Lung Cancer Screening Among U.S. Military Veterans by Health Status and Race and Ethnicity, 2017–2020: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study

•Among veterans, poorer health is tied to the use of lung cancer screening.•One third veterans screened for would not meet requirements a pivotal screening trial.•Marked racial and ethnic disparities exist in among veterans.•Non-White are 67% less likely be than White veterans. IntroductionVeterans at high risk an important group screening. Previous research suggests that may reaching healthier and/or non-White individuals, who stand benefit most from We sought test whether associated with poor race ethnicity veterans.MethodsThis cross-sectional, population-based study included eligible (aged 55–79 years, ≥30 pack-year smoking history, current smokers or quit within 15 no previous cancer) 2017–2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. Exposures were (1) health, defined as fair/poor status difficulty walking climbing stairs, aligning eligibility criteria trial, (2) race/ethnicity. The outcome was receipt All variables self-reported.ResultsOf 3,376 screening–eligible representing underlying population 866,000 20.3% (95% CI=17.3, 23.6) had 13.7% CI=10.6, 17.5) identified non-White. Poor strongly (adjusted RR=1.64, 95% CI=1.06, 2.27); one qualify trial terms health. Marked observed veterans: after adjustment, report RR=0.33, CI=0.11, 0.66).ConclusionsLung correlated race/ethnicity which undermine its population-level effectiveness. These results highlight need promote screening, especially Americans