Comparing U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 2013 versus 2021 lung cancer screening eligibility.

Abstract

13 Background: Early detection of lung cancer provides the best opportunity for long-term survival. In 2021 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) expanded the 2013 risk-based Low-dose CT (LDCT) screening criteria, in part to reduce unintended race and gender disparities in lung cancer detection. We evaluated the impact of the updated USPSTF criteria in a cohort of patients from an incidental lung nodule program (ILNP). Methods: We implemented an ILNP in a community healthcare system in the mid-south US. Patients with lung lesions on routinely-performed radiologic studies were triaged using evidence-based guidelines. We prospectively tracked patient demographics, clinical characteristics, procedures, complications, and health outcomes. We classified all patients in the ILNP cohort based on USPSTF 2013 and 2021 screening criteria. Statistical analysis used the chi-square test. Results: The ILNP cohort included 14,642 patients from 2015-2021. This cohort was 56% female, 65% White, 29% Black, with a median age of 64 years. Overall 1,581 (10.8%) met 2013 and 2,051 (14.0%) met 2021 USPSTF criteria. 1.9% of subjects eligible by 2013 criteria were diagnosed with lung cancer compared to 2.2% by 2021 criteria. 470 additional patients met screening criteria when we expanded from USPSTF 2013 to 2021. As expected, these patients were younger and less likely to have Medicare insurance. These additional eligible patients were significantly more likely to be female (58% v 49%, p = 0.0011) or Black (28% vs. 18%, p < 0.0001) compared to those eligible by 2013 criteria. 44 of the 470 (9%) were diagnosed with cancer: 36% adenocarcinoma, 18% squamous, and 11% small cell, 11% non-lung primary, 9% non-small cell lung cancer NOS, and 15% other or unknown histology. The median tumor size was 3 cm with an interquartile range from 1.7 to 4.2 cm. The clinical stage distribution was 34% I, 4.5% II, 15.9% III, and 31.8% IV. Conclusions: In this selective community-based cohort, USPSTF 2021 criteria identified a higher percentage of subjects with lung cancer and were more inclusive of women and minorities compared to USPSTF 2013 criteria.