A UK population-based case-control study of blood tests before cancer diagnosis in patients with non-specific abdominal symptoms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Abnormal results in commonly used primary care blood tests could be early markers of cancer in patients presenting with non-specific abdominal symptoms.

Methods

Using linked data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and national cancer registry we compared blood test use and abnormal results from the 24-months pre-diagnosis in 10,575 cancer patients (any site), and 52,875 matched-controls aged ≥30 presenting, with abdominal pain or bloating to primary care.

Results

Cancer patients had two-fold increased odds of having a blood test (odds ratio(OR):1.51-2.29) and 2-3-fold increased odds of having an abnormal blood test result (OR:2.42-3.30) in the year pre-diagnosis compared to controls. Raised inflammatory markers were the most common abnor

SUBMITTER: Rafiq M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11876449 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature