Clinician Summary

Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: Screening

February 02, 2021

Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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What does the USPSTF recommend? For the general adult population:
Do not screen for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Grade D
To whom does this recommendation apply? This recommendation applies to adults without a history of stroke or neurologic signs or symptoms of a transient ischemic attack.
What’s new? This recommendation is consistent with the 2014 USPSTF recommendation. The USPSTF continues to recommend against screening for carotid artery stenosis in asymptomatic adults.
How to implement this recommendation? Do not screen. The USPSTF found that the harms of screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis outweigh the benefits.

Clinicians should remain alert to the signs and/or symptoms of carotid artery stenosis and evaluate as appropriate.
What are other relevant USPSTF recommendations? The USPSTF has made other recommendations related to stroke prevention and cardiovascular health. These include:
  • Screening for high blood pressure in adults
  • Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant persons
  • Interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical activity for the prevention of cardiovascular disease:
    • In adults with cardiovascular risk factors
    • In adults without known cardiovascular risk factors
  • Aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer
  • Statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults
These recommendations are available at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.
Where to read the full recommendation statement? Visit the USPSTF website to read the full recommendation statement. This includes more details on the rationale of the recommendation, including benefits and harms; supporting evidence; and recommendations of others.