RESUMEN
On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization marked the removal of the constitutional right to abortion in the USA, introducing a complex ethical and legal landscape for patients and providers. This shift has had immediate health and equity repercussions, but it is also crucial to examine the broader impacts on states, health-care systems, and society as a whole. Restrictions on abortion access extend beyond immediate reproductive care concerns, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the ruling's consequences across micro and macro levels. To mitigate potential harm, it is imperative to establish a research agenda that informs policy making and ensures effective long-term monitoring and reporting, addressing both immediate and future impacts.
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Decisiones de la Corte Suprema , Salud de la Mujer , Femenino , Humanos , Embarazo , Aborto Inducido/legislación & jurisprudencia , Aborto Inducido/ética , Aborto Legal/legislación & jurisprudencia , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud/legislación & jurisprudencia , Estados Unidos , Salud de la Mujer/legislación & jurisprudencia , Derechos de la Mujer/legislación & jurisprudenciaRESUMEN
The Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision, which revoked the constitutional right to abortion in the USA, has impacted the national medical workforce. Impacts vary across states, but providers in states with restrictive abortion laws now must contend with evolving legal and ethical challenges that have the potential to affect workforce safety, mental health, education, and training opportunities, in addition to having serious impacts on patient health and far-reaching societal consequences. Moreover, Dobbs has consequences on almost every facet of the medical workforce, including on physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and others who work within the health-care system. Comprehensive research is urgently needed to understand the wide-ranging implications of Dobbs on the medical workforce, including legal, ethical, clinical, and psychological dimensions, to inform evidence-based policies and standards of care in abortion-restrictive settings. Lessons from the USA might also have global relevance for countries facing similar restrictions on reproductive care.
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Decisiones de la Corte Suprema , Femenino , Humanos , Embarazo , Aborto Inducido/legislación & jurisprudencia , Aborto Inducido/ética , Aborto Legal/legislación & jurisprudencia , Personal de Salud , Fuerza Laboral en Salud , Estados Unidos , Salud de la MujerRESUMEN
PURPOSE: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of a wide range of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in US women, and explore associations with bother and discussion with health care providers, friends, and family. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed baseline data collected from May 2022 to December 2023 in the RISE FOR HEALTH study-a large, regionally representative cohort study of adult female community members. LUTS and related bother were measured by the 10-item Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network Symptom Index, and discussion was assessed by a study-specific item. RESULTS: Of the 3000 eligible participants, 73% (95% CI 71%-74%) reported any storage symptoms, 52% (95% CI 50%-53%) any voiding or emptying symptoms, and 11% (95% CI 10%-13%) any pain with bladder filling, for an overall LUTS prevalence of 79% (95% CI 78%-81%). This prevalence estimate included 43% (95% CI 41%-45%) of participants with mild to moderate symptoms and 37% (95% CI 35%-38%) with moderate to severe symptoms. Over one-third of participants reported LUTS-related bother (38%, 95% CI 36%-39%) and discussion (38%, 95% CI 36%-40%), whereas only 7.1% (95% CI 6.2%-8.1%) reported treatment. Urgency and incontinence (including urgency and stress incontinence) were associated with the greatest likelihood of bother and/or discussion (adjusted prevalence ratios = 1.3-2.3), even at mild to moderate levels. They were also the most commonly treated LUTS. CONCLUSIONS: LUTS, particularly storage LUTS such as urgency and incontinence, were common and bothersome in the RISE study population, yet often untreated. Given this large burden, both prevention and treatment-related interventions are warranted to reduce the high prevalence and bother of LUTS.
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Síntomas del Sistema Urinario Inferior , Humanos , Síntomas del Sistema Urinario Inferior/epidemiología , Femenino , Prevalencia , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Adulto , Estudios de CohortesRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of screening tools and interventions focused on reducing adverse health outcomes associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) at abortion-related visits. STUDY DESIGN: Studies were eligible if they included individuals seeking pregnancy options health care services in the United States, screening for or implementation of an intervention for IPV, and were published in English after the year 2000. The primary outcomes were to summarize screening tools, interventions studied, and if interventions led to individuals being connected to IPV-related resources. Secondary outcomes included patient responses to the IPV-related interventions and any other outcomes reported by the studies (PROSPERO #42021252199). RESULTS: Among 4,205 abstracts identified, nine studies met inclusion criteria. The majority (n = 6) employed the ARCHES (Addressing Reproductive Coercion in Health Settings) tool for identification of IPV. Interventions included provider-facilitated discussions of IPV, a safety card with information about IPV and community-based resources, and referral pathways to directly connect patients with support services. For the primary outcome, IPV-related interventions were shown to better inform patients of available IPV-related resources as compared to no intervention at all. For the secondary outcomes, screening and intervening on IPV were associated with improvements in patient perception of provider empathy (i.e., caring about safety) and safer responses by patients to unhealthy relationships. CONCLUSION: Screening for and intervening on IPV at abortion-related visits are associated with positive outcomes for patient safety and the patient-provider relationship. However, data on effective tools for identifying and supporting these patients are extremely limited. This review emphasizes the unmet need for implementation and evaluation of IPV-specific interventions during abortion-related clinical encounters. KEY POINTS: · The abortion visit offers a crucial setting to address IPV among a highly affected population.. · This study reviews others that analyzed interventions and associated outcomes for IPV at abortion-related visits.. · Appropriate interventions for IPV can improve patient-provider relationships and connect patients to essential resources..
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Aborto Inducido , Violencia de Pareja , Tamizaje Masivo , Humanos , Femenino , Embarazo , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Engagement of community participation is an innovative driver of modern research. However, to benefit the communities being studied, it is imperative to continuously evaluate ethical considerations, the relationship dynamic between researchers and community members, and the responsiveness of research teams to the needs and preferences of communities. Northwestern University's Center for Health Equity Transformation founded a community scientist program in 2018 that implemented a study using the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) model. This project is an ongoing study of heavy metal exposure by geographic location in Chicago. Community scientists from various backgrounds, communities, and organizations formed an advisory panel, partnering with the cancer research team. This commentary describes lessons learned in structuring meaningful community involvement and benefit in CBPR, with a focus on three lessons learned that relate to ethics, relationships, and responsiveness. Our findings lay new groundwork for iteratively shaping best practices in CBPR.
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Investigación Participativa Basada en la Comunidad , Médicos , Humanos , Proyectos de Investigación , ChicagoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Large segments of the US population do not receive quality cancer care due to pervasive and systemic inequities, which can increase morbidity and mortality. Multicomponent, multilevel interventions can address inequities and improve care, but only if they reach communities with suboptimal access. Intervention studies often underenroll individuals from historically excluded groups. METHODS: The Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care includes 6 grantees across the United States who implemented unique multicomponent, multilevel intervention programs with common goals of reducing disparities, increasing engagement, and improving the quality of care for targeted populations. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework informed the evaluation efforts across sites. Each Alliance site identified their intended populations, which included underrepresented minorities (eg, Black and Latinx persons), individuals who prefer a language other than English, and rural residents. We evaluated the demographic characteristics of participants to determine program reach. RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2020, a total of 2,390 of 5,309 potentially eligible participants were enrolled across the 6 sites. The proportion of enrolled individuals with selected characteristics included 38% (n=908) Black adults, 24% (n=574) Latinx adults, 19% (n=454) preferring a language other than English, and 30% (n=717) rural residents. The proportion of those enrolled who were the intended population was commensurate to the proportion with desired characteristics in those identified as potentially eligible. CONCLUSIONS: The grantees met or exceeded enrollments from their intended populations who have been underserved by quality cancer care into patient-centered intervention programs. Intentional application of recruitment/engagement strategies is needed to reach individuals from historically underserved communities.
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Grupos Minoritarios , Neoplasias , Adulto , Humanos , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Neoplasias/epidemiología , Neoplasias/terapiaRESUMEN
The Dobbs decision overturned the right to abortion in the United States and allowed states to enact total abortion bans. In addition to restricting access to abortion, laws criminalizing pregnancy outcomes deter providers from offering timely, appropriate care for pregnancy complications. To avoid litigation or prosecution, providers are under pressure to strictly guard the privacy of patient health information related to pregnancy. Perinatal care is at risk of repeating the experience of similar enhanced privacy rules for substance use disorders, which have impeded information sharing and care coordination that improves outcomes.
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Aborto Inducido , Complicaciones del Embarazo , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias , Embarazo , Femenino , Estados Unidos , Humanos , Privacidad , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/terapiaRESUMEN
Racial inequities are well-documented across the gynecologic oncology care continuum, including the representation of racial and ethnic minoritized groups (REMGs) in gynecologic oncology clinical trials. We specifically reviewed the scope of REMG disparities, contributing factors, and strategies to improve inclusion. We found systematic and progressively worsening under-enrollment of REMGs, particularly of Black and Latinx populations. In addition, race/ethnicity data reporting is poor, yet a prerequisite for accountability to recruitment goals. Trial participation barriers are multifactorial, and successful remediation likely requires multi-level strategies. More rigorous, transparent data on trial participants and effectiveness studies on REMG recruitment strategies are needed to improve enrollment.
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Etnicidad , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/terapia , Grupos Raciales , Proyectos de Investigación , Ensayos Clínicos como AsuntoRESUMEN
Racial health disparities within gynecologic cancers persist. We aim to explore the impact of epigenetics on these disparities and how social determinants of health fuel this effect. We queried PubMed with terms associated with social determinants of health and epigenetics in the scope of 3 gynecologic cancers: ovarian, endometrial, and cervical. Using the publications found, we highlight various socioeconomic and environmental factors that may influence epigenetic mechanisms and further disparities in cancer incidence, mortality, and treatment. This narrative review exposes existing gaps in evidence and provides recommendations of future preventive efforts that can target the mitigation of gynecologic cancer disparities.
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Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/genética , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/terapia , Determinantes Sociales de la Salud , Marco Interseccional , Grupos Raciales , Epigénesis GenéticaRESUMEN
Racial health disparities continue to greatly impact the incidence and mortality rates of gynecologic cancers. Although there are many drivers for these disparities, limited inclusion of vulnerable populations in clinical research and narrowed medical knowledge of patients are large contributors that disproportionately affect racial/ethnic communities. To mitigate these disparities, we must look for avenues that connect patients from these communities to cancer researchers. In this review, we summarize 2 projects that can serve as models for future interventions that promote education and engagement in clinical research for populations most impacted by gynecologic cancer disparities.
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Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos , Humanos , Femenino , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/prevención & control , Grupos Raciales , Disparidades en Atención de SaludRESUMEN
Antibias training is increasingly identified as a strategy to reduce maternal health disparities. Evidence to guide this work is limited. We conducted a community-guided scoping review to characterize new antibias research. Four of 508 projects met our criteria: US-based, publicly funded, initiated from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022, and featuring an intervention to reduce bias or racism in maternal health care providers. Training was embedded in multicomponent interventions in 3 projects, limiting its evaluation as a stand-alone intervention. Major public funders have sponsored few projects to advance antibias training research in maternal health. More support is needed to develop a rigorous and scalable evidence base.
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Equidad en Salud , Servicios de Salud Materna , Estados Unidos , Femenino , Embarazo , Humanos , Salud MaternaRESUMEN
In the U.S., disparities in the healthcare workforce have led to inadequate health outcomes in communities of historically underserved groups. To address the lack of resources and opportunities in health career education for historically underserved group students, Project MED was established. The mission is to expose high school students to the breadth of opportunities in the healthcare field and to prepare students for successful careers in healthcare. Through 3 main pillars-Learn, Lead, and Launch-Project MED has developed a robust repository of 20 workshops, recruited and trained eight mentors, and curated a database of ≥100 opportunities for over 50 students.
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Medicina , Grupos Minoritarios , Humanos , Atención a la Salud , Grupos Minoritarios/educación , TecnologíaRESUMEN
Background: Mobile health tools may be effective strategies to improve engagement, education, and diabetes-related health during pregnancy. We developed SweetMama, a patient-centered, interactive mobile application (app) designed to support and educate low-income pregnant people with diabetes. Our objective was to evaluate the SweetMama user experience and acceptability. Methods: SweetMama is a mobile app with static and dynamic features. Static features include a customized homepage and resource library. Dynamic features include delivery of a theory-driven diabetes-specific curriculum via 1) motivational, tip, and goal-setting messages aligning with treatment and gestational age; 2) appointment reminders; and 3) ability to mark content as "favorite." In this usability assessment, low-income pregnant people with gestational or type 2 diabetes used SweetMama for 2 weeks. Participants provided qualitative feedback (via interviews) and quantitative feedback (via validated usability/satisfaction measures) on their experience. User analytic data detailed the duration and type of interactions users had with SweetMama. Results: Of 24 individuals enrolled, 23 used SweetMama and 22 completed exit interviews. Participants were mostly non-Hispanic Black (46%) or Hispanic (38%) individuals. Over the 14-day period, users accessed SweetMama frequently (median number of log-ins 8 [interquartile range 6-10]), for a median of 20.5 total minutes, and engaged all features. A majority (66.7%) rated SweetMama as having moderate or high usability. Participants emphasized design and technical strengths and beneficial effects on diabetes self-management and also identified limitations of the user experience. Conclusion: Pregnant people with diabetes found SweetMama to be user-friendly, informative, and engaging. Future work must study its feasibility for use throughout pregnancy and its efficacy to improve perinatal outcomes.
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BACKGROUND: Six multidisciplinary cancer centers were selected and funded by the Merck Foundation (2017-2021) to collaborate in the Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care ("Alliance"), an initiative to improve patient access, minimize health disparities, and enhance the quality of patient-centered cancer care. These sites share their insights on implementation and expansion of their patient navigation efforts. METHODS: Patient navigation represents an evidence-based health care intervention designed to enhance patient-centered care and care coordination. Investigators at 6 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers outline their approaches to reducing health care disparities and synthesize their efforts to ensure sustainability and successful transferability in the management of patients with cancer and their families in real-world health care settings. RESULTS: Insights are outlined within the context of patient navigation program effectiveness and supported by examples from Alliance cancer center sites: 1) understand the patient populations, particularly underserved and high-risk patients; 2) capitalize on the existing infrastructure and institutional commitment to support and sustain patient navigation; and 3) build capacity by mobilizing community support outside of the cancer center. CONCLUSIONS: This process-level article reflects the importance of collaboration and the usefulness of partnering with other cancer centers to share interdisciplinary insights while undergoing intervention development, implementation, and expansion. These collective insights may be useful to staff at other cancer centers that look to implement, enhance, or evaluate the effectiveness of their patient navigation interventions.
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Neoplasias , Navegación de Pacientes , Disparidades en Atención de Salud , Humanos , National Cancer Institute (U.S.) , Neoplasias/terapia , Atención Dirigida al Paciente , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine if genetic polymorphism of VEGF is associated with the development of endometriosis in Nigerian women. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study of 100 women (50 healthy controls and 50 with endometriosis). Serum VEGF concentration of participants were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Genomic DNAs were isolated from peripheral blood samples and quantified by nanodrop spectrophotometer one. Single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 32.96 ± 6.91 years for control and 32.04 ± 7.56 years for cases. VEGF levels in case and control groups were not statistically different (82.68 pg/ml [69.11-121.11 pg/ml] vs. 82.81 pg/ml [72.90-113.82 pg/ml] respectively; p = 0.967). All four genotypes examined were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Minor allele frequency of - 460T > C, - 1154G > A, + 936C > T and + 2578C > A were 24%, 8%, 6% and 10% in the control and 19%, 9%, 5% and 14% in endometriosis patients. However, allele and genotype distributions of - 460T > C, - 1154G > A, + 936C > T and + 2578C > A VEGF polymorphisms in endometriosis patients and control were not significantly different (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings revealed no association between endometriosis and - 460T > C, - 1154G > A, + 936C > T and + 2578C > A of VEGF genes among Nigerian women.
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Endometriosis , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/genética , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Endometriosis/genética , Femenino , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Genotipo , Humanos , Nigeria , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple/genéticaRESUMEN
For patients diagnosed with ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer, race impacts expected outcome, with black women suffering worse survival than white women for all three malignancies. Moreover, outcomes for black women have largely worsened since the 1970s. In this narrative review, we first provide an updated summary of the incidence and survival of ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer, with attention paid to differences between white and black patients. We then offer a theoretical framework detailing how racial disparities in outcomes for each of the gynecologic malignancies can be explained as the sum result of smaller white-black differences in experience of preventive strategies, implementation of screening efforts, early detection of symptomatic disease, and appropriate treatment. Much research has been published regarding racial disparities in each of these domains, and with this review, we seek to curate the relevant literature and present an updated understanding of disparities between black and white women with gynecologic malignancies.
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Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , Femenino , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/epidemiología , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/terapia , Disparidades en Atención de Salud , Humanos , Incidencia , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Población BlancaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There are persistent disparities in maternal and infant perinatal outcomes experienced by Black birthing persons compared with non-Hispanic white (NHW) individuals in the US. The differences in outcomes arise from not only socioeconomic factors and individual health behaviors but also structural racism. Recent research is beginning to elucidate the benefits of patient navigation to support underserved minoritized individuals who experience this constellation of barriers to equitable care. Qualitative research that utilizes both the experiences of Black birthing individuals and the expert opinion of healthcare providers working with them can serve to guide a patient navigation intervention to further decrease disparities in perinatal outcomes. METHODS: We conducted 30 interviews between August and December 2020 with Black birthing individuals in the Chicago metropolitan area and healthcare providers who care for this population both in Chicago and across the nation to explore their experiences, perceptions of barriers to care and ways to decrease inequities. RESULTS: Clinical care team members acknowledged the presence of health disparities experienced by Black pregnant individuals compared with their NHW counterparts stemming from racism, discrimination, and lack of resources. Patients similarly reported personal experiences with these disparities and barriers to care. The successful methods used by clinical care teams to help decrease these differences in the past included patient education on important topics such as breastfeeding and the use of patient advocates. Effectively screening for social determinants of health by someone the patient trusts was also cited as important. Regarding perinatal care practices, clinical care team members described the importance of patient education needs and care team cultural competency. Patients' reported positive and negative experiences corroborated these findings, emphasizing the importance of trust, listening, education, access to care, support, and patient advocacy. Finally, the care team members and patients agreed that active trust-building can help the provider/patient relationship and ultimately improve outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: These qualitative research findings improve the understanding of barriers to care and will help guide development of an intervention to reduce the health disparities experienced by Black pregnant persons.
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Negro o Afroamericano , Racismo , Chicago , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Atención Perinatal , Embarazo , Salud Pública , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Chinese Americans have lower breast and cervical cancer screening rates than the national average and experience multiple barriers to cancer care. Patient navigators have improved screening and follow-up rates for medically underserved populations, yet investigations of cancer navigation programs and their implementation among Chinese Americans are limited. To address this gap, we used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to examine facilitators and barriers to implementing the Chicago-based Chinatown Patient Navigation Program (CPNP) for breast and cervical cancer screening, follow-up, and treatment. METHODS: Stakeholders from clinical care, supportive care services, and community organizations were invited to participate in qualitative interviews to illuminate implementation processes and stakeholder perspectives of facilitators and barriers to implementing the CPNP. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and deductively coded according to CFIR domains, including (1) intervention characteristics; (2) outer setting; (3) inner setting; and (4) the implementation process. RESULTS: We interviewed a convenience sample of 16 stakeholders representing a range of roles in cancer care, including nurses, clinical team members, administrators, physicians, a community-based organization leader, and a CPNP navigator. Findings detail several facilitators to implementing the CPNP, including patient navigators that prepared Chinese-speaking patients for their clinic visits, interpretation services, highly accessible patient navigators, and high-quality flexible services. Barriers to program implementation included limited regular feedback provided to stakeholders regarding their program involvement. Also, early in the program's implementation there was limited awareness of the CPNP navigators' roles and responsibilities, insufficient office space for the navigators, and few Chinese language patient resource materials. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide valuable information on implementation of future patient navigation programs serving Chinese American and other limited-English speaking immigrant populations.
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Emigrantes e Inmigrantes , Navegación de Pacientes , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , China , Detección Precoz del Cáncer , Femenino , Humanos , Lenguaje , Investigación Cualitativa , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/diagnósticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Structural racism has driven and continues to drive policies that create the social, economic, and community factors resulting in residential segregation, lack of access to adequate healthcare, and lack of employment opportunities that would allow economic mobility. This results in overall poorer population health for minoritized people. In 2020, Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities throughout the United States, including the state of Illinois, experienced disproportionately high rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Public health officials in Illinois implemented targeted programs at state and local levels to increase intervention access and reduce disparities. METHODS: To quantify how disparities in COVID outcomes evolved through the epidemic, data on SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests, COVID-19 cases, and COVID-19 deaths were obtained from the Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System for the period from March 1 to December 31, 2020. Relative risks of COVID-19 cases and deaths were calculated for Black and Hispanic/Latinx vs. White residents, stratified by age group and epidemic interval. Deaths attributable to racial/ethnic disparities in incidence and case fatality were estimated with counterfactual simulations. RESULTS: Disparities in case and death rates became less drastic after May 2020, but did not disappear, and were more pronounced at younger ages. From March to May of 2020, the risk of a COVID-19 case for Black and Hispanic/Latinx populations was more than twice that of Whites across all age groups. The relative risk of COVID-19 death reached above 10 for Black and Hispanic/Latinx individuals under 50 years of age compared to age-matched Whites in the early epidemic. In all Illinois counties, relative risk of a COVID-19 case was the same or significantly increased for minoritized populations compared to the White population. 79.3 and 86.7% of disparities in deaths among Black and Hispanic/Latinx populations, respectively, were attributable to differences in age-adjusted incidence compared to White populations rather than differences in case fatality ratios. CONCLUSIONS: Racial and ethnic disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic are products of society, not biology. Considering age and geography in addition to race/ethnicity can help to identify the structural factors driving poorer outcomes for certain groups. Studies and policies aimed at reducing inequalities in disease exposure may reduce disparities in mortality more than those focused on drivers of case fatality.
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COVID-19 , Disparidades en el Estado de Salud , Hispánicos o Latinos , Humanos , Illinois/epidemiología , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Racismo Sistemático , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Importance: Impairment of visual acuity is a serious public health problem in older adults. The number of persons 60 years or older with impaired visual acuity (defined as best corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 but better than 20/200) was estimated at 2.91 million in 2015, and the number who are blind (defined as best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse) was estimated at 760â¯000. Impaired visual acuity is consistently associated with decreased quality of life in older persons, including reduced ability to perform activities of daily living, work, and drive safely, as well as increased risk of falls and other unintentional injuries. Objective: To update its 2016 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review to evaluate the benefits and harms of screening for impaired visual acuity in older adults. Population: Asymptomatic adults 65 years or older who present in primary care without known impaired visual acuity and are not seeking care for vision problems. Evidence Assessment: The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for impaired visual acuity in asymptomatic older adults. The evidence is lacking, and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined. More research is needed. Recommendation: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for impaired visual acuity in older adults. (I statement).