Change in Mammography Use Following the Revised Guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended screening mammography every 1–2 years for women 40 years and older in 2002, and changed its recommendations in 2009 to no routine screening for women between 40 and 49 years of age; and biennial screening for women between 50 and 74 years of age. This study evaluates the change in mammographic use after the issuance of the revised recommendations. Women who participated in a cross-sectional study of breast cancer risk factors from 2007 to 2013 were asked if they had received a mammogram in the preceding 2 years. All 3442 study participants who enrolled in the study after January 1, 2011 were matched by race, age, and educational level with women enrolled between 2007 and 2010. The proportions of women who stated they had received a mammogram in the past 2 years were compared between the two groups. One fourth of the participants were African American and 39% were 40–49 years of age. Among white women, significant decreases in recent mammogram use from 2007–2010 to 2011–2013 were detected for women 40–49 years of age (−10.3%, p < 0.001) and 50–74 years of age (−8.8%, p < 0.001). Among African-American women, the change in recent mammogram use was not statistically significant for women 40–49 years of age (−2.7%, p = 0.440) or 50–74 years of age (−2.2%, p = 0.398). Following the change in the USPSTF guidelines, mammography use among white women declined; however, no change was observed among African-American women.