USPSTF Recommends Lower Diabetes Screening Age

The US Preventive Services Task Force has released a new draft recommendation for screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults.

This draft recommendation comes as an update to the group’s 2015 recommendation and follows a systematic review of evidence of benefits and harms for screening in asymptomatic nonpregnant adults.

The new B recommendation states that adults aged 35 to 70 years with overweight or obesity should be screened every 3 years. For patients with prediabetes, health care practitioners should offer or refer these patients to preventive interventions, such as lifestyle or pharmacologic interventions.

“Screening asymptomatic adults for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes may allow earlier detection, diagnosis, and treatment, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes,” the group concluded.

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

US Preventive Task Force. Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: draft recommendation statement. USPSTF. Published online March 16, 2021. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes-mellitus-screening#fullrecommendationstart