UTILIZATION OF BONE DENSITY TESTING IN RELATION TO SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY AMONG COMMERCIALLY INSURED WOMEN: A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS USING MARKETSCAN TREATMENT PATHWAYS
Author(s)
Joyce Pak, PhD, Abigail Papetti, BS, Joel Yogerst, MS, Danielle Cooke, MS, Scott Pohlman, MS;
Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA
Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA
OBJECTIVES: Screening mammography and bone mineral density testing using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are recommended preventive imaging services for women, with overlapping age-based eligibility among older populations. Understanding the timing and frequency of DXA may inform patterns of preventive care coordination. This study describes the percentage of screening mammograms among women aged ≥65 years and age-stratified DXA utilization in relation to mammography.
METHODS: We conducted a descriptive observational analysis using MarketScan Treatment Pathways data. Screening mammography rates among women aged ≥65 years were age-adjusted to 2020 US census population counts. A single 2023 cohort, requiring 365 days of continuous enrollment, included women aged 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years who received a screening mammogram. DXA utilization was assessed across three temporal definitions: same-day DXA use, DXA use within the same 365-day period as mammography, and DXA use within a two-year window spanning one year before and after mammography.
RESULTS: After adjusting the MarketScan population to the 2020 US Census demographics, approximately 40% of screening mammograms were performed in women aged ≥65. DXA utilization within the same year as mammography was observed among 29.8% of women aged 65-74, 28.3% of women aged 75-84, and 23.1% of women aged ≥85. Same-day DXA utilization decreased with advancing age: 22.0% (65-74), 20.7% (75-84), and 17.0% (≥85). When expanding the observation window to include one year before and after mammography, DXA utilization increased substantially across all age groups, with 43.9% (65-74), 42.6% (75-84), and 34.8% (≥85) receiving a DXA scan. Across all definitions, DXA utilization in relation to mammography was consistently lower among women aged ≥85.
CONCLUSIONS: DXA utilization alongside screening mammography varied by age and timing, with lower utilization observed among women aged ≥85. These findings highlight age-related differences in preventive imaging utilization. Continued monitoring is needed to understand longer-term patterns.
METHODS: We conducted a descriptive observational analysis using MarketScan Treatment Pathways data. Screening mammography rates among women aged ≥65 years were age-adjusted to 2020 US census population counts. A single 2023 cohort, requiring 365 days of continuous enrollment, included women aged 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years who received a screening mammogram. DXA utilization was assessed across three temporal definitions: same-day DXA use, DXA use within the same 365-day period as mammography, and DXA use within a two-year window spanning one year before and after mammography.
RESULTS: After adjusting the MarketScan population to the 2020 US Census demographics, approximately 40% of screening mammograms were performed in women aged ≥65. DXA utilization within the same year as mammography was observed among 29.8% of women aged 65-74, 28.3% of women aged 75-84, and 23.1% of women aged ≥85. Same-day DXA utilization decreased with advancing age: 22.0% (65-74), 20.7% (75-84), and 17.0% (≥85). When expanding the observation window to include one year before and after mammography, DXA utilization increased substantially across all age groups, with 43.9% (65-74), 42.6% (75-84), and 34.8% (≥85) receiving a DXA scan. Across all definitions, DXA utilization in relation to mammography was consistently lower among women aged ≥85.
CONCLUSIONS: DXA utilization alongside screening mammography varied by age and timing, with lower utilization observed among women aged ≥85. These findings highlight age-related differences in preventive imaging utilization. Continued monitoring is needed to understand longer-term patterns.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
MT3
Topic
Medical Technologies
Disease
SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), SDC: Oncology