USPSTF Says Start Diabetes Screen at Age 35 for Those With Overweight, Obesity

Overweight or obese adults should be screened for prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and offered or referred for preventive interventions
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TUESDAY, Aug. 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening adults aged 35 to 70 years with overweight or obesity for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, and offering preventive interventions. These recommendations form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Aug. 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Daniel E. Jonas, M.D., M.P.H., from the RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-Based Practice Center, and colleagues reviewed the evidence on screening for prediabetes and diabetes using data from 89 publications with 68,882 participants. The researchers observed no significant difference between screening and control groups for all-cause or cause-specific mortality at 10 years in two randomized clinical trials with 25,120 participants. Interventions improved health outcomes for individuals with recently diagnosed diabetes. For obese and overweight persons with prediabetes, lifestyle interventions were associated with reductions in diabetes incidence.

Based on these findings, the USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and offering or referring patients to effective preventive interventions has a moderate net benefit. Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is recommended in adults aged 35 to 70 years who have overweight or obesity; patients with prediabetes should be offered or referred to preventive interventions (B recommendation).

"Clinicians can prevent serious health complications by screening adults with overweight or obesity for prediabetes and diabetes," task force member Chien-Wen Tseng, M.D., M.P.H., said in a statement. "With appropriate screening, diabetes can be detected and treated earlier to improve overall health."

Evidence Report

Final Recommendation Statement

Editorial 1

Editorial 2

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