Evaluating Characteristics in Lung Cancer Screening Program Participants and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patient Populations

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare specific characteristics and identify any differences, gaps, and/or disparities among two population groups; Bayhealth Lung screening program participants and newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer patients. METHODS: This study was conducted with 2019 data from the American College of Radiology (ACR) registry, 1(st) time Low Dose CT screenings (Group 1) and the Bayhealth Cancer registry, newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer patients (Group 2). RESULTS: Group 1 has 615 participants and Group 2 has 140 participants. The groups are separated based upon who is a first-time participant in the Bayhealth Lung Screening program in 2019 compared to patients who were newly diagnosed with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer at Bayhealth Medical Center-Cancer Center in 2019. Groups 1 and 2 had a statistical difference in the number of packs per year of cigarettes smoked. In group 2 there is no association between smoking status and clinical stage of diagnosis. There is however an association between smoking experience and pathological stage. CONCLUSION: Smoking continues to be the main contributing factor in patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. In addition to prevention efforts, early detection through Lung Cancer screenings is vital to identify early stage cancer.