Long-term psychosocial consequences of false-positive screening mammography: a cohort study with follow-up of 12-14 years in Denmark

ObjectiveTo compare the long-term psychosocial consequences of mammography screening among women with breast cancer, normal results and false-positive results.DesignA matched cohort study with follow-up of 12-14 years.SettingDenmark from 2004 to 2019.Participants1170 women who participated in the Danish mammography screening programme in 2004-2005.InterventionMammography screening for women aged 50-69 years.Outcome measuresWe assessed the psychosocial consequences with the Consequences Of Screening-Breast Cancer, a condition-specific questionnaire that is psychometrically validated and encompasses 14 psychosocial dimensions.ResultsAcross all 14 psychosocial outcomes, women with false-positive results averagely reported higher psychosocial consequences compared with women with normal findings. Mean differences were statistically insignificant except for the existential values scale: 0.61 (95% CI (0.15 to 1.06), p=0.009). Additionally, women with false-positive results and women diagnosed with breast cancer were affected in a dose-response manner, where women diagnosed with breast cancer were more affected than women with false-positive results.ConclusionOur study suggests that a false-positive mammogram is associated with increased psychosocial consequences 12-14 years after the screening. This study adds to the harms of mammography screening. The findings should be used to inform decision-making among the invited women and political and governmental decisions about mammography screening programmes.

Automated summary

This study compares the long-term psychosocial consequences of mammography screening among women with breast cancer, normal results, and false-positive results. Through a 12-14 year follow-up of 1170 women who participated in the Danish mammography screening program from 2004-2005, it was found that women with false-positive results reported higher psychosocial consequences compared to women with normal findings. The findings also indicate that women diagnosed with breast cancer experienced a greater impact than those with false-positive results.