Lung cancer screening rates among high-risk smokers have remained low regardless of United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.
Screening by low-dose computer tomography (LDCT) is recommended for anyone between 55 and 80 years old with a 30 pack per year history of smoking who is a current smoker or quit within the past 15 years. One survey found that in 2010, 2% to 4% of people for whom screening is recommended had a LDCT scan. For this study, researchers compared the 2015 National Health Interview Survey with that of 2010.
No significant increase of screening among eligible people from 2010 to 2015 was found (change of 3.3% to 3.9%). Only 262,700 of the eligible 6.8 million smokers or ex-smokers underwent CT in 2015.
