Presenting Author: Shanada Monestime, PharmD, BCOP, GO2 for Lung Cancer, Washington, DC
BACKGROUND: Pharmacists play a crucial role in various aspects of healthcare, yet their potential impact in promoting lung cancer screening remains largely untapped within the United States. Lung cancer screening promotion is a critical need, because less than 10% of high-risk populations undergo lung cancer screening, whereas rates exceed 60% for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer screenings. Addressing this disparity is imperative, because early detection can increase overall survival.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify counties with significant disparities in lung cancer incidence based on race and sex. The findings will identify high-priority areas where partnerships with pharmacists can be established to develop effective strategies for increasing lung cancer screening rates.
METHODS: Data from the 2015-2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s United States Cancer Statistics were used to identify counties with age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates for non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) males and females. The comparator groups included the NHB versus NHW overall population, NHB versus NHW females, and NHB versus NHW males. Relative risk (RR) was used to determine lung cancer incidence disparity rates between the comparator groups and a chi-square test was used to determine P values.
RESULTS: A total of 459 counties in the United States were identified across 40 states; Washington, DC, had the highest disparity in lung cancer incidence for NHBs compared with NHWs (RR, 2.37; P=.0002). When stratified by sex, Richmond County, Virginia had the highest disparity in lung cancer incidence for NHB females (RR, 3.3; P<.0001). The top 5 states with the highest number of counties with disparities for NHB females were Texas (N=11), Virginia (N=11), California (N=10), Pennsylvania (N=10), and Illinois (N=8). For NHB males, Washington, DC, had the highest disparity in lung cancer incidence (RR, 2.88; P<.0001). The states with the highest number of county-level disparities for NHB males were North Carolina (N=31), Louisiana (N=20), Mississippi (N=19), Texas (N=19), and Virginia (N=18).
CONCLUSIONS: Washington, DC, exhibits the highest disparities in lung cancer incidence rates for NHBs. However, the concentration of disparities between NHBs and NHWs is notable in North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia for both males and females. This underscores the importance of partnering with pharmacists in these areas to customize screening interventions and address the specific challenges faced by these communities.
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