Abstract B107: Disparities in lung cancer screening rates: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Jacob Giuseppina , Dhaliwal Amanpreet , Namireddy Praveen 
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Despite advances in cancer care, the low five-year survival rate for lung cancer is due to late-stage diagnoses. Early detection through lung cancer screening is vital for improving patient outcomes. However, racial disparities persist, with Black individuals experiencing higher rates and advanced stages of the disease. This retrospective study assessed racial and gender disparities in lung cancer screening rates among different racial groups at WakeMed Health and Hospital outpatient primary care clinics. Study design: The study utilized data from the lung cancer screening registry, focusing on the period between Jan 1st 2017 and May 15th 2023. The data was obtained from the EPIC electronic medical record system and exported to Excel. We implemented filters to narrow down the patient population that met the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force inclusion criteria for lung cancer screening. Eligible patients for lung cancer screening are those aged 50 to 80 years, either current smokers or individuals who quit smoking within the past 15 years and have a smoking history of at least 20 pack years. The study focused on three racial groups: Asian, Black, and White populations. Results: Among the 2,098 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 15.5% were Black (n=326), 0.01% were Asian (n=23), and 83.4% were White (n=1,749). The screening rates for lung cancer were calculated for each racial group. The Asian population had a screening rate of 26% (6 out of 23 patients), the Black population had a rate of 32% (103 out of 326 patients), and the White population had a rate of 31% (543 out of 1,749 patients). Among the Asian population, the screening rate for Asian males was 20% (4 out of 20 patients), while for Asian females, it was relatively higher at 67% (2 out of 3 patients). For the Black male population, the screening rate was 31% (52 out of 167 patients), while among females, it was 32% (51 out of 159 patients). Among the White population, white males were screened at a rate of 33% (313 out of 962 patients), while among females, it was slightly lower at 29% (230 out of 787 patients).  Conclusion: The findings reveal no significant difference in lung cancer screening rates between racial groups or genders. Caution must be exercised when interpreting the findings for the Asian population due to the small sample size. Further research using a larger and more diverse dataset is necessary to draw more robust conclusions regarding potential disparities in lung cancer screening rates. This study underscores the importance of improving overall lung cancer screening rates, as the majority of the eligible population did not receive screening. Efforts will be made to implement interventions that enhance lung cancer screening rates, ensuring timely detection and improving patient outcomes. Addressing disparities in lung cancer screening access and utilization is crucial for achieving equitable healthcare and reducing the burden of lung cancer on vulnerable populations.

Citation Format: Giuseppina Jacob, Amanpreet Dhaliwal, Praveen Namireddy. Disparities in lung cancer screening rates: A retrospective observational study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B107.