Back to Search Start Over

Faecal Haemoglobin Estimated by Faecal Immunochemical Tests—An Indicator of Systemic Inflammation with Real Clinical Potential

Authors :
Karen N. Barnett
Gavin R. C. Clark
Robert J. C. Steele
Callum G. Fraser
Source :
Diagnostics, Vol 11, Iss 11, p 2093 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Multimorbidity is the major cause of ill-health and premature death in developed countries. The ability to identify individuals at risk of developing chronic disease, particularly multimorbidity, reliably, and simply, and to identify undiagnosed disorders, is vital to reducing the global burden of disease. This narrative review, the first of recent studies, demonstrates that raised faecal haemoglobin concentration (f-Hb) is associated with increased all-cause and cause-specific mortality and with longer-term conditions including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and psoriasis, and with probable intake of particulate matter. We and others have hypothesized that elevated f-Hb (measured using a faecal immunochemical test) has considerable potential to identify individuals at risk of, or who already have, early stage, undiagnosed chronic disease. If f-Hb does prove to be an effective biomarker for chronic disease and multimorbidity, individuals with detectable f-Hb, but without an obvious source of gastrointestinal blood loss, could benefit from further assessment and early intervention. To test this hypothesis rigorously, longitudinal data-linkage methodology is required linking colorectal cancer screening data, and data on patients presenting with lower gastrointestinal symptoms, with routinely collected health information.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
11112093 and 20754418
Volume :
11
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Diagnostics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2f009fec1977418d8c71529dea97c166
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112093