May 16, 2022. The currently available evidence on hormone therapy is very clear: Whether combination therapies of estrogen and progestin or treatments with estrogen alone, the risks by far outweigh the limited benefits for postmenopausal women. We thus strongly support USPSTF’s “D” grade recommendation against the use of combined estrogen and progestin for the primary prevention of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, types of cancer, and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal persons, as well as the “D” grade recommendation against the use of estrogen alone in postmenopausal persons who have had a hysterectomy.
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NCHR Comments on Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents
May 9, 2022. The currently available evidence on the accuracy of screening tools as well as the potential benefits and harms associated with screening and treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicide risk are insufficient. For this reason, we agree with the USPSTF “I” grade recommendation for MDD screening in asymptomatic children age 11 years or younger and the “I” grade recommendation for screening for suicide risk in asymptomatic children and adolescents of all ages.
Read More »NCHR Comments on Screening for Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
May 9, 2022. We agree with USPSTF’s “I” grade recommendation regarding anxiety screening for children 7 years or younger, since there is not sufficient evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for this age group, or to determine the impact of treatments for anxiety in children in this age group. However, regarding screening for anxiety in asymptomatic children between the ages of 8 and 18, we do not agree with USPSTF’s “B” grade recommendation, because of the lack of direct evidence to support USPSTF’s recommendation.
Read More »NCHR Comments on Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults
April 25, 2022. Despite the recent increase in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), we agree with the “I” grade recommendation for OSA screening in asymptomatic adults or those with unrecognized symptoms, as there is currently insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of screening.
Read More »NCHR Comments on Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
March 21, 2022. We generally agree with the USPSTF’s recommendations for preventive statin use, but suggest several improvements. For example, the studies included in the review varied greatly in the types of patients studied and the outcomes measured, and it seems premature to assume the risks are small, especially since even rare risks can be very serious for some patients. We thus urge the USPSTF to recommend that physicians emphasize other strategies to lower cholesterol, such as changes to lifestyle and diet.
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