News in Brief: Week of Jan. 23-27

This roundup includes the following news briefs:

The CDC has updated (2-page PDF; About PDFs) the tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine information statement to incorporate recent changes to recommendations issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including a risk of syncope.

In addition to updating recommendations regarding children ages 7-9 years, as well as adults 65 and older and pregnant women, the ACIP also added a paragraph about the risk of syncope. Because the syncope change describes a potential risk to recipients, the CDC said that it is "desirable that providers begin using this new edition (of the Tdap vaccination information statement) as soon as possible."

A new study (10-page PDF; About PDFs) says that U.S. patients receive only about half of the recommended preventive health services during periodic health examinations conducted by internal medicine and family physicians.

The study, published in the Jan. 17 American Journal of Preventive Medicine, said patients receive an average of three preventive health services for each periodic health examination, but almost as many recommended services were not delivered.

Study researchers found that primary care physicians were most likely to recommend or deliver colorectal cancer screening, hypertension screening and breast cancer screening. Physicians were less likely to recommend or deliver aspirin use counseling, vision screenings and immunizations. Overall, 54 percent of eligible and due services were delivered and 46 percent were missed, according to the study.

The American Lung Association released its annual report card assessing state and federal progress toward preventing tobacco-caused disease. The association's State of Tobacco Control 2012 (150-page PDF; About PDFs) report paints a bleak picture of state actions, handing out "Fs" to 43 states and the District of Columbia for their failure to fund tobacco prevention and control programs at levels the association deemed necessary. In addition, 32 states and the District of Columbia received failing grades for not offering comprehensive tobacco cessation treatments to Medicaid recipients and state workers.

American Lung Association President and CEO Charles Connor said in a Jan. 19 news release that states were retreating from their responsibility to protect children. "Far too many states are turning away from proven interventions and are doing less to keep children from smoking," he said.

Six states -- Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia -- were given straight Fs in every category on the report card. Only four states -- Delaware, Hawaii, Maine and Oklahoma -- received all passing grades. The report applauded federal efforts to implement programs aimed at protecting the population from the effects of tobacco use.