Opportunities Missed: Cervix Cancer Screening Failures in Women Aged 65 and Older.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the screening history and associated outcomes of women diagnosed with cervical cancer after age 65.

Methods: All patients from 2012 to 2021 diagnosed with squamous, adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine, or adenosquamous cervical cancer after age 65 in a single managed care organization (MCO) were included in this retrospective cohort study. Demographic, medical, screening, pathologic, follow-up, and treatment data were extracted. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test and logistic regression. Cancer-specific survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Of 2,175 patients screened, 209 met inclusion criteria. Only 26.3% of patients had appropriate cervical cancer screening and 41% of patients died of their disease. Managed care organization membership duration of more than 5 years positively correlated with proper cervical cancer screening ( p < .001); however, 64% of the long-term members still did not meet criteria to end screening at age 65, with 42.6% of these patients having more than 25 physician visit opportunities to address screening. Increased physician visits correlated with earlier stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer ( p = .012). Median cancer-specific survival was significantly better in properly screened patients at 68 vs 30 months, respectively ( p = .03).

Conclusions: Most patients diagnosed with cervical cancer after age 65 did not have adequate previous screening, including those who were MCO members for more than 5 years. There were many missed opportunities for screening, despite multiple provider touchpoints. The authors' data suggest that adequate screening confers a survival benefit secondary to earlier stage at diagnosis. Further study in this age group is needed to redefine the criteria to end cervix cancer screening.