[The attendance of the first screening round (2002-2003) of the Hungarian organized breast cancer screening program and its effect on the number of diagnostic and screening mammography].
OBJECTIVE
Organised, nationwide screening for breast cancer with mammography in the age group 45-65 years with 2 years screening interval started in Hungary in January 2002. The aim of this study is to analyze the attendance rate of breast screening programme, including the analysis of the ratio of screening and diagnostic mammography examinations.


METHODS
The data derive from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) covering the period 2000-2003. The ratio of women was calculated in the age group 45-65 years having either a screening mammography or a diagnostic mammography. The analysis was carried out for the years 2000-2001 (mainly opportunistic screening) before and 2002-2003 after the implementation of nationwide organized programme.


RESULTS
In the years 2000-2001 7,26% of the women aged 45-65 had an opportunistic screening mammography while in 2002-2003 33,95% of the target population had screening mammography within the organized programme. During the same periods 19,67% (2000-2001) and 22,05% (2002-2003) of women aged 45-65 had a diagnostic mammography. Thus the total (screening and diagnostic) coverage of mammography increased from 25,85% (2000-2001) to 53,46% (2002-2003).


CONCLUSIONS
The attendance of the Hungarian organized breast cancer screening programme - compared to the previous period before the implementation of the organized screening programme - is promising, although to achieve the expected results in mortality decrease a further improvement of the uptake is necessary.
Boncz
Imre
I
Országos Egészségbiztosítási Pénztár, Budapest. boncz.i@oep.hu
Sebestyén
Andor
A
Döbrossy
Lajos
L
Péntek
Zoltán
Z
Kovács
Attila
A
Csaba
Dózsa
D
Budai
András
A
Ember
István
I
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged