Breast cancer warning as ‘significant numbers’ miss screenings

Fewer women are getting breast cancer screenings since the Covid pandemic, new research warns. The decline was particularly notable among older women and those from ethnic minorities, according to the findings.

The figures show that monthly screening volume temporarily fell by 80.57% from February to April 2020 at the height of the pandemic, before rebounding to near pre-pandemic levels after June 2020. But even after the rebound, there was still a decrease in the rate of breast cancer follow-up screenings.

On average, Covid-19 led to a 2.47% decrease in follow-up screening rates among all participating women. The researchers say their findings, published in the journal The Annals of Family Medicine, point to a “significant number” of missed screenings. The figures show that American women were generally less likely to return for follow-up screenings during the pandemic, especially women over 65 and women from racial minority groups.

Study co-author Dr. Qiushi Chen said: “The slight decline in follow-up screening rates translates into many missed opportunities for early detection and treatment of breast cancer, which can lead to late-stage diagnoses and poorer health outcomes . follow-up screening among older women and racial minorities is concerning because it suggests an increased risk of late diagnosis and mortality among these groups.”

Breast cancer is the second most common form of the disease among women.

Dr. Chen, an assistant professor at Penn State University, said: “Early detection of disease through screening can greatly improve the chances of successful treatment and is an essential preventive service in primary care. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted breast cancer screening as many Screening programs have been temporarily suspended due to personal concerns about exposure to the virus and the burden on the healthcare system.”

He explained that the purpose of the study was to use real-world electronic health records (EHRs) in the US to examine changes in breast cancer screening rates since the pandemic and how follow-up screening rates have been affected. The research team analyzed data from more than 1.1 million American women eligible for breast cancer screening from early 2017 to the end of February 2022.

They looked at how often screenings occurred each month during the study period and noted any patterns or changes. The team paid particular attention to how patterns varied before and during the pandemic, particularly how often women returned for a follow-up screening within 24 months of the previous one.

Dr Chen said: “Understanding the medical co-morbidities and social determinants influencing adherence to screening in the Covid era and how this drives the current gaps and disparities is crucial for GPs and health systems to deliver the best care to the population of patients”.

He added: “Innovative strategies such as the use of technology and community interventions are needed to ensure that all women, especially those from vulnerable groups, have access to screenings.”