Table 10.1—Evidence-Based Preventive Services Recommended for the General Population Aged 65 and Older
|
Preventive Activity |
Frequency (year) |
Condition To Detect or Prevent |
|
Screening |
|
|
|
Blood pressure |
≤ 1 |
Hypertension |
|
Mammography |
2–3 |
Breast cancer |
|
Fecal occult blood testing and/or flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy |
1 3–5 once |
Colorectal cancer |
|
Pap smear |
≤ 3* |
Cervical cancer |
|
Height and weight |
≤ 1 |
Obesity, malnutrition |
|
Alcoholism questionnaire |
—** |
Alcoholism |
|
Serum lipids in person with prior myocardial infarction, angina |
1 |
Recurrent CAD
|
|
Vision testing |
1 |
Sensory deficits |
|
Hearing ability |
1 |
Hearing impairment |
|
Counseling to encourage: |
|
|
|
Low-fat, well-balanced diet |
1 |
Obesity, CAD |
|
Adequate calcium intake |
1 |
Osteoporosis |
|
Physical activity |
1 |
Immobility, CAD, osteoporosis |
|
Injury prevention |
1 |
Injurious falls, motor vehicle crashes, burns, other injuries |
|
Smoking cessation |
—† |
COPD, many cancers, CAD |
|
Regular dental visits |
1 |
Malnutrition, oral cancers, edentulism |
|
Immunization |
|
|
|
Influenza vaccination |
1 |
Influenza |
|
Pneumococcal vaccination |
—‡ |
Pneumococcal disease |
|
Tetanus booster |
10 |
Tetanus |
|
Chemoprophylaxis |
|
|
|
Discussion, implementation of hormone replacement therapy |
—§ |
Osteoporosis |
|
Aspirin therapy in persons with prior MI |
daily |
Additional MI, TIA, or stroke |
NOTE: CAD = coronary artery disease; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; MI = myocardial infarction; TIA = transient ischemic attack. For updates from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, see http://www.ahrg.gov/clinic/prevenix.htm
* May stop screening at age 65 if patient has had regularly normal smears up to that age; if never tested prior to age 65, may stop after two normal annual smears.
** Should be performed at initial visit and whenever problem drinking is suspected.
† Should be discussed at every visit of patients who smoke.
‡ Immunize once at age 65 for immunocompetent patients; revaccination after 7 to 10 years may be appropriate for high-risk immunocompromised patients.
§ Should be discussed at menopause and at least one more time after age 65.