Racial Disparities in Lung Cancer Screening Among Veterans, 2013 to 2021

• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.18795
• Publication Date: 2023-06-16T15:35:08Z
• Authors: Neelima Navuluri; Samantha Morrison; Cynthia L. Green; Sandra L. Woolson; Isaretta L. Riley; Christopher E. Cox; Leah L. Zullig; Scott Shofer
• Keywords: Veterans Affairs

Importance Racial disparities in lung cancer screening (LCS) are often ascribed to barriers such as cost, insurance status, access care, and transportation. Because these minimized within the Veterans Affairs system, there is a question of whether similar racial exist health care system North Carolina. Objectives To examine completing LCS after referral at Durham Health Care System (DVAHCS) and, if so, what factors associated with completion. Design, Setting, Participants This cross-sectional study assessed veterans referred between July 1, 2013, August 31, 2021, DVAHCS. All included self-identified White or Black met US Preventive Services Task Force eligibility criteria January 2021. who died 15 months consultation were screened before excluded. Exposures Self-reported race. Main Outcomes Measures Screening completion was defined computed tomography for LCS. The associations among completion, race, demographic socioeconomic risk using logistic regression models. Results A total 4562 (mean [SD] age, 65.4 [5.7] years; 4296 [94.2%] male; 1766 [38.7%] 2796 [61.3%] White) Of all referred, 1692 (37.1%) ultimately completed screening; 2707 (59.3%) never connected program an informational mailer telephone call, indicating critical point process. rates substantially lower compared (538 [30.5%] vs 1154 [41.3%]), having 0.66 times odds (95% CI, 0.54-0.80) adjusting factors. Conclusions Relevance found that initial via centralized program, had 34% veterans, disparity persisted even accounting numerous process when must connect referral. These findings may be used design, implement, evaluate interventions improve veterans.