Mammography Use Among Women Before the Age of 40 Years, United States, 2005–2015

Authors:

Ann Goding Sauer (Presenter)
American Cancer Society

Carol DeSantis, American Cancer Society
Ahmedin Jemal, American Cancer Society
Stacey Fedewa, American Cancer Society

Public Health Statement: Previous studies note potential over utilization of mammographic screening among women <40 years of age, a group for whom routine screening is not recommended and performance of mammography is relatively poor. However, it is unknown if mammography use among young women in the U.S. has changed in recent years.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and potential changes in prevalence of mammography use among women ages 30 to 39 years from 2005 to 2015 in the U.S.

Methods/Approach: Data from the 2005, 2010, and 2015 National Health Interview Surveys were used to estimate the prevalence of self-reported mammography use among women ages 30–39 years (2005 n=3,304, 2010 n=2,689; 2015 n=3,119). Self-reported receipt of ever having a mammogram were assessed with weighted prevalence estimates and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: The prevalence of ever having had a mammogram among women 30–39 years was 28.6% in 2005, 27.4% in 2010 and declined to 22.5% in 2015. In adjusted analyses, receipt of mammography for any reason was similar in 2005 and 2010 (aPR=0.96, 95%CI 0.88–1.06), but declined between 2010 and 2015 (aPR=0.81, 95%CI 0.73–0.91).

Conclusions/Implications: Although the prevalence of mammography use among young women has declined in recent years, more than 20% of women ages 30–39 years report having had a mammogram.