Integrating age and comorbidity to assess screening mammography utilization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most studies use age as a cutoff to evaluate screening mammography utilization, generally examining screening up to age 75 years (the age-cutoff method). However, many experts and guidelines encourage clinicians to consider patient health and/or life expectancy.

Purpose

To compare the accuracy of estimating screening mammography utilization in older women using the age-cutoff method versus using a method based on the projected life expectancy.

Methods

Two cohorts were selected from female Medicare beneficiaries aged 67-90 years living in Texas in 2001 and 2006. The 2001 cohort (n=716,279) was used to generate life-expectancy estimates by age and comorbidity, which were then applied to the 2006 cohort (n=697,825). Screening mammography utilization during 200

SUBMITTER: Tan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3289514 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature