Cancer Screening Test Receipt - United States, 2018

Abstract

Screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer (CRC) reduces mortality from these cancers.* However, screening test receipt has been below national targets with disparities observed in certain populations (1,2). National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 2018 were analyzed to estimate percentages of adults up to date with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening recommendations. Screening test receipt remained below national Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) targets, although CRC test receipt neared the target. Disparities were evident, with particularly low test receipt among persons who were uninsured or did not have usual sources of care. Continued monitoring helps assess progress toward targets and could inform efforts to promote screening and reduce barriers for underserved populations.

FIGURE

Percentage of adults up to date with screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, by cancer type, sex, and year — United States, 2005–2018 * Up to date with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations in effect for each year defined as breast cancer: mammography within 2 years among women aged 50–74 years (all survey years); cervical cancer 2015–2018: Pap test within 3 years among women aged 21–65 years without hysterectomy, or Pap test plus human papillomavirus (HPV) test (co-testing) within 5 years among women aged 30–65 years without hysterectomy; cervical cancer before 2015: Pap test within 3 years among women aged 21–65 years without hysterectomy; colorectal cancer (CRC) 2018: home blood stool test within 1 year, sigmoidoscopy or computed tomography (CT) colonography within 5 years, colonoscopy within 10 years, or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)–DNA test within 3 years among adults aged 50–75 years; CRC 2010–2015: home blood stool test within 1 year, colonoscopy within 10 years, or sigmoidoscopy within 5 years with home blood stool test within 3 years among adults aged 50–75 years; CRC 2005–2008: home blood stool test within 1 year, colonoscopy within 10 years, or sigmoidoscopy within 5 years among adults aged 50–75 years.