2021 Report to Congress on Evidence Gaps

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released its “11th Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services.”

In this annual report, the USPSTF calls attention to high-priority research gaps related to health equity from recent recommendations on cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention. This report is part of the Task Force’s long-standing commitment to advancing health equity.

Topics highlighted in the report include:

Cardiovascular Disease

  • Hypertension in Adults: Screening
  • Aspirin Use to Prevent Preeclampsia and Related Morbidity and Mortality: Preventive Medications
  • Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Screening
  • Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults With Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Behavioral Counseling Interventions

Cancer

  • Lung Cancer: Screening
  • Colorectal Cancer: Screening

Future research to address these complex health equity issues will help the Task Force issue recommendations that improve the health of people nationwide, especially those disproportionately affected by health conditions. By identifying evidence gaps and highlighting them as research priorities, the USPSTF aims to inspire collaboration among researchers to generate new knowledge in disease prevention, advancing health equity and closing key evidence gaps.

Read the complete report on the USPSTF website.