Key updates in preventive services from the USPSTF

Kenny Lin, MD, MPH

In the third installment of a series that began in 2015 and continued with last year's one-page Preventive Health Care schedule, American Family Physician recently published "USPSTF Recommendations: New and Updated in 2016," authored by Deputy Editor and former U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) member Mark Ebell, MD, MS. Dr. Ebell's editorial summarized 15 recommendations released by the USPSTF in 2016 and provided more details about several key updates.

1) Colorectal cancer screening: "the USPSTF now recommends that physicians offer any one of seven options for colorectal cancer screening:

- Annual fecal immunochemical testing (FIT);
- Colonoscopy every 10 years;
- FIT plus fecal DNA (Cologuard) every one to three years;
- Computed tomographic colonography every five years;
- The combination of flexible sigmoidoscopy and FIT;
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy alone every five years; or
- Annual guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing."

The recommended duration of routine screening remains from ages 50-75, with selective screening advised for adults aged 76-85 years, based on the patient's overall health, prior screening history, and personal preferences.

2) Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) disease and colorectal cancer: "the USPSTF now recommends aspirin use only in adults 50 to 69 years of age who have a 10-year risk of a CV event of at least 10%, are willing to take aspirin for at least 10 years, and are not at increased risk of bleeding."

3) Statins for prevention of CV disease: "Like the [2013 ACC/AHA guidelines], the USPSTF recommendations for statin use base the decision on the patient's 10-year CV risk and do not identify specific low-density lipoprotein targets. They differ from the ACC/AHA guidelines in that they give a B rating for a low- or moderate-dose statin for patients with a 10-year CV risk event of 10% or greater, but a C rating for those with a 7.5% to 10% risk."

4) Depression screening in adults: "The recommendation ... now explicitly includes pregnant and postpartum women. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is the recommended screening tool."

5) Screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD): "Although there have been several small clinical trials showing the benefit of treatment in children with ASD, all trials were conducted in children who were identified by parents or caregivers and who have relatively severe symptoms. The USPSTF [insufficient evidence] recommendation covers screening in asymptomatic children whose parents and teachers have not identified any concerns."

For a complete list of Task Force recommendations on clinical preventive services, family physicians can consult the USPSTF's website or the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Electronic Preventive Services Selector (ePSS) tool. For easy reference, AFP and the American Academy of Family Physicians have also collected USPSTF recommendations for children, adolescents/young adults (ages 11-26), and adults (ages 18 and older).