Introduction:
Gastrointestinal cancer remains a major public health concern in Poland. The Podlaskie Province has one of the highest incidence rates of colorectal cancer in the country. Preventive endoscopic procedures can facilitate the early detection of neoplastic and pre-neoplastic lesions.

Aim of the research:
To evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms reported by patients and endoscopic findings identified during gastroscopy and colonoscopy among residents of the Podlaskie Province, and to analyse their association with sociodemographic variables.

Material and methods:
This retrospective study included 125 patients aged 45 years and older (65 gastroscopies and 60 colonoscopies) performed at the Endoscopy Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration Hospital in Białystok. Prior to the procedure, all patients completed a purpose-designed questionnaire comprising 17 symptom-related and 5 demographic questions. Associations between variables were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, with the significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results and conclusions:
Colonoscopy most frequently revealed colorectal polyps (43.3%), colonic diverticulosis (20.0%), and external haemorrhoids (16.7%); no pathological findings were reported in 25% of patients. No neoplastic lesions were identified. During gastroscopy, erythematous gastropathy was the most common finding (86.2%), followed by sliding hiatal hernia (24.6%), reflux oesophagitis (21.5%), atrophic gastropathy (16.9%). Place of residence was significantly associated with colonic diverticulosis (more frequent among rural residents; p = 0.031) and external haemorrhoids (observed exclusively among urban residents; p = 0.025). Endoscopic examinations identified clinically relevant gastrointestinal abnormalities among residents of the Podlaskie Province. These findings highlight the importance of access to appropriate endoscopic evaluation and may inform public education on gastrointestinal cancer prevention.