The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its stance on screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The group now recommends that all overweight and obese patients from the ages of 35 to 70 undergo such screening, and clinicians are urged to help patients with prediabetes seek out preventive interventions.
“Fortunately, there are interventions that are effective for preventing prediabetes from progressing to diabetes and in helping people with prediabetes improve their health,” Michael Barry, MD, USPSTF vice chair, said in a statement. “The task force encourages clinicians to screen adults over age 35 with overweight or obesity and work with them to determine if an intervention is needed.”
According to recent CDC estimates, 13% of all adults in the United States have diabetes, and 34.5% of all adults meet the criteria for prediabetes. The risk of both prediabetes and diabetes increases with age, the USPSTF noted in its recommendation statement, and the number of adults with prediabetes who have received a properly diagnosis is believed to be just 15.3%.
Diabetes, the task force added, is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. It has been estimated to be the No. 7 leading cause of death in the United States.
These new recommendations represent an update of the USPSTF’s 2015 statement that all patients overweight and obese between the ages of 40 and 70 undergo screening for abnormal blood glucose levels.
Click here to read the full USPSTF recommendation statement in JAMA.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.