Prevalence of Adult Asthma and History of Screening for Cancer Among US Adults: Results from 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 National Level Cross-Sectional Study

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., with 612,000 deaths estimated in 2023. Cancer screening (CS) reduces mortality through early detection, but the impact of chronic conditions like adult asthma (AA) on screening is less understood. This study explores the association between AA and uptake of prostate, breast, cervical, and colorectal CS using BRFSS 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022 data. Weighted and adjusted multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between AA and CS across sex and age-based subgroups with significant effect modification testing and subsequent subgroup analyses. Results showed significantly higher CS adherence among individuals with AA across all four CS sites compared to counterparts without asthma (CCWA). Males (55-69 years old (YO)) with AA had 15% significantly higher weighted and adjusted odds (WAO) of prostate CS (95% CI: 1.04-1.27). Women (50-74 YO) with AA had 16% significantly higher WAO of breast CS (95% CI: 1.01-1.32), with non-depressed, heavy-drinking women showing 300% significantly higher WAO (95% CI: 2.20-7.22) of breast CS. Women (21-65 YO) with AA had 9% significantly higher WAO of cervical CS (95% CI: 1.02-1.17), with education significantly modifying the association (WAOR for college-educated women = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.11-1.36). When CCWA, colorectal CS showed significantly higher odds of 36% for men aged 50-75 (95% CI: 1.24-1.49) and 24% for women aged 50-75 (95% CI: 1.15-1.33). This is the first national study to examine the association between AA and uptake of prostate, female breast, cervical, and colorectal CS over four years. Individuals with AA had significantly greater odds of CS adherence than CCWA. Effect modification by heavy drinking and education suggests the need for targeted outreach and low-literacy interventions.