Two years’ experience with the Czech population pilot programme for lung cancer early detection

The Czech population pilot programme for lung cancer early detection was initiated in 2022. Target population comprises men and women aged 55–74 years with smoking history (at least 20 pack-years), former of current smokers. The estimated number of persons meeting the criteria is 250,000 to 500,000. GPs offer the programme and refer participants to a pneumologist, individuals can also contact their pneumologist directly. Pneumologists perform complex pulmonary examinations, refer patients for low-dose CT (LDCT) and navigate them in the healthcare system. LDCT is provided only at radiological departments certified by the Ministry of Health. The programme uses LDCT, initially repeated after one year, then after 2 years. The results of two years of project implementation show that over 20,000 people underwent initial risk assessment (77 % by GPs, 13 % by pneumologist), 10,000 people underwent lung examinations, and first LDCT was performed in 6,500 people. On the basis of the first LDCT examination (or the repeated LDCT examination after an indeterminate result), the majority of patients (89%) were negative. Almost 8% of subjects had an indeterminate result and almost 4% of subjects were positive; those patients were referred to specialized pneumo-onco-surgical centres. The Czech programme has been successfully initiated and is now undergoing continuous monitoring. Estimated process characteristics are in line with expectations from clinical trials.