Breast exam use during the protracted COVID-19 pandemic, by age, race, and geography.

In this study we analyzed data collected from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic through March 31, 2022 to identify temporal shifts in breast exam volume. Screening mammography volume stabilized toward the end of the study period, while diagnostic exam volume varied over time and by age. Older women experienced a decline in diagnostic exam volume between August 2020 and April 2021 that was not observed among women aged 50 years or less (50-69 years, monthly percentage change (MPC): -6.5; and 70+ years, MPC: -15.7). With respect to breast biopsy volume, women younger than 70 years of age had increased exam volume beginning in April 2020 and June 2020, whereas a corresponding increase among older women was delayed until April 2021(70+ years, MPC: 9.3). Findings from our study suggest a temporal shift in the use of breast exams that could result in differential detection of breast cancer by age.