Low Rates of Lung Cancer Screening Referrals in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Correlational Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• People living with HIV (PLWH) face a higher risk of lung cancer.
• The 2013 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lung cancer screening (LCS) guidelines aim to mitigate this risk.
• The effectiveness of these guidelines in PLWH populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the frequency of LCS referrals among at-risk PLWH based on the 2013 USPSTF guidelines.
• To identify factors associated with LCS referrals in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective descriptive study utilizing electronic medical records from July 2016 to July 2018.
• Inclusion of demographic and clinical data from at-risk PLWH.
• Statistical analysis including chi-square, t-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum, and Fisher's exact tests.

Main Results:

• Only 14% of eligible PLWH were referred for LCS.
• Referral for LCS was more common in patients who received tobacco cessation counseling.
• Hepatitis C infection was more prevalent in patients who received and completed LCS referrals.

Conclusions:

• Current rates of lung cancer screening referrals for PLWH are low, despite guideline recommendations.
• Targeted interventions, including tobacco cessation support, may improve screening rates.
• Quality improvement initiatives are essential to enhance LCS uptake in PLWH.