We all know what happens when we turn 50, at least at your provider’s office … annual labs start, mammograms (if not already at 40), and the one conversation that so many dread, colon cancer screening.
When should these preventive services start? Are there differences by gender, BMI, lifestyle choices? Who makes these recommendations?
Let’s answer the last question first. The folks in charge of this have a long name — it’s the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF for short. The group is made up of 16 volunteer experts in the fields of preventive medicine and primary care including internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health, obstetrics/gynecology, and nursing. Most of the task force members are practicing clinicians. They use their own experience and receive input from topic experts and the public to come up with the recommendations.
The USPSTF’s list below applies to everyone — both men and women of all ages.
— Hepatitis B screening in high risk individuals: Any age
— Asymptomatic latent tuberculosis in increased risk: Any age
— Syphilis infection screen in increased risk: Any age
— Weight loss in obese (BMI > 30): 18+
— Unhealthy alcohol use screen: 18+
— Unhealthy drug use screening: 18+
— Tobacco smoking cessation in adults: 18+
— High blood pressure screening: 18+
— HIV screening: 18-65
— Hepatitis C screening: 18-79
— Blood glucose screening in overweight or obese: 40 to 70
— Statin use in adults with higher risk: 40-75
— Low dose aspirin in adults with >10% 10 year CVD risk: 50-59
— Colorectal cancer screening: 50-75
— Lung cancer screening with history of smoking: 55-80
— Fall prevention screening: 65+
Do these apply to everyone? No, many of these have an algorithm that you and your doctor or medical provider can go through to see if you should follow the recommendation. For example, in order for your medical doctor to suggest the use of statins, a patient must be between the ages of 40 and 75, have one or more coronary vascular disease risk factors (dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension or smoking) and have more than a 10% risk of suffering a coronary disease “event.”
So, to answer whether or not you should be on a statin, your provider will need a lipid and glucose test, blood pressure measurement and your medication list — at which point he or she can determine the second criteria and calculate the third criteria.
This is not an all inclusive list; some specialty groups’ recommendations may be slightly different than the USPSTF’s. That is okay. You should discuss this with your provider and find out the best schedule for you. You may have family history or other factors that modify these recommendations. This list is also for adults only; if you have children, your pediatrician will discuss what recommendations apply to them.
Have a great week, and be healthier today than you were yesterday!
