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National Lung Cancer Screening Utilization Trends in the Veterans Health Administration.
Jennifer A Lewis1,2,3, Lauren R Samuels1,4, Jason Denton1,5,6
1Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, TN, USA.
JNCI Cancer Spectrum
|January 25, 2021
Summary
Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) increased in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from 2011 to 2018. However, overall utilization of this early lung cancer detection method remains low.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Veterans are at high risk for lung cancer.
- Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is effective for early lung cancer detection in high-risk populations.
- Understanding LDCT screening trends in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is crucial for optimizing lung cancer prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe and compare annual and geographic utilization trends of LDCT screening within the VHA.
- To assess the changes in LDCT screening rates among eligible Veterans over time.
Main Methods:
- A national retrospective cohort study of screened Veterans from January 1, 2011, to May 31, 2018.
- Calculated annual and regional rates of initial LDCT utilization per 1000 eligible Veterans.
- Identified initial LDCT exams using specific procedure codes and defined eligible Veterans based on age and smoking history.
Main Results:
- A total of 119,300 LDCT exams were performed, with 67.7% being initial screens.
- Nationally, initial LDCT screens per 1000 eligible Veterans increased from 0 in 2011 to 29.6 in 2018 (P < .001).
- Utilization increased across all geographic regions, with the most significant growth observed in northeastern and Florida VAMCs.
Conclusions:
- LDCT screening utilization in the VHA showed an increasing trend between 2011 and 2018.
- Despite the increase, overall utilization of LDCT screening among eligible Veterans remains low.
- Further interventions are necessary to enhance lung cancer screening uptake in this high-risk population.
