A significant number of women in the U.S. continue to receive annual mammograms despite recommendations for biennial screenings, according to a study published on March 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from Brown University School of Public Health analyzed data from the 2019 and 2021 National Health Interview Survey, examining mammography patterns among 20,034 women aged 40 to 84 who had no history of breast cancer. The findings indicate that 68.1% of participants reported having a mammogram in the past two years, and of those, 75.2% underwent screening in the past year.

Women aged 40 to 44 and 55 to 74 were more likely to report annual screenings compared to those aged 45 to 54 or 75 to 84. The study also found higher rates of annual screening among non-Hispanic Black women, those with a college degree, individuals with private insurance, and those living in the Northeast or Midwest. Women who were married, had higher incomes, or had undergone a wellness visit in the past year were also more likely to have had a mammogram annually.

Notably, 71.1% of women aged 65 to 84 with a life expectancy of less than 10 years reported undergoing screening in the past year, raising questions about the necessity of frequent screening in older populations with limited life expectancy.

The authors suggest that healthcare systems and screening programs that follow biennial screening guidelines should implement interventions to better inform women about the option to screen every two years rather than annually.