Adherence to mt-sDNA testing for colorectal cancer screening among new users in a US Black population

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses significant mortality risks, particularly among Black individuals, who experience the highest CRC incidence and mortality rates in the United States. This study examined adherence to multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) testing in this population.

This retrospective cohort analysis used Exact Sciences Laboratories (ESL)-linked claims data from January 2017 to December 2023 on Black patients in the United States aged 45 and older. High-risk individuals, those with payers other than commercial plans, managed care organizations, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, or Medicare, and individuals with mt-sDNA prescriptions outside the study period were excluded. Adherence was defined as the percentage of patients returning the test kit with valid results within 365 days of shipment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with adherence.

Among 434,951 patients included in the study, the overall adherence to mt-sDNA testing was 62.0% (N = 266,981), with a mean time to adherence of 27.6 days (SD = 44.17). Females, older adults (76+ years), and non-metropolitan residents had higher adherence than males, younger adults, and metropolitan patients (all p < 0.001), respectively. Patients with orders from GI specialists had higher adherence than other prescribing clinicians (NP/PA: OR = 0.39, OB/GYN: OR = 0.54, Other: OR = 0.38, PCP: OR = 0.50; all p < 0.001). Digital outreach, especially SMS and email combination, was also associated with higher adherence (OR = 1.25, p < 0.001).

This large, national study found a 62.0% adherence rate to mt-sDNA testing among Black individuals. Higher adherence was associated with being female, older age, non-metropolitan residence, and digital outreach. While the findings highlight the promise of mt-sDNA, further research is needed to explore its full potential in improving CRC screening adherence across different demographic groups.