Nine medical societies (family doctors, allergists and cardiologists) were each asked by The American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation (ABIM), to identify five commonly used medical tests and treatments that are often unnecessary for the aged.
The following are some of the most popular, overused tests and treatments for people over the age of 50.
1. Heart screening tests like EKG for people without symptoms.
Cardiology guidelines have over the years been discouraging heart screening tests for the seniors with no symptoms and aren’t at high risk, and yet their use is more common than it needs to be. However, these tests can be lifesaving for people experiencing chest pain or other heart disease symptoms.
44 percent of people without any signs or symptoms of heart disease have had an EKG, an ultrasound or an exercise stress test (2010 Consumer Reports survey). An EKG or cardiac stress test is more likely to return false positive results than find the real problem for those with low risk for heart disease. The dangers include false positive tests which often lead to more tests and invasive heart procedures.
2.Osteoporosis bone scans for elderly men and women without any risk factors.
Bone density decreases with age which means an increase in the risk of fractures, but medical experts state that most women do not need a bone density test until age 65. However many doctors still recommend the scan from age 50. One of the dangers is that one density (DXA) scans may lead to unnecessary medications that may have some serious side effects.
3. CT scan, MRI or X-ray for low back pains.
An estimated 80 percent of Americans suffer from back pains. A vast majority of people with low back pain simply get better within four to six weeks, with or without a physician’s intervention. If older people get an image, physicians say that the results will, most of the time, show an innocent abnormality which has nothing to do with back pains. Some of these tests expose people to unnecessary radiation which may lead to expensive back surgery.
4. Diagnostic tests for supposed allergies.
Many aging people suffer from seasonal allergies and are increasingly putting the blame on food allergy or sensitivity. Nowadays, some doctors perform a blood test, known as immunoglobulin (IgG), for food allergies. But these tests simply don’t work. Many doctors run a couple of blood and skin tests dubbed IgE for seasonal allergies, when just a few specific tests would do. Doctors can easily pinpoint which tests they should run by asking mature patients when and where they have these symptoms.
5. Imaging procedures and CT scans for uncomplicated headaches.
Elderly people may experience excruciating and frightening headaches. Unless these severe headaches are accompanied by other key symptoms, it makes no sense to get a CT or MRI scan of the brain. Yet this happens all the time as patients get frightened while doctors get worried about lawsuits and people want all the information right away. So doctors find it easier to do the scan than have the conversation. Radiation exposure raises cancer risks in the older population. Also false-positives lead to more testing and patient anxiety.
