening CostEffectiveness

10 minutes

E5 | 11 min | Latest | Publication Link

Podcast based on: Cesarec, A.; Antoljak, N.; Brkić Biloš, I.; Šekerija, M.; Vajagić, M.; Ljubičić, N. The Cost-Effectiveness of Organized National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in Croatia. Cancers 2025, 18, 150. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18010150

Type: Article | Publication date: 31 December 2025

Summary: The organized National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in Croatia was introduced by the government in 2007. Every two years, approximately 1,300,000 individuals aged 50–74 years are invited by mail to participate in guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) screening, and positive patients are referred for colonoscopy. Previous research has shown that colorectal cancer screening programs not only reduce disease-specific mortality but are also generally cost-effective. This study evaluates the costs of colorectal cancer screening in Croatia and compares the cost effectiveness of three screening strategies in the population aged 50 to 74 years: no screening, biennial gFOBT, and biennial fecal immunochemical testing (FIT). The results indicate that the introduction of FIT screening represents a cost-effective strategy for colorectal cancer screening in Croatia.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; screening; gFOBT; fecal immunochemical test; cost-effectiveness; cost of illness

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This podcast provides a synthetically generated voice summary and discussion of scientific publications. The views expressed do not represent the views of the original authors, journals, or publishers. This podcast uses AI-assisted summaries, so it may or may not introduce inaccuracies or omit important details. Listeners are strongly encouraged to consult the original publications or sources for full context and accuracy. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice, medical guidance, or recommendations. The creators of this podcast are not liable for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of the information provided.

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