2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - ePosters-EP.04C.05 Projected Impact of the Age of Initiation for Lung Cancer Screening on Health Outcomes and Healthcare Resources in Canada

EP.04C.05 Projected Impact of the Age of Initiation for Lung Cancer Screening on Health Outcomes and Healthcare Resources in Canada

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The document explores the potential impacts of lowering the starting age for lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in Canada. LDCT has proven effective in reducing lung cancer mortality, especially when coupled with smoking cessation interventions. Currently, Canadian guidelines recommend screening for high-risk individuals based on age and tobacco use, with younger ages considered for very heavy smokers.<br /><br />This study analyzes the implications of different screening ages using OncoSim-Lung, a microsimulation model. Various scenarios of earlier screening were assessed to estimate their impact on clinical outcomes and healthcare resources. The study assumes that participants have a smoking history of at least 20 years and considers both scenarios with and without smoking cessation support.<br /><br />Key findings suggest that starting lung cancer screening at an earlier age would require minimal additional screening resources (approximately a 0.1% increase) compared to starting at age 55. Despite the modest resource demand, starting earlier could result in a significant increase in life-years gained—approximately a 10% improvement by lowering the initial screening age by 5 years. These benefits are closely tied to effective smoking cessation programs, as the analysis showed a contingent increase in life-years gained dependent on quit rates.<br /><br />The study concludes that initiating lung cancer screening at younger ages could help address health disparities among high-risk groups without imposing substantial additional strain on resources. For optimal results, robust smoking cessation support remains critical. This approach not only holds promise in enhancing patient outcomes but also aims to efficiently manage healthcare resources over the next two decades.

Asset Subtitle

Rafael Meza

Meta Tag

Speaker Rafael Meza

Topic Screening and Early Detection

Keywords

lung cancer screening

low-dose computed tomography

Canada

smoking cessation

OncoSim-Lung

microsimulation model

healthcare resources

high-risk individuals

life-years gained

health disparities