| Definitions | Methodology | Data sources | Data selection criteria | Contact |
Number of persons in the target population - the number of unique persons within the age range defined under the nationally organized colorectal cancer screening programme, in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 555 of 28 August 2018, “Procedures for the Organization and Financing of Health Care Services”
Considering changes in the examination method and screening interval, the target population is defined as follows:
Since 2021, with the transition from a one-year to a two-year screening interval, the target population is divided by the screening interval - two.
Mumber of persons who underwent screening examinations – unique persons who have completed the screening examination specified within the nationally organized colorectal cancer screening programme, with examination coding compliant with the National Health Service requirements for the provision of the national colorectal cancer screening programme (see – Data Selection Criteria)
Examination coverage– the proportion of screened persons within the target population. This indicator is calculated as the ratio of persons who have undergone screening examinations to the target population. It indicates the proportion of the target population that received faecal occult blood testing during the defined period and provides information on the organizational effectiveness of the screening programme (target: 45% – minimum; >65–70% – desirable level).
Examination coverage (%) (from 2021) = (Number of unique persons who underwent primary screening in the given year / ½ of the average number of persons aged 50-74 in the given year) *100
Distribution of primary screening results – the number of unique persons according to the primary screening result.
The distribution follows the examination method specified in
Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 555 of 28 August 2018, “Procedures for the Organization and Financing of Health Care Services”
Note: A detailed analysis by result, age group, and sex has been conducted for data from 2021–2024 for individuals who underwent the i-FOBT (FIT – faecal immunochemical test).
Age groups – unique persons are grouped into five-year age bands from 50 to 74 years.
The methodology was developed and adapted by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC), Research and Health Statistics Department, in cooperation with the National Health Service, based on indicators compiled by the European Commission and described in European guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis.
It was prepared considering the capabilities of Latvia’s data systems and international guidelines and provides a systematic and methodologically sound approach to describing colorectal cancer screening indicators and monitoring the programme. By introducing a screening registry, as well as ensuring additional data availability and quality control, the methodology will be supplemented and adapted to the current situation.
Persons who underwent screening examinations are selected from the NHS VIS in accordance with the Conditions for the Provision of the Nationally Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme published by the NHS.
Procedure code submitter: laboratory only. Each person is counted once regardless of the number of tests.
Source for all steps: NHS
Anita Mauriňa
Head of the Registry Supervision Unit
Phone: +371 67387665
Renâte Putniňa
Registry Supervision Unit
Public Health Analyst
Phone: +371 27893727
Annika Smilga-Veide
Registry Supervision Unit
Public Health Analyst
Phone: +371 67475147