Disparities observed in biennial mammography screening among women in their 40s

For women ages 40 to 49, there are significant disparities and gaps in biennial mammography screening, according to a research letter published online Dec. 20 in Open JAMA Network.

Tianshu Gu, MD, of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, and colleagues examined disparities and gaps in breast cancer screening among women ages 40 to 49 at the using nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey in 2019 and 2021. Mammography screening was self-reported and categorized into biennial screening, overdue screening, and lack of screening.

The researchers found that of the 20.1 million women, 11.7, 3.0 and 5.0 million (weighted percentage of 59.2, 15.2 and 25.6%, respectively) reported screening respectively. biennial, late and no screening. Among several minority groups, biennial screening rates were significantly lower: non-Hispanic women of another race, lesbian and bisexual women, rural residents, and people whose household income was at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). ).

As family income decreased, the biennial screening rate decreased. The likelihood of late screening compared to biennial screening was increased in association with the absence of a usual place of care (risk difference, 0.07). Factors associated with a higher likelihood of not screening included being non-Hispanic Asian, having family income based on FPL, being uninsured, and not having a usual place of care.

“Targeted interventions and policies aimed at improving health care access, coverage, and affordability hold significant potential to improve health equity in biennial mammography screening for women aged 40 to 49 years,” write the authors.

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