Using Part B Medicare records to monitor changes in the U.S. over eight years, the researchers looked at several modalities, such as x-ray, CT, and ultrasound including echocardiography. Medicare's physician specialty codes were used to determine provider specialty.
Between 2002 and 2008, imaging utilization rates increased more than 60% -- from 281 to 450 per 1,000 patients. Everything was up, including x-ray at 29% growth, ultrasound at 95% growth, and CT at a whopping 227% higher in 2008 versus 2002. Radiologists were responsible for 93% of the procedures in 2002, rising to 98% in 2008.
Dramatic increases in imaging utilization -- particularly CT -- should raise concern about utilization rates and the associated risk to patients, according to Rao. The growth in utilization may be slowing down a bit, however.