WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher says evidence-based studies provide fascinating insights on the most valuable clinical preventive services.
Studies show that 275,000 years of life could be saved by offering influenza vaccine to everyone over 50 years of age.
In another study of colorectal-cancer screening the authors found even more years of life would be saved and deaths prevented but that only 50 percent of the population actually takes advantage of the service.
"Colorectal cancer screening continues to be a high-impact, cost-effective service utilized by fewer than half of the group aged 50 and older. It remains an important missed opportunity for improving health at a reasonable cost," the authors say.
"Ten thousand additional deaths would be prevented each year if screening were offered to the entire target population, and an additional 12,000 would be prevented if all individuals accepted screening."
The findings are published in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
