USPSTF year in review: Guidance on diabetes screening, aspirin use, supplements and more

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients have not received preventive care, and “it is vital that they get caught up now,” the chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force told Healio Primary Care.

“Preventive medicine — including the screening, counseling and preventive medications recommended by the task force — is an important part of ensuring that people are as healthy as possible for as long as possible,” Karina Davidson, PhD, MASc, who is also the dean of academic affairs at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and senior vice president of research at Northwell Health in New York, said.

Davidson acknowledged that primary care clinicians may not have time to address patients’ every need in one appointment, but she encouraged clinicians to prioritize USPSTF recommendations “that have the strongest supporting research, such as those with an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade since those are the ones most likely to make a difference in people’s health.”

“Clinicians are encouraged to partner with other health care professionals whenever possible to help ensure that their patients get the services they need to get and stay healthy,” Davidson said.

To help physicians stay up to date on guidance from the task force, Healio Primary Care has listed the 10 most-read stories on USPSTF recommendations this year:

USPSTF makes ‘huge’ change to prediabetes, diabetes screening recommendations for adults

The USPSTF has published its final guidance on prediabetes and type 2 diabetes screening, lowering the recommended age in asymptomatic, nonpregnant adults who are overweight or obese to 35 years. Read more.

USPSTF advises against aspirin for primary CVD prevention for adults 60 years or older

The USPSTF no longer recommends aspirin for primary CVD prevention in adults aged 60 years or older, according to a draft recommendation. Read more,

USPSTF issues updated recommendations for colorectal cancer screening

The USPSTF issued updated recommendations for colorectal cancer screening in JAMA. Read more.

USPSTF advises against vitamin E, beta-carotene supplements for CVD, cancer prevention

The USPSTF announced that supplementation with vitamin E provides no benefit and the harms of beta-carotene supplementation outweigh any benefits for the prevention of CVD and cancer. Read more.

USPSTF lacks evidence to recommend vitamin D deficiency screening in asymptomatic adults

The USPSTF said there is not enough evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of vitamin D deficiency screening in nonpregnant, asymptomatic adults. Read more.

Task force: Start lung cancer screening at age 50 years, 20 pack-years of smoking

The USPSTF issued its final guidance on lung cancer screening, lowering the age to start screening to 50 years and the required smoking history to 20 pack-years. Read more.

USPSTF: Primary care clinicians with younger patients should prescribe, apply fluoride

The USPSTF has issued several final recommendations regarding the oral health of children. Read more.

USPSTF reaffirms endorsement of hypertension screening in adults

After a systematic review, the USPSTF reaffirmed its endorsement of screening for hypertension with office BP measurement in adults aged 18 years or older. Read more.

USPSTF: Not enough evidence to provide atrial fibrillation screening recommendation

The USPSTF announced there is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation on screening asymptomatic patients aged 50 years and older for atrial fibrillation. Read more.

USPSTF continues to recommend against screening for COPD in people without signs, symptoms

The USPSTF posted a new draft recommendation in which it continues to recommend against screening for COPD in people without signs or symptoms. Read more.