Challenge
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in Greece, with many high-risk patients diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited. With no formal national lung cancer screening program in place, lung cancer patients normally undergo random or symptom-driven screening, which results in avoidable deaths and a high burden of lost life years.
Ambition
This research sought to assess the impact of comprehensive screening for lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) on lung cancer life years (LCLY) and mortality, instead of relying on the current ad-hoc screening approach, for high-risk adults. The aim was to provide concrete, country-specific evidence to guide health policy decision-making (for this population).
Action
Our research team developed a cohort stochastic model following 100,000 high-risk adults aged 50-80, current or former heavy smokers, over 5 years, comparing two scenarios:
- Current scenario, where only background, opportunistic screening and diagnosis upon symptom development took place;
- Hypothetical scenario, where 100% of high-risk adults were screened and linked to care (SLTC) with LDCT scan, and subsequently treated according to guidelines.
Results
Overall, the 100% SLTC hypothetical scenario vs the current scenario resulted in:
Impact
This evidence highlights the public health benefits of applying an integrated comprehensive lung cancer assessment and linkage to care services for high-risk adults in Greece. By moving diagnosis to earlier stages, screening gives patients access to timely, curative options and the opportunity for longer survival and better quality of life. At the same time, these findings provide a country-relevant evidence base for policymakers, supporting decisions that can reshape lung cancer outcomes (at a national level).
