A Closer Look—Who Are We Screening for Lung Cancer?

Objective

To evaluate the characteristics of individuals receiving lung cancer screening (LCS) and identify those with potentially limited benefit owing to coexisting chronic illnesses and/or comorbidities.

Patients and Methods

In this retrospective study in the United States, patients were selected from a large clinical database who received LCS from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, with at least 1 year of continuous enrollment. We assessed for potentially limited benefit in LCS defined strictly as not meeting the traditional risk factor inclusion criteria (age <55 years or >80 years, previous computed tomography scan within 11 months before an LCS examination, or a history of nonskin cancer) or liberally as having the potential exclusion criteria related to comorbid life-limiting conditions, such as cardiac and/or respiratory disease.

Results

A total of 51,551 patients were analyzed. Overall, 8391 (16.3%) individuals experienced a potentially limited benefit from LCS. Among those who did not meet the strict traditional inclusion criteria, 317 (3.8%) were because of age, 2350 (28%) reported a history of nonskin malignancy, and 2211 (26.3%) underwent a previous computed tomography thorax within 11 months before an LCS examination. Of those with potentially limited benefit owing to comorbidity, 3680 (43.9%) were because of severe respiratory comorbidity (937 [25.5%] with any hospitalization for coronary obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, or respiratory failure; 131 [3.6%] with hospitalization for respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation; or 3197 [86.9%] with chronic obstructive disease/interstitial lung disease requiring outpatient oxygen) and 721 (8.59%) with cardiac comorbidity.

Conclusion

Up to 1 of 6 low-dose computed tomography examinations may have limited benefit from LCS.