U.S. mammography rates drop following task force recommendations

Health

more>>

Gene variants may play role in obesity

Two new studies offer some solace to those who can't control their weight despite diet and exercise by providing more evidence that genetics may play a role in obesity.

A deadly form of diabetes that doctors sometimes miss

Addie Parker was a happy 4-year-old who appeared to have the flu. But within hours she was in a coma.

Many U.S. adults under-vaccinated against whooping cough

Whooping cough cases are escalating in the United States, and many American adults are unknowingly exposing vulnerable babies to the potentially deadly disease because their vaccinations are not up to date.

Could catching up on sleep lower your diabetes risk?

Catching up on your sleep on weekends may help protect you from developing diabetes, a small, early study suggests.

Facebook users really 'liked' organ donor option

Adding an organ donation option to the average Facebook user's profile prompted a dramatic rise in potential donors, researchers report.

Could 'moderate' drinking be safe during pregnancy?

Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests.

Concussion damage looks much like early Alzheimer's

Concussion can lead to damage in the white matter of the brain that resembles abnormalities found in people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.

Many Americans want health care via smartphone

Plenty of Americans are eager to use their mobile phones and tablet computers to better manage their health care, a new poll finds -- though the nation has a way to go before we're all consulting Dr. Smartphone.

Scans uncover dangerous hardening of abdominal aorta

People with a "hardening" of the abdominal aorta are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.

Minority kids with autism less likely to use specialty services

Black and Hispanic children with autism are markedly less likely than children from white families to receive specialty care for complications tied to the disorder, a new study finds.

THURSDAY, June 28 (HealthDay News) -- The number of women in their 40s getting routine mammograms has dropped since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advised against regular screenings for women in this age group, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic found that the controversial guidelines resulted in a nearly 6 percent decline in mammography rates across the United States. Although the decline is small, it's significant, the researchers noted.

"The 2009 USPSTF guidelines resulted in significant backlash among patients, physicians and other organizations, prompting many medical societies to release opposing guidelines," study co-author Nilay Shah, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, said in a clinic news release. "We were interested in determining the impact that the recommendations and subsequent public debate had upon utilization of mammography in younger women."

Using a national database of 100 health plans, the researchers identified 8 million women between the ages of 40 and 64 years old who had gotten a mammogram between January 2006 and December 2010.

To determine the effects of the task force's recommendation on mammography rates, the researchers compared the number of screenings that took place before the guidelines were issued to the number of screenings that occurred after they came out.

The study found that the recommendations were associated with a 5.72 percent drop in mammography rates for women between 40 and 49 years old. This represents 54,000 fewer mammograms for these women over one year, the researchers said.

"For the first year after the guidelines changed, there was a small but significant decrease in the rate of mammography for women ages 40-49," said Shah. "This is consistent with the context of the guidelines change. A modest effect is also in line with the public resistance to the guidelines change and the subsequent release of conflicting guidelines."

The Mayo Clinic and the American Cancer Society recommend that all women 40 and older have an annual mammogram.

"Screening mammography is not a perfect exam, but it is the best available tool to detect cancer early," Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, director of the Mayo Clinic's Breast Clinic, said in the news release. "Early detection can lead to better options and possibly less-aggressive treatments."

The Mayo researchers urged women to become familiar with their breasts to help them identify any changes that might need further evaluation by a doctor. They added that all women should have an annual clinical breast exam performed by a doctor beginning at age 40.

The study was expected to be presented this week at the Academy Health Annual Research meeting in Orlando, Fla. Data and conclusions presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute provides more information on mammograms.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.