Prevention Guidelines for Men 65+
Prevention Guidelines for Men 65+
Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most men ages 65 and older need. A screening test is done to find possible disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not considered diagnostic, but are used to determine if more testing is needed. Although you and your healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you, this plan can guide your discussion.
Screening |
Who needs it |
How often |
---|---|---|
Abdominal aortic aneurysm |
Men ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked |
1 ultrasound |
Alcohol misuse |
All adults |
At routine exams |
Blood pressure |
All adults |
Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal* Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg* If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider |
Colorectal cancer |
All adults ages 50 and older |
According to the American Cancer Society: For tests that find polyps and cancer:
For tests that primarily find cancer:
Talk with your healthcare provider about which test is best for you. Testing is generally not indicated after age 75. |
Depression |
All men in this age group |
At routine exams |
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes |
All men starting at age 45 and men without symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more additional risk factors for diabetes |
At least every 3 years (annual testing if your blood sugar has begun to rise) |
Type 2 diabetes |
All men with prediabetes |
Every year |
Hepatitis C |
Anyone at increased risk for infection |
At routine exams |
High cholesterol and triglycerides |
All adults |
At least every 5 years |
HIV |
Anyone at increased risk for infection |
At routine exams |
Lung cancer |
Adults ages 55 to 80 who have smoked |
Yearly screening in smokers with 30 pack-year history of smoking or who quit within 15 years |
Obesity |
All adults |
At routine exams |
Prostate cancer |
All men in this age group, talk to healthcare provider about risks and benefits of digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening*** |
At routine exams |
Syphilis |
Anyone at increased risk for infection |
At routine exams |
Tuberculosis |
Anyone at increased risk for infection |
Check with your healthcare provider |
Vision |
All adults3 |
Every 1 to 2 years; if you have a chronic disease, check with your healthcare provider for exam frequency |
Counseling |
Who needs it |
How often |
Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events |
Men ages 45 to 69 when potential benefits from a decrease in heart attacks outweigh the harm or risks from an increase in gastrointestinal bleeding |
When diagnosed with risk for cardiovascular/heart disease; check with your healthcare provider before starting |
Diet and exercise |
Adults who are overweight or obese |
When diagnosed and at routine exams |
Fall prevention (exercise, vitamin D supplements) |
All men in this age group |
At routine exams |
Sexually transmitted infection prevention |
Anyone at increased risk for infection |
At routine exams |
Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease |
All adults |
Every visit |
Immunization |
Who needs it |
How often |
Tetanus/diphtheria/ |
All adults |
Every 10 years. Tdap is recommended if you have contact with a child younger than 12 months. Either Td or Tdap can be used if you have no contact with infants. |
Chickenpox (varicella) |
All adults ages 65 and older who have no previous infection or documented vaccinations** |
2 doses; second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose |
Flu (seasonal) |
All adults |
Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community |
Haemophilus influenzae Type B (HIB) |
People at risk |
1 to 3 doses |
Hepatitis A |
People at risk4 |
2 doses given at least 6 months apart |
Hepatitis B |
People at risk5 |
3 doses; the second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose, and the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose (or at least 4 months after the first dose) |
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) |
All adults ages 65 and older |
1 dose of each vaccine |
Zoster |
All men ages 60 and older |
1 dose |
*Recommendation from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guideline
**Exceptions may exist; talk with your healthcare provider
***National Comprehensive Cancer Network
1If the test is positive, a colonoscopy should be done
2The multiple stool take-home test should be used. One test done by the healthcare provider in the office is not adequate for testing. A colonoscopy should be done if the test is positive.
3Recommendation from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
4For complete list, see the CDC website
5For complete list, see the CDC website
Screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, except Hepatitis C from CDC
Immunization schedule from the CDC
Updated:  
January 24, 2018
Sources:  
Evidence-based approach to prevention, Up To Date, Overview of Hypertension in Adults, Up To Date, Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, 2016, American Diabetes Association
Reviewed By:  
Cunningham, Louise, RN,Hurd, Robert, MD,Taylor, Wanda, L., RN, PhD,Turley, Raymond Kent, BSN, MSN, RN