Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Screening Recommendations

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

The American Family Physician recommends screening for lipid disorders in males aged 35 years or older who are at increased risk for coronary heart disease 1, 2
Calculate 10-year cardiovascular disease risk using available risk calculators that incorporate age, diabetes status, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and smoking status, as recommended by the American Family Physician 3
If 10-year CVD risk is ≥10% AND patient has ≥1 CVD risk factor, initiate low- to moderate-dose statin, as recommended by the American Family Physician 3

Screen for abnormal blood glucose and type 2 diabetes if the patient is overweight or obese (BMI >25 kg/m²), as recommended by the American Family Physician 1, 2
Rescreen every 3 years if initial results are normal, as recommended by the American Family Physician 1, 2
If prediabetes is identified, refer to intensive behavioral counseling interventions combining diet and physical activity counseling with multiple contacts over extended periods, as recommended by the American Family Physician 1, 2

Screen for obesity and calculate BMI, as recommended by the American Family Physician 1, 2
If BMI ≥30 kg/m², offer or refer to intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions, as recommended by the American Family Physician 1, 2

Ask about tobacco use and provide tobacco cessation interventions if the patient uses tobacco products, as recommended by the American Family Physician 1, 2

Do NOT routinely screen with PSA testing at age 48, as recommended by the American Urological Association and the USPSTF 5, 6
If the patient is African American or has a strong family history of prostate cancer, consider individualized shared decision-making about earlier screening starting at age 45, as recommended by the American Urological Association and the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 5, 7

Do NOT routinely recommend aspirin for primary prevention in a 48-year-old male, as recommended by the USPSTF and the Annals of Internal Medicine 9
The USPSTF recommends aspirin for men aged 45-79 years only when the benefit of myocardial infarction reduction exceeds gastrointestinal bleeding risk, as published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 9