United States Preventive Services Task Research Articles

The majority of patients with resectable incidental lung cancers are ineligible for lung cancer screening

ObjectiveThe study objective was to determine what proportion of asymptomatic patients had resectable lung cancer detected through lung cancer screening versus incidentally. MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent resection for lung cancer between January 2015 and December 2020. We then assessed whether asymptomatic patients with incidentally found lung cancers were eligible for lung cancer screening using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, United States Preventive Services Task Force, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American College of Chest Physicians, American Cancer Society, and American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines. ResultsOf 539 patients who underwent resection for primary lung cancer, 437 (81%) were asymptomatic and 355 (66%) of these patients had lung cancer found discovered incidentally. Of the 355 patients with incidentally detected lung cancer, 10 were excluded for insufficient data. Of the remaining 345 patients, 110 (32%) would have been eligible for screening using National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, 65 (19%) using 2021 United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, 53 (15%) using 2013 United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, 64 (19%) using 2022 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidelines, 52 (15%) using 2015 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services/American College of Chest Physicians guidelines, and 45 (13%) using American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines. Of the 280 patients who were screen ineligible by 2021 United States Preventive Services Task Force criteria, 143 patients (51%) never smoked, 112 patients (40%) quit smoking more than 15 years ago, 89 patients (32%) did not smoke at least 20 pack-years, and 44 patients (16%) were ineligible due to age. ConclusionsThe majority of asymptomatic patients with resectable lung cancers had lung cancer identified incidentally and not through lung cancer screening. Most of these patients were not eligible for screening under current guidelines. This study suggests a need for improved lung cancer screening implementation and further investigation in the identification and assessment of risk factors for lung cancer.

The effect of medicare and screening guidelines on colorectal cancer outcomes

BackgroundColorectal cancer screening has been shown effective at reducing stage at presentation, but there is differential uptake of screening based on insurance status. We sought to determine the population-level effect of Medicare and screening guidelines on colorectal screening by race and region. MethodsData on Black and white patients with colorectal cancer were obtained from the SEER database. Regression discontinuity was used to assess the causal effect of near-universal health insurance (represented by age 65) and United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines (age 50) on the proportion of people presenting at advanced stage. This was stratified by race and region. ResultsIn the Southern United States, Black patients saw a significant decrease in advanced stage at presentation at age 65 (coefficient -0.12, p = 0.003), while white patients did not (coefficient -0.03, p = 0.09). At age 50, neither Black (coefficient 0.09, p = 0.10) nor white patients (coefficient -0.04, p = 0.1) saw a significant decrease in advanced stage. In the Western U.S., neither Black (coefficient 0.02, p = 0.72) or white patients (coefficient -0.02, p = 0.09) saw a significant decrease in advanced stage at age 65; however, both Black (coefficient -0.20, p = 0.008) and white patients (coefficient -0.05, p = 0.03) saw a significant decrease at age 50. ConclusionsOur data highlight the significant impact that near-universal insurance has on reducing colorectal cancer stage at presentation in areas with poor baseline insurance coverage, particularly for Black patients. To reduce disparities in advanced stage at presentation for colorectal cancer, state-level insurance coverage should be addressed.

The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline of Interventional Treatments for Low Back Pain.

Painful lumbar spinal disorders represent a leading cause of disability in the US and worldwide. Interventional treatments for lumbar disorders are an effective treatment for the pain and disability from low back pain. Although many established and emerging interventional procedures are currently available, there exists a need for a defined guideline for their appropriateness, effectiveness, and safety. The ASPN Back Guideline was developed to provide clinicians the most comprehensive review of interventional treatments for lower back disorders. Clinicians should utilize the ASPN Back Guideline to evaluate the quality of the literature, safety, and efficacy of interventional treatments for lower back disorders. The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) identified an educational need for a comprehensive clinical guideline to provide evidence-based recommendations. Experts from the fields of Anesthesiology, Physiatry, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Radiology, and Pain Psychology developed the ASPN Back Guideline. The world literature in English was searched using Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, BioMed Central, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Current Contents Connect, Scopus, and meeting abstracts to identify and compile the evidence (per section) for back-related pain. Search words were selected based upon the section represented. Identified peer-reviewed literature was critiqued using United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria and consensus points are presented. After a comprehensive review and analysis of the available evidence, the ASPN Back Guideline group was able to rate the literature and provide therapy grades to each of the most commonly available interventional treatments for low back pain. The ASPN Back Guideline represents the first comprehensive analysis and grading of the existing and emerging interventional treatments available for low back pain. This will be a living document which will be periodically updated to the current standard of care based on the available evidence within peer-reviewed literature.

Improving lung cancer screening rates among patients with head and neck cancer in a radiation oncology clinic.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends lung cancer screening via annual low dose computed tomography (LDCT) for high risk patients. Despite the strong evidence of a mortality benefit from several randomized clinical trials, rates of lung cancer screening remain low. We plan to assess how screening guidelines are implemented in a radiation oncology clinic for patients with head and neck cancer. A single institution, retrospective chart review was used to identify patients with head and neck cancer seen in a radiation oncology clinic who were potentially eligible for lung cancer screening under the current USPSTF guidelines. Patients who were potentially screening-eligible were enrolled in a phone survey to assess their knowledge about lung cancer screening and willingness to be screened. Of the 184 patients with head and neck cancer seen in the clinic, 8 (4%) patients were eligible for lung cancer screening under the previous USPSTF recommendations, including 1 (0.5%) patient already being screened. One patient (0.5%) became eligible under the expanded guidelines. All 184 patients had smoking history documented. Of the 87 current or former smokers, there were 24 (28%) who did not have pack-years documented; of the 82 former smokers, there were 8 (10%) who did not have quit date documented. Among the 16 phone survey participants (response rate: 70%) only 6 (38%) were aware there is a way to screen for lung cancer and 12 (75%) patients would be interested in screening if they are found to be eligible. These findings highlight a potential opportunity to increase rates of lung cancer screening among patients with head and neck cancer by both enhancing provider awareness as well as patient education at the community level.

Lung cancer screening in the healthcare system of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Lung cancer incidence in Bosnia and Hercegovina is high. The implementation of evidence-based lung cancer screening based on low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) may detect lung cancer early and decrease mortality specific to lung cancer. However, LDCT receipt may be unsatisfactory in Europe due to a low distribution of scanners and radiologists or poor access to care. In this paper, we propose a framework for the implementation of lung cancer screening in primary healthcare of Bosnia and Herzegovina based on the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommendation from 2021 and the American College of Radiology Lung CT Screening Reporting & Data System from 2022.

Breast, Colorectal, Lung, Prostate, and Cervical Cancer Screening Prevalence in a Large Commercial and Medicare Advantage Plan, 2008–2020

This study aimed to comprehensively assess breast, colorectal, cervical, lung, and prostate cancer screening rates and trends in the United States over time among individuals for whom screening is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This retrospective study was conducted in two-year intervals from January 1, 2008 to February 29, 2020, using Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database, which includes Medicare Advantage and commercially insured members. Screening-eligible individuals, who had not previously had the cancer being screened and met USPSTF criteria for screening, were identified at various time points within the study timeframe for relevant screening tests within five cancer types: breast, colorectal, cervical, lung, and prostate. In the 2020 analysis period, patients who were eligible for cancer screening included: breast: 1,620,588; colorectal: 2,763,736; cervical: 1,371,506; lung: 1,491,594; prostate: 1,126,249. Breast and cervical cancer screening prevalence rates were highest (64.4% and 63.8%, respectively), followed by colorectal (29.5%), prostate (11.7%), and lung (3.8%). Black/African American individuals and Hispanics had moderately low screening rates for cervical (58.6%) and breast (61.8%) cancer, respectively; Hispanics had the lowest screening rates for prostate cancer (6.1%). Those residing in the West had lower screening rates for breast (58.9%), cervical (62.1%), and prostate (5.6%) cancer. Screening rates remained stable over time for breast, colorectal, and lung cancer, and changed significantly for cervical (-9.5%, 2012–2020) and prostate (+7.3%, 2008–2020) cancer. Real-world cancer screening rates remain suboptimal and low, and efforts to increase screening uptake and reduce cancer health disparities remain critical.

The impact of multi-target stool DNA testing in clinical practice in the United States: A real-world evidence retrospective study

Widely endorsed screening modalities for colorectal cancer (CRC) include structural visualization (e.g. colonoscopy) and stool-based tests including multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA), fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), or high-sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests (gFOBT). However, CRC screenings are underutilized, hence understanding the screening utilization trends is important, particularly with respect to the newest guideline-endorsed option (mt-sDNA). The objective of this study was to assess patterns in overall CRC screenings following clinical availability of the mt-sDNA test among average-risk individuals in the Ascension Wisconsin healthcare system focusing primarily on individuals aged 50–75 years old. We also reported CRC screening behaviors among individuals < 50 and > 75 years old. Electronic medical records of individuals aged ≥ 40 years from 2015 to 2018 were reviewed to identify average-risk and screen-eligible members. For those with screening data available, we determined the proportion who were up-to-date with any United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended screening strategy; the number of screening tests performed in the measurement year; and the distribution of screening modalities. Temporal trends were assessed using regression analysis, including subgroup analyses across age groups and screening modalities. A total of 172,045 unique patients aged ≥ 40 years were included, of which 115,708 individuals aged 50–75 years. When considering all individuals up-to-date and screened in the measurement year, overall adherence increased significantly over the 4-year study period, from 39,105 to 49,698 patients or 47 % to 59 % (p < 0.0001). The screening incidence between 2015 and 2018 increased from 19.44 to 23.66 tests per 1,000 persons for gFOBT and FIT, a 1.2-fold increase, and from 6.54 to 29.78 tests per 1,000 persons for mt-sDNA (p < 0.05), a 4.6-fold increase. During the same time period, the screening incidence of colonoscopy decreased from 119.99 to 110.58 tests per 1,000 persons, corresponding to a decrease of 8 %. Similar patterns in screening incidence rates were observed among those aged < 50 and > 75 years old. Growing adoption, higher preference, and the broad availability of mt-sDNA testing may be associated with an increase in overall CRC screening rates in the average-risk population, in parallel with a slight increase in the use of other non-invasive CRC screening tests.

Relationship between risk factor profile and prescription of low-dose aspirin for preeclampsia prevention.

The purpose of this study was to assess obstetrician-gynecologist utilization of low-dose aspirin for women at increased risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy using guidelines developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and supported by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Further, the study evaluated prescribing practices in relation to specific risk factor profiles to identify which women are at highest risk of not receiving recommended therapy. This was a retrospective cohort study reviewed and approved by the local Institutional Review Board. Electronic health records of women with singleton pregnancies who delivered between February and August 2020 were reviewed to identify risk factors for preeclampsia. Women were eligible for aspirin prophylaxis if they had at least one "high" risk factor or multiple "moderate" risk factors, as defined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Associations of interest were addressed using Pearson Chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. 970 patients were included and 301 pregnant persons(31%) met criteria for low-dose aspirin prophylaxis; of these, 92 (31%) were given this recommendation. Those eligible for prophylaxis by presence of multiple "moderate" risk factors alone are least likely (0-6%) to receive indicated aspirin prophylaxis. Low-dose aspirin is an underutilized tool for preventing preeclampsia. Women with a combination of "moderate" risk factors are most likely to not receive indicated aspirin prophylaxis. Efforts should be made to encourage broader uptake of the recommendations for aspirin prophylaxis among obstetrician-gynecologists. What is already known on this subject? Low-dose aspirin has been shown to reduce preeclampsia risk in pregnant persons. This preventive measure has been recommended by most national and international organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Yet despite widespread support of this recommendation, uptake is not universal among obstetric care providers. What this study adds? This study identifies those who are most likely to experience a missed opportunity for aspirin prophylaxis, thus providing a suggestion for where provider education or other efforts to increase adherence to this guideline may be most impactful.

Integrated interventions and supporting activities to increase uptake of multiple cancer screenings: conceptual framework, determinants of implementation success, measurement challenges, and research priorities

BackgroundScreening for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer has been shown to reduce mortality; however, not all men and women are screened in the USA. Further, there are disparities in screening uptake by people from racial and ethnic minority groups, people with low income, people who lack health insurance, and those who lack access to care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds two programs—the Colorectal Cancer Control Program and the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program—to help increase cancer screenings among groups that have been economically and socially marginalized. The goal of this manuscript is to describe how programs and their partners integrate evidence-based interventions (e.g., patient reminders) and supporting activities (e.g., practice facilitation to optimize electronic medical records) across colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings, and we suggest research areas based on implementation science.MethodsWe conducted an exploratory assessment using qualitative and quantitative data to describe implementation of integrated interventions and supporting activities for cancer screening. We conducted 10 site visits and follow-up telephone interviews with health systems and their partners to inform the integration processes. We developed a conceptual model to describe the integration processes and reviewed screening recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force to illustrate challenges in integration. To identify factors important in program implementation, we asked program implementers to rank domains and constructs of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.ResultsHealth systems integrated interventions for all screenings across single and multiple levels. Although potentially efficient, there were challenges due to differing eligibility of screenings by age, gender, frequency, and location of services. Program implementers ranked complexity, cost, implementation climate, and engagement of appropriate staff in implementation among the most important factors to success.ConclusionIntegrating interventions and supporting activities to increase uptake of cancer screenings could be an effective and efficient approach, but we currently do not have the evidence to recommend widescale adoption. Detailed multilevel measures related to process, screening, and implementation outcomes, and cost are required to evaluate integrated programs. Systematic studies can help to ascertain the benefits of integrating interventions and supporting activities for multiple cancer screenings, and we suggest research areas that might address current gaps in the literature.

Spinal Cord Stimulation in Special Populations: Best Practices from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience to Improve Safety and Efficacy.

Chronic bleeding disorders, allergy to implants, and chronic infections are all complicating factors when considering neuromodulation therapies. The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) determined a need for clinical guidance in these special patient populations that have increased risk of complications, in order to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes with device implantation. The purpose of this publication was to review the published literature and explore the unique clinical challenges encountered among several special patient populations with relation to spinal cord stimulation. The executive board of the ASPN appointed a diverse group of well-established physicians to develop best practice guidelines regarding spinal cord stimulation implantation in these special populations. The physicians used the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) structured guidelines for grading and level of certainty to make evidence-based recommendations about clinical practice. Where sufficient evidence was lacking to justify a USPSTF ranking, the physicians queried experts in neuromodulation and achieved consensus. These best practices and interventional guideline found the evidence for the use of neuromodulation in specialized patient populations to be relatively modest.

S1412 Non-Invasive NAFLD Screening in the Primary Care Setting of a Safety Net Hospital System

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common etiologies of cirrhosis and fastest growing indications for liver transplantation in Western countries. Currently, there is no universal recommendation for NAFLD screening in the primary care setting. Clinical data analysis can be used to identify patients at risk for developing NAFLD with advanced liver disease so that these patients can be referred for liver elastography for further risk stratification. Methods: 2528 patients from the Highland primary care clinic in Oakland California from 2020 to 2022 were evaluated using the Epic Software electronic medical record system. The inclusion criteria included patients at Alameda Health System (AHS) Highland Hospital Adult Medicine with a hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%, BMI ≥ 30, age ≥ 50, with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥ 15 U/L, alanine transaminase (ALT) ≥ 15 U/L, albumin < 3.5 mg/dL, and platelets (PLT) < 160 per microliter that, at a minimum, corresponds to a NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) of 0.7 (Fibrosis stage 3-4). The exclusion criteria included a history of viral or autoimmune hepatitis, clinically significant alcohol use, or previously diagnosed cirrhosis from an etiology other than NAFLD. Results: The percentage of patients with NAFLD who were at risk for advanced liver disease increased from 16.79% [Confidence Interval (CI) 0.61; 16.2-17.4] in 2020-2021 to 18.55% [CI 0.57; 17.9-19.2] in 2021-2022. The percentage was highest in Black patients (42.3%, p < 0.01) and female patients (57.0%, p < 0.01), and lowest in Asian patients (8.2%, p < 0.01) (Figure). The percentage of Black, White, Asian, and male patients was relatively unchanged from 2020 to 2022, while the percentage in Hispanic patients increased from 11.9% to 12.7%, and the percentage of women increased from 57.0% to 60.1% (Figure). Conclusion: NAFLD with advanced liver disease is closely associated with diabetes and obesity. The United States Preventive Services Task Force currently does not recommend screening for NAFLD. However, non-invasive criterion-based screenings are feasible and effective at identifying patients with risk factors for developing NAFLD with advanced liver disease. Furthermore, screenings should be implemented in the primary care setting using criterion targeted clinical data, to identify patients who will benefit from liver elastography, so that early interventions can be performed to prevent cirrhosis and cardiovascular related complications.Figure 1: . (F1). Demographic trends for NAFLD in AHS county hospital primary care setting in Oakland California from 2020 to 2022.

S1508 Pathway to Eliminating Fecal Occult Blood Testing at a Tertiary Care Center

Introduction: The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends fecal occult blood testing as one method for colorectal cancer screening in average risk people. However, the test is often used inappropriately for other indications in admitted patients, leading to unnecessary procedures, false reassurance, and wasted health care dollars. We performed a retrospective review to determine the indications for inpatient fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) and their impact on clinical outcomes at a tertiary care center. Methods: Our goal was to characterize the current inpatient FOBT ordering patterns at our tertiary care center. We reviewed all the inpatient FOBT ordered between Jan 2018 and Jan 2021 and characterized them based on the ordering department. Internal Medicine (IM) was the most common ordering department. We then conducted a chart review of every fourth IM patient that had an FOBT ordered during the study period. We identified characteristics such as chief complaint, ordering team, indication, the result of the test, if a patient went on to endoscopy, and hemoglobin at the time of test. Results: Out of 1,446 total orders, IM ordered the most FOBT with 632 tests, followed by family medicine at 369 tests, and cardiology with 135 tests. Among the 158 IM charts reviewed, the most common ordering team was the admission triage team. Ninety percent of tests were ordered by non-teaching teams vs 10% ordered by teaching teams. The IM-ordered tests had a positivity rate of 54% and anemia was the most common indication. The average hemoglobin at time of testing was 8.5 g/dl. Twenty four percent of patients had signs of overt GI bleeding. In the absence of overt GI bleeding, only 23% of positive FOBT tests led to an inpatient endoscopy (Figure 1). The proportion of those who underwent endoscopy was higher in those who presented with symptoms of overt GI bleeding than those who did not (56% vs 10%). Conclusion: Our retrospective study highlights that inpatient FOBT are often utilized in the management of anemia in hospitalized patients. Most tests were ordered by non-teaching teams. In the absence of overt bleeding, a positive inpatient FOBT rarely led to endoscopy. Use of FOBT in the inpatient setting is a low value practice. We plan to conduct a further root cause analysis using physician interviews to understand reasoning for inpatient use of this test and design interventions to eliminate inpatient FOBT at our hospital.Figure 1.: Flow diagram detailing which patients went on to endoscopy.

153 Risk Factors for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection at a Large Urban Emergency Department

In 2019, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) released updated guidelines recommending HIV screening in all individuals aged 15 to 64 years and all pregnant females. In the current study, we aimed to identify risk factors for HIV infection in an emergency department (ED) population.

Uptake of USPSTF recommendation to refer pregnant individuals for therapy or counseling to prevent perinatal depression.

Perinatal depression is the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, and it is associated with adverse consequences. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that pregnant and postpartum (i.e., perinatal) individuals at risk for depression be referred for therapy or counseling interventions; however, it is unclear to what extent this recommendation has been implemented. Pregnant individuals were recruited via advertisements on a pregnancy app and a separate study on sleep. Respondents completed the initial screening questions to determine their risk for perinatal depression, defined as self-reported history of depression; recent stressors; history of emotional, sexual, or physical abuse; mild depressive symptoms; anxiety symptoms; single; diabetes diagnosis; or unwanted pregnancy. Eligible respondents reported their providers' recommendations for preventing depression, and their utilization of interventions to prevent depression (n = 303). Fewer than 15% of participants reported that a provider referred them for therapy or counseling to prevent depression; recommendations included cognitive behavioral therapy (4%), interpersonal psychotherapy (2.3%), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (4.3%), or other/unknown (6.6%). Approximately 12% reported that a provider recommended medication to prevent depression. Provider referral rates varied by risk factor, but not by patient demographics. Nearly 20% of participants reported using therapy or counseling to prevent depression, and nearly 13% reported using medication to prevent depression. We explore potential factors affecting the uptake of the USPSTF recommendation and underscore the importance of preventing perinatal depression.

Genetic Risk Score Can Supplement Current Guidelines To Identify Patients At Elevated Risk For Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Genetic risk scores (GRS) based on multiple disease-specific risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) have been shown to be effective tools for stratifying risks of various diseases. We tested associations of GRS of AAA (GRSAAA) and coronary artery disease (GRSCAD) with risk and severity of AAA. We also explored their clinical utility in identifying high-risk subjects for AAA screening by comparing with the current screening guidelines of the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

Adolescent Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment: Defining a Research Agenda

In 2020, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded for the second time in 13 years (or third if you include the alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment [SBIRT] review) that there is insufficient evidence available to assess the effectiveness of SBIRT and more study is needed. This report, which focused on reducing substance use, misses some of SBIRT's potential benefits. For example, screening for substance use may lead to better clinical care, even if it does not reduce use.

Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Time for a Platelet-Guided Approach.

Aspirin protects against atherothrombosis while increasing the risk of major bleeding. Although it is widely used to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), its benefit does not outweigh its risk for primary CVD prevention in large population settings. The recent United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines on aspirin use to prevent CVD reflect this clinical tradeoff as well as the persistent struggle to define a population that would benefit from prophylactic aspirin therapy. Past clinical trials of primary CVD prevention with aspirin have not included consideration of a biomarker relevant to aspirin’s mechanism of action, platelet inhibition. This approach is at odds with the paradigm used in other key areas of pharmacological CVD prevention, including antihypertensive and statin therapy, which combine cardiovascular risk assessment with the measurement of mechanistic biomarkers (eg, blood pressure and LDL [low-density lipoprotein]-cholesterol). Reliable methods for quantifying platelet activity, including light transmission aggregometry and platelet transcriptomics, exist and should be considered to identify individuals at elevated cardiovascular risk due to a hyperreactive platelet phenotype. Therefore, we propose a new, platelet-guided approach to the study of prophylactic aspirin therapy. We think that this new approach will reveal a population with hyperreactive platelets who will benefit most from primary CVD prevention with aspirin and usher in a new era of precision-guided antiplatelet therapy.

A Call to Action to Review the USPSTF's Recommendation for Testicular Self-Examination.

We urge the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to call for a formal review of the evidence regarding testicular self-examination (TSE). Twelve years have since passed since the evidence was last formally analyzed where normally re-reviews occur in 5-year cycles. If they would decide to move forward with this action, we ask for the USPSTF to review their methods for establishing recommendations to optimize their rating system operationalization process. Finally, emerging evidence demonstrates a net positive effect of TSE. This stands in contrast to the assertions of TSE’s supposed harm that is prevalent in the literature as well as the rationale behind the USPSTF’s “D” rating of TSE.

Exploring the Acceptability of Expanded Perinatal Depression Care Practices Among Women Veterans

BackgroundVeterans receive obstetrical care from community-based providers contracted through the Veterans Health Administration (VA); however, Veterans remain eligible for VA mental healthcare in the perinatal period. To date, few studies have focused specifically on the mental health needs of Veterans during the perinatal period.ObjectiveTo examine the acceptability of more comprehensive perinatal mental healthcare screening and treatment in VA care, we explored pregnant and postpartum Veteran perspectives of United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations that aim to expand mental health counseling for the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression.DesignSemi-structured interviews with pregnant and postpartum Veterans enrolled in VA care, integrated with quantitative survey data.ParticipantsPregnant and postpartum Veterans (n=27) who had delivered infants or were due by February 2020.ApproachFramework analysis with an inductive approach was utilized to understand our data, interpret and code our transcripts, and develop themes.Key ResultsFewer than half (44%) of the women reported seeing a mental health provider at the beginning of their pregnancy. We found that Veterans support USPSTF recommendations in the VA, consider mental healthcare to be very important during the perinatal period, would like better access to mental healthcare resources and peer support networks, and suggest that perinatal depression screening could be more extensive.ConclusionsThese findings support the implementation of more comprehensive perinatal depression prevention policies and practices within VA care. Understanding the real-world feasibility and prevailing barriers to comprehensive perinatal depression care is needed to inform implementation of the USPSTF recommendations or a similar intervention tailored for VA care.

Serum PSA-based early detection of prostate cancer in Europe and globally: past, present and future.

In the pre-PSA-detection era, a large proportion of men were diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and died of the disease; after the introduction of the serum PSA test, randomized controlled prostate cancer screening trials in the USA and Europe were conducted to assess the effect of PSA screening on prostate cancer mortality. Contradictory outcomes of the trials and the accompanying overdiagnosis resulted in recommendations against prostate cancer screening by organizations such as the United States Preventive Services Task Force. These recommendations were followed by a decline in PSA testing and a rise in late-stage diagnosis and prostate cancer mortality. Re-evaluation of the randomized trials, which accounted for contamination, showed that PSA-based screening does indeed reduce prostate cancer mortality; however, the debate about whether to screen or not to screen continues because of the considerable overdiagnosis that occurs using PSA-based screening. Meanwhile, awareness among the population of prostate cancer as a potentially lethal disease stimulates opportunistic screening practices that further increase overdiagnosis without the benefit of mortality reduction. However, in the past decade, new screening tools have been developed that make the classic PSA-only-based screening an outdated strategy. With improved use of PSA, in combination with age, prostate volume and with the application of prostate cancer risk calculators, a risk-adapted strategy enables improved stratification of men with prostate cancer and avoidance of unnecessary diagnostic procedures. This combination used with advanced detection techniques (such as MRI and targeted biopsy), can reduce overdiagnosis. Moreover, new biomarkers are becoming available and will enable further improvements in risk stratification.