(HealthDay News) — Most solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) do not adhere to standard recommendations for cancer screening, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Transplantation.
Sergio Acuna, MD, from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and colleagues examined the uptake of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening tests in a population-based cohort of SOTRs and assessed factors associated with up-to-date screening. A total of 4436, 2252, and 1551 SOTRs were eligible for colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screening, respectively.
During the observation period, the researchers found that 77.5%, 69.8%, and 91.4% of SOTRs were not up-to-date for colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screening tests, respectively. Because of the inability to differentiate between tests done for screening or for diagnosis, these rates were likely to be an overestimate. The rates of becoming screen up-to-date were higher for SOTRs with fewer comorbidities. There was an association between assessment by a primary care provider (PCP) and becoming up-to-date with cancer screening (relative risks, 1.4, 1.29, and 1.3 for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, respectively). The results were similar for continuity of care by transplant specialist at a transplant center.
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“Cancer screening for most SOTR does not adhere to standard recommendations,” the authors write. “Involvement of PCPs in post-transplant care and continuity of care at a transplant center may improve the uptake of screening.”
Reference
- Acuna SA, Sutradhar R, Camacho X, et al. Uptake of Cancer Screening Tests Among Recipients of Solid Organ Transplantation. Am J Transplant. 9 May 2017. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14272
