Breast and Colorectal Cancer Screening Utilization after Hurricane Maria and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Puerto Rico.

ABSTRACT: Puerto Rico (PR) has faced environmental and public health challenges that could have significantly affected cancer screening access. Using administrative claims data from PR's Medicaid population, this study assessed trends in colorectal and breast cancer screening from 2016 to 2021, the impact of disasters in screening, and the absolute deficit in screening due to the pandemic. The monthly rates of claims were analyzed using Poisson regression. Significant reductions in breast and colorectal cancer screening utilization were observed. The colorectal cancer screening rate in 2017 was 77% lower a month after Hurricanes Irma and María [RR_adj: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.25] compared to the same time period in 2016. Breast cancer screening dropped 50% in November 2017 compared to Novemb

SUBMITTER: Colon-Lopez V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10572647 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature