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Prostate Cancer Screening In Men Ages 75 And Older Fell By 8 Percentage Points After Task Force Recommendation

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: In 2008 the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended against screening men ages 75 and older for prostate cancer. Using Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Access to Care files and linked claims, we compared trends in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing rates between men ages 75 and older and men ages 65-74. We estimate that the revised recommendation led to a 7.9-percentage-point decline in annual PSA testing rates over two years among men ages 75 and older. Although 42 percent of men in this age group continue to receive PSA tests, our results highlight the potential of guidelines with negative recommendations to reduce the use of low-value medical care.

Source: Health Affairs

DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2012.0555

Authors: David H. Howard, Florence K. Tangka, Gery P. Guy, Donatus U. Ekwueme, Joseph Lipscomb

Institutions: Emory University, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Language: English

Topic: Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institutes of Health