| Screen for tobacco use in all adults. | A | 7 | Tobacco use kills about 440,000 persons each year in the United States; even small increases in quitting have a strong positive effect on health and mortality; current medications increase quit rates |
| Discuss aspirin therapy with all patients at increased risk of coronary heart disease. | A | 17 | Decreases mortality |
| Screen for abdominal aortic aneurysm by ultrasonography in all men 65 to 75 years of age who have ever smoked. | A | 22, 28 | Decreases mortality; guideline is specific to age and sex |
| Continue mammography screening in women older than 65 years. | A | 29 | Decreases mortality; discuss the possibility of discontinuing mammography with women who have serious morbidities |
| Screen for colorectal cancer beginning at 50 years of age. | A | 30 | Decreases mortality; fecal occult blood test and sigmoidoscopy are acceptable alternatives for those who cannot afford or do not wish to undergo colonoscopy |
| Perform cholesterol screening, including measurement of low- and high-density lipoproteins, in men 35 years and older and women 45 years and older who are at increased risk of CHD. | A | 18 | Decreases mortality; NCEP-ATP III update is available at http://www.circ.ahajournals.org |
| Screen for diabetes in persons with hypertension or hyperlipidemia. | A | 22, 39 | The ADA recommends routine screening every three years in asymptomatic persons starting at 45 years of age, and in overweight persons younger than 45 years who have at least one risk factor (e.g., sedentary lifestyle, cardiovascular disease, black or Hispanic race) |