Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Breast cancer screening for women ages 50 to 69 years a systematic review of observational evidence.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Harris, R; Yeatts, J; Kinsinger, L
Published in: Prev Med
September 2011

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the observational evidence concerning the effect of screening on breast cancer mortality in actual populations of women ages 50-69 years. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE and multiple reference lists for relevant cohort and ecologic studies. At least 2 authors reviewed abstracts and full texts of studies meeting eligibility criteria. We rated each accepted study on standard quality criteria and developed a Summary Evidence Table. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met eligibility criteria. Five studies found no to small effect of screening (0-12% relative risk reduction [RRR] in breast cancer mortality), 4 found a large effect (greater than 33% RRR), and 8 found a moderate effect (13% to 33% reduction). The authors found concerns about quality in all studies. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether the effectiveness of screening is decreasing over time. CONCLUSIONS: Current observational evidence shows that breast cancer screening in actual populations of women ages 50 to 69 reduces breast cancer mortality; the magnitude of the effect is probably smaller than predicted in the randomized controlled trials. Because the magnitude may change (either increase or decrease) in the future, further ecologic studies are needed. The methodology and infrastructure for these studies should be improved.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Prev Med

DOI

EISSN

1096-0260

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

53

Issue

3

Start / End Page

108 / 114

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Women's Health
  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Risk Reduction Behavior
  • Research Design
  • Public Health
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Harris, R., Yeatts, J., & Kinsinger, L. (2011). Breast cancer screening for women ages 50 to 69 years a systematic review of observational evidence. Prev Med, 53(3), 108–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.07.004
Harris, Russell, John Yeatts, and Linda Kinsinger. “Breast cancer screening for women ages 50 to 69 years a systematic review of observational evidence.Prev Med 53, no. 3 (September 2011): 108–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.07.004.
Harris R, Yeatts J, Kinsinger L. Breast cancer screening for women ages 50 to 69 years a systematic review of observational evidence. Prev Med. 2011 Sep;53(3):108–14.
Harris, Russell, et al. “Breast cancer screening for women ages 50 to 69 years a systematic review of observational evidence.Prev Med, vol. 53, no. 3, Sept. 2011, pp. 108–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.07.004.
Harris R, Yeatts J, Kinsinger L. Breast cancer screening for women ages 50 to 69 years a systematic review of observational evidence. Prev Med. 2011 Sep;53(3):108–114.
Journal cover image

Published In

Prev Med

DOI

EISSN

1096-0260

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

53

Issue

3

Start / End Page

108 / 114

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Women's Health
  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Risk Reduction Behavior
  • Research Design
  • Public Health
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Female