Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force released final recommendations Tuesday on screening for abnormal blood glucose and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- The task force recommends screening for abnormal blood glucose as part of cardiovascular risk assessment for adults aged 40 to 70 years who are overweight or obese.
- The USPSTF stated it “recognizes that clinical decisions involve more considerations than evidence alone. Clinicians should understand the evidence but individualize decision making to the specific patient or situation.”
Dive Insight:
Cardiovascular death is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and about 25% of such deaths are considered preventable. The USPSTF noted policy and coverage decisions involve considerations in addition to the evidence of clinical benefits and harms.
"According to national data estimates from 2012, approximately 86 million Americans aged 20 years or older have [impaired glucose tolerance] or [impaired fasting glucose]," the task force wrote. "Approximately 15% to 30% of these persons will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years if they do not implement lifestyle changes to improve their health."
Earlier last month, a federally-sponsored study showed intensive management of high blood pressure significantly reduces rates of cardiovascular disease and lowers risk of death in a group of adults aged 50 and older with high blood pressure.