No preventive care for 1-in-2 U.S. adults

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ATLANTA, June 14 (UPI) -- Less than half of U.S. adults received key health preventive services such as screenings, consultations and prescriptions before 2010, officials say.

"Clinical preventive services prevent heart attack, stroke, cancer and other diseases and save lives," Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said in a statement. "This report provides a snapshot of preventive services for U.S. adults before 2010. As we look to the future, we can track how our nation's health is progressing through better prevention in healthcare."

The study, "Use of Selected Clinical Preventive Services Among Adults -- United States, 2007 to 2010," provides baseline data on the use of selected adult preventive services, including aspirin or other blood-thinning therapy, controlling blood pressure, screening for and controlling high cholesterol, and ending tobacco use.

The report found of the U.S. patients with heart disease primarily affecting the blood vessels, only 47 percent were prescribed the recommended daily use of aspirin.

In addition, for those with high blood pressure, 44 percent had it under control. The study found 33.4 percent of men and 25.6 percent of women were not screened during the preceding five years for high blood pressure.

Of adults identified with high levels of low-density lipoprotein, the "bad," cholesterol, about 32 percent of men and 32 percent of women had it under control.

The report found fewer than 1-in-13 tobacco users were prescribed medications to help them end their tobacco use during a doctor's visit.