A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 19 studies with a total of 13 216 subjects. The studies varied in setting (GP-led, nurse-led, or surgeon-led) and "intensity" of follow-up.
Overall survival: no evidence of a statistical effect with intensive follow-up was found (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.04). There were 1453 deaths among 12528 participants enrolled in 15 studies.
Colorectal cancer-specific survival: no difference was found with intensive follow-up (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.07). There were 925 colorectal cancer deaths among 11 771 participants enrolled in 11 studies.
Relapse-free survival: no statistical evidence was found of effect with intensive follow-up (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.21). There were 2254 relapses among 8047 participants enrolled in 16 studies.
Salvage surgery with curative intent: this was more frequent with intensive follow-up (RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.56). There were 457 episodes of salvage surgery in 5157 participants enrolled in 13 studies.
Interval (symptomatic) recurrences: these were less frequent with intensive follow-up (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.86). 376 interval recurrences were reported in 3933 participants enrolled in seven studies.
Intensive follow-up did not appear to affect quality of life, anxiety, nor depression (reported in three studies).Intensive follow-up may increase the complications (perforation or haemorrhage) from colonoscopies (OR 7.30, 95% CI 0.75 to 70.69; 1 study, 326 participants). In two studies, there were seven colonoscopic complications in 2112 colonoscopies.
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