US deficit in cancer screening associated with COVID-19

Editor's Note

This study led by researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, finds a sharp decline in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening rates in 2020.

This analysis of data on 60 million people in Medicare Advantage and commercial health plans across the US shows that screening for three cancers declined sharply between March and May 2020.

The sharpest decline was in April:

• breast, -90.8%
• colorectal, -79.3%
• prostate, -63.4%.

Breast and prostate screening rates mostly recovered by July 2020, but colorectal rates remained 13.1% lower.

The absolute deficit in cancer screening across the US population associated with COVID-19 was estimated to be 3.9 million (breast), 3.8 million (colorectal), and 1.6 million (prostate).

Multivariable analysis showed that telehealth use was linked to higher cancer screening.

Public health efforts are needed to make up the large cancer screening deficit associated with COVID-19, including increased use of modalities that do not require a procedure, the researchers say.