Disparities seen in biennial mammography screening for women in their 40s

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

Tianshu Gu, M.D., from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, and colleagues examined disparities and gaps in breast cancer screening among women aged 40 to 49 years using nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey in 2019 and 2021. Mammography screening was self-reported and classified into biennial screening, overdue screening, and no screening.

The researchers found that of the 20.1 million women, 11.7, 3.0, and 5.0 million (weighted percentage, 59.2, 15.2, and 25.6%, respectively) reported biennial, overdue, and no screening, respectively. Among several minority groups, the biennial screening rates were significantly lower: non-Hispanic women with other race, lesbian and bisexual women, rural residents, and those with a family income at 138% or less of the federal poverty level (FPL).

As family income decreased, the rate of biennial screening decreased. The likelihood of overdue screening versus biennial screening was increased in association with lacking a usual place of care (risk difference, 0.07). Factors associated with a higher probability of no screening included being non-Hispanic Asian, having family income based on FPL, being uninsured, and lacking a usual place for care.

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

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