Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption and Sessile Serrated Polyps in Subjects 30 to 49 Years Old.

Background & Aims: We investigated the prevalence of sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) and the association between SSP risk and modifiable lifestyle factors in asymptomatic young adults.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using a screening colonoscopy database of 13,618 asymptomatic subjects age 30 to 49 years, and 17,999 subjects age 50 to 75 years. We investigated risk factors of SSP by multivariable analyses of clinical data that included cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption.

Results: In subjects age 30 to 49 years, the prevalence of SSP was 2.0% (275 of 13,618 individuals). Of all SSPs, 40.7% (112 of 275 SSPs) were large (≥10 mm). Smoking for 20 or more pack-years was associated with overall SSPs (odds ratio [OR], 1.87; 95% CI, 1.17-2.99) and large SSPs (OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.62-5.66). The association between anatomic location and 20 or more pack-years of smoking was stronger for distal SSPs than for proximal SSPs (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.27-5.77 vs OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.00-2.54). Cessation of smoking for 5 years or more decreased the risk of SSPs (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28-0.86) and of large SSPs (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.10-0.54). Alcohol consumption was associated with large SSPs. These findings were similar for subjects age 50 to 75 years.

Conclusions: In an analysis of a screening colonoscopy database, we found that in asymptomatic young adults, smoking and alcohol consumption were associated with any SSPs and large SSPs. Cessation of smoking decreased the risk of SSPs. Therefore, early lifestyle modification may be recommended for primary prevention of SSPs in young adults.