To analyze the lung cancer screening (LCS) pathway and identify factors influencing participation and eligibility among women in Sweden.
Approach:
Study Design: Population-based strategy inviting women aged 55 to 74 with a smoking history to complete a questionnaire on tobacco use.
Data Collection: Linked questionnaire data with Sweden’s Longitudinal Integration Database for Health Insurance and Labor Market Studies.
Eligibility Criteria: Individuals who currently or previously smoked (quitting <10 years prior) and had specific smoking histories.
Key Findings:
33.3% of invited women participated in the questionnaire.
9.6% of respondents were found eligible for LCS.
Higher socioeconomic status correlated with greater questionnaire participation but lower eligibility for screening.
Disparities in eligibility persisted after adjusting for covariates.
88.8% of LCS-eligible women completed LDCT.
Interpretation:
The study highlights significant socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer screening participation and eligibility, suggesting that passive invitation methods may exacerbate these disparities.
Limitations:
The study focused solely on women, limiting generalizability.
Potential selection bias towards higher socioeconomic status participants.
Conclusion:
The analysis highlights the need for tailored strategies to improve LCS uptake among diverse populations.
