Could atmospheric temperature impact on adequate colon cleansing for colonoscopy? An observational, single-institution study

Purpose: Several risk factors affecting the adequacy of colon cleansing have been proposed during the last decades. However, less is known about the impact that atmospheric aspects could have on adequacy of the bowel cleansing. The study aimed to investigate if the atmospheric temperature could impact on the bowel cleansing during colonoscopy. Methods: A prospective maintained database of the colonoscopies performed since 1st August 2017 to 31st March 2020 was retrospective reviewed. The primary outcome of the study was to identify if the atmospheric temperature was associated with inadequate colon cleansing during colonoscopy. Secondary outcome was to identify the other factors associated with an inadequate colon cleansing. Results: One thousand two hundred twenty patients were enrolled. High atmospheric temperature (> 25 °C) significantly influenced the colon cleansing (p < 0.0001). Adequate colon cleansing was negatively influenced by gender (female patients were associated with higher colon cleansing rate, p = 0.013), diabetes (p < 0.0001), previous pelvic surgery (p = 0.001), use of Beta-Blocker (p = 0.001), anti-platelet (p = 0.017), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (p = 0.001), the adoption of 4 L Poly Ethylene Glycol solution (p = 0.009), single-dose regimen (p < 0.0001) low patients' compliance (p < 0.0001), higher age and body mass index (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.025), lower education levels (p < 0.0001). On the contrary, admission to the ward to perform bowel preparation positively impacted on colon cleansing (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Atmospheric temperature could play an important role in the colon cleansing during colonoscopy, being high temperature (> 25 °C) associated with lower rate of adequate bowel cleansing. However, being this relationship never studied before, these results must be confirmed by other studies.