How did the COVID-19 Pandemic impact self-reported cancer screening rates in 12 Midwestern states?

Objective In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. healthcare system reallocated resources to emergency response and mitigation. This reallocation impacted essential healthcare services, including cancer screenings. Methods To examine how the pandemic impacted cancer screenings at the population-level, this study analyzes 2018 and 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to estimate the change in the proportion of eligible adults reporting a recent cancer screen (mammogram, pap smear, colon/sigmoidoscopy, blood stool test). All analyses accounted for response rates and sampling weights, and explored differences by gender and region across 12 Midwestern states. Results We found that the proportion of adult women completing a mammogram declined across all states (−0.9% to -18.1%). The change in colon/sigmoidoscopies, pap smears, and blood stool tests were mixed, ranging from a 9.7% decline in pap smears to a 7.1% increase in blood stool tests. Declines varied considerably between states and within states by gender or metro/urban/rural status. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic led to delayed breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer detection services. Policymakers should aim to advance cancer control efforts by implementing targeted screening initiatives.