Target groups for screening elderly outpatients.
A low-risk target group of 475 individuals 64-71 years of age was recruited from the community and received comprehensive screening assessments. Four hundred four unknown/untreated medical conditions were detected in 74.5% of the participants, but less than 5% of these conditions would have been detected using the most conservative screening procedures recommended for this age group. A more liberal, yet still focused, clinical evaluation could detect the medical conditions noted in 5% or more of the participants. However, 43% of the 279 unknown/untreated laboratory abnormalities were noted on tests that fulfill the more liberal of the accepted screening criteria. Despite a large number of detected conditions, an unfocused, comprehensive screening assessment is not recommended for this particular target group; rather, the use of a selective screening package is supported.
Rogers
J
J
Department of Family Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick.
Grower
R
R
Supino
P
P
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients