CQ (1/28, Adams, Subscription
Publication, 967) reports that “the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said
Monday that older male smokers can reduce their chances of dying from an
abdominal aortic aneurysm by” undergoing screening with an ultrasound. The
USPSTF “said, however that evidence was not sufficient to justify such ‘AAA’
screening for woman.”
HealthDay (1/28, 5K) reports
that “according to the task force, men aged 65 to 75 who have never smoked
should talk to their health care provider about whether they might benefit from
one-time screening.” Additionally, the USPSTF “said further research is still
needed to assess if screening is beneficial for women aged 65 to 75 who are
current or former smokers.” However, “screening is not recommended for women
who have never smoked.”
MedPage Today (1/28, Neale, 122K)
reports, “When drafting the new recommendations, the USPSTF relied on an
updated evidence review.” Investigators who analyzed data from “four randomized
trials revealed that a one-time invitation for screening was associated with
significantly reduced rates of AAA rupture, emergent surgery, and AAA-related
deaths in men 65 or older, with the mortality benefit becoming apparent 3 years
after screening and lasting out to 15 years.” The findings were published
online in Annals of Internal Medicine. The article points out that “overall,
the recommendations are similar to those released by the American College of
Cardiology and American Heart Association in 2005.” Also covering the story are
Aunt Minnie (1/28, 1K), HealthImaging
Posted
by: Steven Almany M.D.
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