Do lung cancer screening age criteria represent a missed opportunity for early detection in Kentucky

e13073Background: Recent data support using low-dose computed tomography scan of the chest to screen patients who are at high risk for lung cancer. Most recommendations rely on National Lung Screening Trial risk criteria for selecting individuals for screening. However, it has been shown that selecting individuals for screening based on accurate lung cancer risk prediction models is significantly more sensitive in detecting individuals who will be diagnosed with lung cancer. Kentucky has the highest incidence of lung cancer in the United States. In order to see the number of patients who would benefit from current lung cancer screening we reviewed the lung cancer population characteristics in Kentucky. Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the state of Kentucky between 2009 and 2013 were obtained from Kentucky cancer registry. Age, sex, stage, medical insurance, smoking history, family history and residence were reviewed and data was analyzed using Z-test. Results: Between the years of 2...