While vaccines and screenings often feel like mundane checkboxes, they form a powerful, often invisible shield—consider that global vaccination efforts have prevented an estimated 14.8 million deaths since 2000, and a simple mammogram can reduce breast cancer mortality by up to 40%.
Key Takeaways
- According to the CDC, in 2021-2022, 92.7% of children aged 24 months received the recommended 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
- The WHO reports that global DTP3 coverage among 1-year-olds was 84% in 2022, preventing an estimated 14.8 million deaths since 2000
- CDC data shows 91.9% kindergarteners had MMR vaccine in 2022-2023 school year
- Mammography screening rates among US women aged 50-74 reached 77.2% in 2020 per CDC NHIS
- Colorectal cancer screening (up-to-date) 68.9% US adults 45-75 in 2022 per CDC
- Cervical cancer screening (Pap/HPV within 3 yrs) 83.3% US women 21-65 2020 CDC
- Blood pressure screening detects hypertension in 45% US adults 18+ annually per CDC 2021 NHIS
- Cholesterol screening LDL <100 mg/dL goal 55% US adults 40-79 2017-2020 NHANES
- USPSTF aspirin primary prevention CVD risk reduction 10-12% ages 40-59 high risk
- HbA1c screening detects prediabetes 36.5 million US adults CDC 2022
- USPSTF lifestyle intervention DPP reduces diabetes incidence 58% high-risk adults
- OGTT screening 2-hr glucose >=140 mg/dL prediabetes 10.7% US NHANES 2017-20
- Daily aspirin use among US adults 18-24% NHIS 2020 CDC
- Tobacco cessation quit rates 7.4% US adults past year 2021 NHIS CDC
- Physical activity 150+ min/wk moderate 23.9% US adults 2018 BRFSS CDC
Preventive care saves lives through widespread vaccination and routine cancer screenings.
Cancer Screening
1Mammography screening rates among US women aged 50-74 reached 77.2% in 2020 per CDC NHIS
Verified2Colorectal cancer screening (up-to-date) 68.9% US adults 45-75 in 2022 per CDC
Verified3Cervical cancer screening (Pap/HPV within 3 yrs) 83.3% US women 21-65 2020 CDC
Verified4USPSTF: Breast cancer screening mammography reduces mortality by 20-40% in women 40-74
Directional5Lung cancer LDCT screening eligibility 8.8 million US adults 50-80 2022 per NCI
Single source6Prostate cancer PSA screening 35% US men 50-74 2020 NHIS CDC
Verified7Skin cancer screening by derm exam 18.5% US adults ever screened per 2020 BRFSS
Verified8WHO: Cervical screening prevents 74% of invasive cancers if 70% coverage 30-49 yrs
Verified9NCI SEER: Mammography screening detects 85% early-stage breast cancers
Directional10Colonoscopy within 10 yrs 62.4% US adults 45-75 2022 CDC
Single source11FIT testing annual 23.1% US adults 2022 CDC PLCOm2018 model
Verified12HPV testing with Pap 65% US women 30-65 2020 CDC
Verified13Low-dose CT lung screening uptake 5.8% eligible US 2022 per ACC
Verified14Melanoma early detection via screening reduces mortality 48% per AAD
Directional15FOBT/FIT/sigmoidoscopy combo 72% CRC screening US 2021 CDC
Single source16Breast MRI supplemental screening 2.5% high-risk women US 2020
Verified17Oral cancer screening by dentist 20% US adults annually per NHANES
Verified18NCI: CRC screening adherence 67.3% ages 50-75 2019-2020
Verified19USPSTF Pap alone 81% cervical screening US women
Directional20Lung-RADS 1.5% positive LDCT false positive rate
Single source21DCIS detection 20-25% via mammography per NCI
Verified22Anal Pap screening 15% MSM HIV+ US per CDC
Verified23Liver cancer US screening HCC cirrhosis patients 30% adherence
Verified24Endometrial cancer screening not routine but 10% hysterectomy rates post-abnormal bleed
Directional25Thyroid cancer screening ultrasound overuse 40% incidentalomas
Single source26Pancreatic cancer screening EUS/MRI high-risk 5-10% yield
Verified27Bladder cancer cytology screening sensitivity 50-70% high-grade
Verified28Ovarian cancer CA-125 screening specificity 99.9% but low sensitivity
Verified29Gastric cancer endoscopy screening 80% mortality reduction Japan
DirectionalCancer Screening Interpretation
We seem to be collectively quite good at showing up for the screenings we've long known save lives, yet we falter badly at adopting the newer ones that could do the same.
Cardiovascular Prevention
1Blood pressure screening detects hypertension in 45% US adults 18+ annually per CDC 2021 NHIS
Verified2Cholesterol screening LDL <100 mg/dL goal 55% US adults 40-79 2017-2020 NHANES
Verified3USPSTF aspirin primary prevention CVD risk reduction 10-12% ages 40-59 high risk
Verified4AHA: Statin therapy prevents 25% CVD events in high-risk adults
Directional5CDC BRFSS 2021: 47.7% US adults self-report regular BP checks
Single source6ABI ankle-brachial index screening PAD prevalence 5.6% US 40+ Framingham
Verified7CAC score screening reclassifies 15-20% CVD risk per ACC/AHA
Verified8ECG screening asymptomatic low yield 0.1-0.2% SCD risk young athletes AHA
Verified9USPSTF AAA screening US men 65-75 ever-smoke 78% uptake Medicare
Directional10hsCRP inflammation screening predicts 30% CVD events high-risk MESA study
Single source11Lipid panel screening 89% US adults 40+ past 5 yrs 2020 NHIS
Verified12Home BP monitoring adherence 25% hypertensives reduces stroke 20% per AHA
Verified13Carotid IMT ultrasound screening CVD risk 25% better prediction REGARDS
Verified14AFib screening pulse check detects 1.4% prevalence US 65+ ARIC
Directional15Coronary CTA screening low-risk 1% obstructive CAD PROMISE trial
Single source16Echo screening LVH prevalence 25% hypertensives NHANES
Verified17PAD screening questionnaire sensitivity 79% POST-PAD model
Verified18Stress ECG screening annual 12-lead low specificity 50% for ischemia
Verified19NT-proBNP screening HF risk 2-fold increase high levels Framingham
Directional20Retinal photography screening hypertensive retinopathy 10% prevalence
Single source21Pulse oximetry screening PPHN newborns 0.065% critical CHD missed per AAP
Verified22Brachial flow-mediated dilation endothelial function screening CVD risk correlation r=0.3 meta-analysis
Verified23Aortic aneurysm screening uptake 75% Medicare men 65-75 USPTF
VerifiedCardiovascular Prevention Interpretation
Our preventative efforts are a patchwork quilt of progress, where diligently checking blood pressure is commonplace yet woefully under-adhered to, and where high-tech scans can reclassify risk beautifully but still often miss the forest for the statistically rare trees.
Diabetes Prevention
1HbA1c screening detects prediabetes 36.5 million US adults CDC 2022
Verified2USPSTF lifestyle intervention DPP reduces diabetes incidence 58% high-risk adults
Verified3OGTT screening 2-hr glucose >=140 mg/dL prediabetes 10.7% US NHANES 2017-20
Verified4Metformin prevents 31% diabetes in prediabetics DPPOS follow-up
Directional5Fasting plasma glucose screening >=100 mg/dL 38% US adults prediabetes CDC
Single source6A1C 5.7-6.4% screening identifies 84 million prediabetes US 2022 ADA
Verified7BMI screening obesity 42.4% US adults NHANES 2017-2020 CDC
Verified8Waist circumference >40in men diabetes risk 2.8x NHANES
Verified9Family history screening first-degree relative diabetes risk 2-6x ADA
Directional10Gestational diabetes screening 50g glucose challenge 14-23% abnormal US
Single source11FINDRISC score screening 10-yr diabetes risk >=14 points 50% incidence Finland
Verified12Lipid screening triglycerides >150 mg/dL diabetes predictor HR 1.5 meta
Verified13BP screening hypertension comorbid 70% type 2 diabetes CDC
Verified14Physical activity screening <150 min/wk doubles diabetes risk NHANES
Directional15Smoking cessation prevents 30-40% excess diabetes risk meta-analysis
Single source16Sleep apnea screening OSA prevalence 17-28% prediabetes STOP-BANG
Verified17Vitamin D screening deficiency <20 ng/mL diabetes risk 1.5x NHANES
Verified18NAFLD ultrasound screening 25% prediabetics fibrosis risk NAFLD cohort
Verified19Retinopathy screening pre-diabetes microalbuminuria 20% prevalence
Directional20PCOS screening OGTT 40% IGT women Rotterdam criteria
Single source21Cystic fibrosis carrier screening prevents diabetes complications 90% genotype
Verified22Dialysis planning prediabetes CKD stage 3+ 15% progression annual
Verified23Fatty liver index screening FLI>60 diabetes risk HR 4.6 Rotterdam
Verified24Annual wellness visit diabetes risk assessment 65% uptake Medicare 2022
Directional25Smoking cessation counseling prevents 13% diabetes incidence US adults BRFSS
Single sourceDiabetes Prevention Interpretation
We are a nation standing on a preventable precipice, armed with a toolbox full of effective screenings and interventions, yet too often we're failing to open it before we fall.
Lifestyle Interventions
1Daily aspirin use among US adults 18-24% NHIS 2020 CDC
Verified2Tobacco cessation quit rates 7.4% US adults past year 2021 NHIS CDC
Verified3Physical activity 150+ min/wk moderate 23.9% US adults 2018 BRFSS CDC
Verified4Fruit/veg 5+ servings/day 12.5% US adults NHANES 2019 CDC
Directional5Alcohol screening excessive 30-day binge 24.3% US adults 2021 NSDUH
Single source6Obesity counseling receipt 42% obese US adults 2020 NHIS CDC
Verified7Sleep 7+ hrs/night 66.9% US adults 2022 BRFSS CDC
Verified8Sun protection SPF 15+ 32% US adults BRFSS 2020 CDC
Verified9Seatbelt use 91.6% US drivers 2022 NHTSA
Directional10Helmet use bicyclists 46% US adults 2021 CDC
Single source11Oral health dental visit past year 65.8% US adults 2020 NHIS CDC
Verified12STI screening chlamydia 100% sexually active women <25 USPSTF
Verified13HIV PrEP uptake 25% eligible MSM US 2022 CDC
Verified14Depression screening PHQ-9 50% primary care US adults 2021 NAMCS
Directional15Intimate partner violence screening 15% women reproductive age CDC
Single source16Fall risk screening 80% adults 65+ Medicare AWV uptake
Verified17Osteoporosis FRAX screening 20% women 65+ US 2020 BRFSS
Verified18Pneumococcal vaccine counseling 40% adults 65+ NAMCS 2021
Verified19Weight loss 5-10% reduces comorbidities 50% obese DPP
Directional20Mindfulness stress reduction lowers BP 5 mmHg meta-analysis
Single source21Social isolation screening 13% US adults lonely CDC 2021
Verified22Firearm safety counseling 2% parents children homes CDC
VerifiedLifestyle Interventions Interpretation
A nation that belts itself in at 92% but protects its skin at only 32%, while nearly a quarter of adults binge drink and less than a quarter exercise adequately, reveals a public health landscape where we're excellent at surviving car crashes but tragically lackluster at preventing the slower-moving crashes of chronic disease.
Vaccinations
1According to the CDC, in 2021-2022, 92.7% of children aged 24 months received the recommended 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
Verified2The WHO reports that global DTP3 coverage among 1-year-olds was 84% in 2022, preventing an estimated 14.8 million deaths since 2000
Verified3CDC data shows 91.9% kindergarteners had MMR vaccine in 2022-2023 school year
Verified4In the US, 72.8% of adults aged 18+ received flu vaccine during 2022-2023 season per CDC
Directional5HPV vaccination initiation rate among US adolescents aged 13-17 was 63.4% in 2022 per CDC
Single source6WHO estimates pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV3) coverage at 84% globally in 2022 for 1-year-olds
Verified7CDC NIS-Child survey: 94.1% of US toddlers had 4+ DTaP doses in 2021-22
Verified8Shingles vaccination coverage among US adults 60+ was 35.2% in 2021 per CDC
Verified9Global rotavirus vaccine coverage reached 78% in 2022 per WHO/UNICEF
Directional10CDC reports 82.5% of US children 24 months had polio vaccine (4+ doses) in 2021-22
Single source11MenACWY vaccine series completion among 13-17 year olds was 86.1% in 2022 US per CDC
Verified12WHO data: 74% global coverage for measles-containing vaccine first dose (MCV1) in 2022
Verified13Tdap booster coverage in US pregnant women was 32.9% in 2021 per CDC
Verified14Hib vaccine coverage (3+ doses) at 92.8% for US 24-month-olds in 2021-22 CDC
Directional15Global HepB3 coverage 83% in 2022 per WHO
Single source16CDC: 77.5% of US adults 18+ got COVID-19 primary series by mid-2023
Verified17Varicella vaccine (2+ doses) 92.3% in US kindergarteners 2022-23 CDC
Verified18WHO/UNICEF: 84% DTP1 coverage globally 2022
Verified19Pneumococcal vaccine uptake in US adults 65+ was 68.1% in 2021 CDC
Directional20HPV completion rate (2-3 doses) 50.2% US adolescents 2022 CDC
Single source21Global MCV2 coverage 74% in 2022 WHO
Verified22CDC kindergarten HepB (3+ doses) 93.6% 2022-23
Verified23Flu vaccine among US HCWs 53.3% 2022-23 CDC
Verified24Rotavirus coverage 73.4% US children 2021-22 CDC
Directional25WHO: 82% global PCV3 coverage 2022
Single source26US adult pneumococcal coverage 65-74 yrs 69.2% 2021 CDC
Verified27CDC: 91.2% DTaP (4+ doses) US toddlers 2021-22
Verified28Shingrix uptake 34.5% US 50+ adults 2021 CDC
Verified29Global Hib3 coverage 77% 2022 WHO
Directional30MMR (2+ doses) 92.7% US kindergarteners 2022-23 CDC
Single sourceVaccinations Interpretation
While our childhood vaccine shield is impressively solid, it appears our adult vaccination strategy is still a few booster shots short of a full immune system.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 2WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 3IMMUNIZATIONDATAimmunizationdata.who.intVisit source
- Reference 4COVIDcovid.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 5DATAdata.unicef.orgVisit source
- Reference 6USPREVENTIVESERVICESTASKFORCEuspreventiveservicestaskforce.orgVisit source
- Reference 7CANCERcancer.govVisit source
- Reference 8SEERseer.cancer.govVisit source
- Reference 9ACCacc.orgVisit source
- Reference 10AADaad.orgVisit source
- Reference 11NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 12PROGRESSREPORTprogressreport.cancer.govVisit source
- Reference 13ACRacr.orgVisit source
- Reference 14AASLDaasld.orgVisit source
- Reference 15THYROIDthyroid.orgVisit source
- Reference 16NCCNnccn.orgVisit source
- Reference 17AUANETauanet.orgVisit source
- Reference 18AHAJOURNALSahajournals.orgVisit source
- Reference 19NEJMnejm.orgVisit source
- Reference 20PUBLICATIONSpublications.aap.orgVisit source
- Reference 21JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 22DIABETESdiabetes.orgVisit source
- Reference 23ACOGacog.orgVisit source
- Reference 24JCSMjcsm.aasm.orgVisit source
- Reference 25DIABETESJOURNALSdiabetesjournals.orgVisit source