By Melissa Patrick, Kentucky Health News · May 11, 2026

A University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center study found that lung cancer screening rates among eligible U.S. adults have improved in recent years, but fewer than one in four are getting screened annually as recommended, Elizabeth Chapin reports for UKNow.

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed data from the 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationwide survey of health behaviors, and compared results with those from 2022 to track progress in adherence to federal recommendations among eligible adults.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual low-dose CT screening for adults ages 50 to 80 who currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years and have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history.

Chapin reports that the study found that 24.5% of eligible adults were up to date on screening in 2024, a 6% increase from 2022. While gains were seen across most groups, screening rates showed no change among Hispanic adults and non-Hispanic Asian and Black adults, pointing to persistent gaps in access or outreach for those groups.

Further, she writes that the study found that adults with military-related health coverage had the highest screening rates at 39%, compared to 19% among those with private insurance. Uninsured adults had the lowest rates at around 6%, with no meaningful change since 2022.

“We still have a long way to go with increasing the use of lung cancer screening among high-risk populations,” lead researcher Todd Burus said. “This study gives us a glimpse into where we are being more successful currently and where additional investments should be made to help ensure certain groups don’t get left behind.”

Burus is an assistant professor in the UK College of Medicine and a member of the UK Markey Cancer Center’s Community Impact Office.

Chapin notes that the study’s findings point to the need for targeted outreach and strategic initiatives to increase screening rates among groups with low uptake.