Low Cancer Screening Rates Among Emergency Department Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Many Americans, especially emergency department (ED) patients, are not up to date with routine cancer screenings. This multi-center retrospective study assessed adherence to U.S. Preventive services task force guidelines for breast, colorectal, and lung cancer screenings among 198,210 patients across 11 Indiana EDs. Results showed 33.0% were screened for colorectal cancer, 55.4% of eligible females for breast cancer, and only 3.1% of eligible patients for lung cancer. These findings highlight persistently low screening rates in ED populations. Targeted interventions are needed to improve adherence and reduce disparities in cancer prevention among high-risk groups.