Two recent announcements regarding the effectiveness of medical procedures may save you some time and money at the doctor’s office.
For the general population, a study published in Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews found that regular doctor checkups don’t really save lives. In particular, the research found that annual physical exams did not cut the risk of dying from cancer or heart disease.
In fact, the group of researchers found that those who saw their primary doctor on a regular basis were more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure and cholesterol, resulting in a potential problem of overdiagnosing patients. The US Preventative Service Task Force recommends that doctor appointments focus on patient-specific risk factors instead.
The second announcement came this week regarding women’s annual Pap smear. New guidelines issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force state that women should receive Pap smears no more than once every three years.
Similar to the news on routine physical exams, task force members said that annual cervical cancer screenings lead to false-positive tests and painful biopsies. In addition, the new guidelines recommend against Pap smears for women under 21 years of age and women older than 65 who have had adequate prior screening and are not at high risk for the cancer.
It’s not the first time doctors have questioned the effectiveness of certain medical tests and procedures. In April, various medical organizations identified 45 tests and procedures they deemed unnecessary and potentially harmful to patients, including MRIs and CT scans. In fact, the American Academy of Family Physicians announced then that women younger than 21 should not receive Pap smears, since it can result in unnecessary anxiety and cost.
Another list of unnecessary medical tests and procedures is scheduled to publish this fall.
