Brief Report: Understanding Program-Level Impact of COVID-19 in Lung Cancer Screening Programs in the United States

Lung cancer screening (LCS) reduces lung cancer mortality, yet uptake pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains low. The impact of COVID-19 on LCS programs across the United States is unknown. Ours is the first multi-institutional study to identify barriers to LCS experienced during the pandemic. Our work will hopefully inform the development of targeted resources to facilitate increased uptake of LCS.

A nationwide survey of Centers of Excellence (SCOE) in LCS was conducted by GO2 for Lung Cancer Foundation. In 2021, survey items included questions regarding program structure, screening rates, and systemic barriers to LCS delivery experienced amid COVID-19.

A total of 99 programs representing 1112 screening sites responded. A median of 868 patients were screened during the year of 2020. Patient recruitment, patient education, and in-person service access were negatively affected by COVID-19, whereas the use of telemedicine was positively affected. Coordination of care and timely reporting of results were largely unaffected by the pandemic.

Our findings provide a real-world snapshot of how COVID-19 affected LCS from a program perspective. These findings highlight ongoing challenges with educating and engaging those at high risk for lung cancer in LCS. Program resources should be directed toward increasing adherence to LCS among eligible patients.