The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives: To explore the interaction of computed tomography (CT) use, dose and radiation risk of Australian Medicare-funded CT scanning and the impact on cancer incidence and mortality. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used records of Medicare subsidised CT scans in Australia (2006/07 to 2...

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Main Authors: Gibson, D., Moorin, Rachael, Semmens, James, Holman, C D.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37823
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author Gibson, D.
Moorin, Rachael
Semmens, James
Holman, C D.
author_facet Gibson, D.
Moorin, Rachael
Semmens, James
Holman, C D.
author_sort Gibson, D.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objectives: To explore the interaction of computed tomography (CT) use, dose and radiation risk of Australian Medicare-funded CT scanning and the impact on cancer incidence and mortality. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used records of Medicare subsidised CT scans in Australia (2006/07 to 2011/12) and Australian CT dosimetry. The annual number, rate and adjusted likelihood of CT were determined for gender, age and examination type. Incident cancer and cancer-related mortality attributable to CT in Australia were estimated using lifetime attributable risk coefficients, dosimetry and scan numbers. Results: The number of CT scans increased by 36% from 2006/07 to 2011/12. Only patients aged 0–4 years did not present an increase in CT scanning rates. Females were 11% more likely to be scanned than males. Head, abdomen/pelvis and spine CT scans were the most likely areas scanned. Females were attributed 61% of both incident cancers and cancer-related mortality from 55% of scans performed. Patients aged 15–44 years were attributed 37% of incident cancers and 30% of cancer-related mortality from 26% of CT scans. Conclusions: CT in Australia is increasing, including in groups at higher risk from ionising radiation. This presents a complex set of risk/benefit considerations for clinicians and policy makers.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-378232017-09-13T14:27:25Z The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study Gibson, D. Moorin, Rachael Semmens, James Holman, C D. service utilisation computed tomography cancer risk Objectives: To explore the interaction of computed tomography (CT) use, dose and radiation risk of Australian Medicare-funded CT scanning and the impact on cancer incidence and mortality. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used records of Medicare subsidised CT scans in Australia (2006/07 to 2011/12) and Australian CT dosimetry. The annual number, rate and adjusted likelihood of CT were determined for gender, age and examination type. Incident cancer and cancer-related mortality attributable to CT in Australia were estimated using lifetime attributable risk coefficients, dosimetry and scan numbers. Results: The number of CT scans increased by 36% from 2006/07 to 2011/12. Only patients aged 0–4 years did not present an increase in CT scanning rates. Females were 11% more likely to be scanned than males. Head, abdomen/pelvis and spine CT scans were the most likely areas scanned. Females were attributed 61% of both incident cancers and cancer-related mortality from 55% of scans performed. Patients aged 15–44 years were attributed 37% of incident cancers and 30% of cancer-related mortality from 26% of CT scans. Conclusions: CT in Australia is increasing, including in groups at higher risk from ionising radiation. This presents a complex set of risk/benefit considerations for clinicians and policy makers. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37823 10.1111/1753-6405.12278 Blackwell Publishing unknown
spellingShingle service utilisation
computed tomography
cancer risk
Gibson, D.
Moorin, Rachael
Semmens, James
Holman, C D.
The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study
title The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study
title_full The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study
title_short The disproportionate risk burden of CT scanning on females and younger adults in Australia: a retrospective cohort study
title_sort disproportionate risk burden of ct scanning on females and younger adults in australia: a retrospective cohort study
topic service utilisation
computed tomography
cancer risk
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37823