Most US Women Do Not Get Recommended Mammograms

Only half of eligible women in the United States are getting their yearly mammograms, even if they have insurance to pay for the procedure, according to recent research.

The study's findings were presented in December 2010 at the 33rd annual CTRC-AACR [Caner Therapy & Research Center at the University of Texas-American Association of Cancer Research] San Antonio (TX, USA) Breast Cancer Symposium. In 2010, the US Preventive Services Task Force (Rockville, MD, USA), an independent panel of nonfederal experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, recommended that the age of first mammogram be lifted from 40 to 50 years of age, at which biennial mammography begins, and caused a public outcry. To date, no major insurance company or other organization has acted on that recommendation.

"Women reacted strongly to that recommendation with protests about their right to have an annual mammogram that should not be taken away,” said Milayna Subar, MD, vice president and national practice leader for oncology at Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). "Interestingly though, we found that a large percentage of women do not get regular mammograms.”

Dr. Subar and colleagues reviewed medical claims between January 2006 and December 2009 from a database of more than 12 million people. All participating women had either employer-provided insurance or US Medicare. Among those who were 40 to 85 years of age, only 50% had a mammogram in any given year and only 60% had two or more mammograms over four years. Average annual mammography rates were 47% for women aged 40 to 49 years, 54% for women aged 50 to 64 years, and 45% for women aged 65 years and older.

The investigators did not evaluate the reasons as to why the women were not getting mammograms, but several speculations exist, according to Dr. Subar. Among these reasons discomfort from the test, lack of available screening centers, and general noncompliance, or denial.

Related Links:
US Preventive Services Task Force
Medco Health Solutions