Top 10 AFP Community Blog Posts of 2025

Lilian White, MD
December 22, 2025

This year’s top 10 most-viewed blog posts are listed here. Topics were wide ranging, from laceration repair and migraine management to cardiovascular risk stratification, underscoring that variety is truly the spice of life in family medicine. We hope you enjoy revisiting these blogs, and we sincerely thank you for your continued support as readers! We look forward to returning in 2026 with more on the latest in family medicine.

1. PREVENT Risk Calculator for Cardiovascular Disease | March 3, 2025 (8,216 views)

The Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease EVENTs (PREVENT) app was developed in 2023 from a large observational cohort study of more than 6 million adults. The PREVENT app considers noncardiovascular causes of death to help reduce the risk of overestimation of risk and treatment benefit. Additional information on the new PREVENT app can be found in an American Family Physician Point-of-Care Guide and in its related editorial.

2. Is Body Mass Index on Its Way Out? | September 2, 2025 (5,981 views)

Body mass index has come under scrutiny for its inconsistent correlation with morbidity and mortality, as well as its inaccuracy in distinguishing between healthy vs overweight individuals. Factors that influence body mass index include a patient’s age, sex, ethnicity, muscle mass, and fluid status, making the index an imperfect marker for diagnosing obesity. For example, people with a high muscle mass may be misclassified as obese.

3. Updates in the Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia | April 27, 2025 (5,563 views)

Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia globally, comprising an estimated 50% of patients with anemia. A serum ferritin level of < 45 mg/dL is indicative of iron deficiency, demonstrating an 85% sensitivity and 92% specificity for diagnosing iron deficiency in patients with anemia.

4. A Sound Approach: Diagnostic Imaging for Pulsatile Tinnitus | March 16, 2025 (3,834 views)

Evaluation of pulsatile tinnitus is critical given the significant risk of morbidity and mortality associated with some etiologies, such as hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke and blindness in patients with intracranial vascular causes or increased intracranial pressure. Venous malformations or variations tend to be the most common cause of pulsatile tinnitus. After headache and blurred vision, pulsatile tinnitus is one of the most common presenting symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, according to a small study.

5. Are the Advantages of Urine PCR Testing Worth the Higher Costs? | March 30, 2025 (3,211 views)

Additional studies are needed on potential harms, optimal testing setting (inpatient vs outpatient), cost-effectiveness, and the benefits of more timely diagnosis related to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. With the high sensitivity of PCR testing, a risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment is possible.

6. Elevated LFTs: To Repeat or Not to Repeat? | February 2, 2025 (2,984 views)

For mildly elevated liver function tests (LFTs; two to three times the upper limit of normal), a repeat test in 4 weeks is recommended by a 2024 AFP article, along with a focused history and physical. If LFTs continue to be mildly elevated, further laboratory evaluation focuses on markers of liver function (eg, prothrombin time, platelet count) and the differential diagnosis.

7. What Is New in Osteoporosis Screening and Fracture Prevention? | April 6, 2025 (2,640 views)

In January 2025, researchers published a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of an alternative strategy for reducing fractures: treating women in early menopause with antiresorptive therapy regardless of bone mineral density. The comparative benefits and cost-effectiveness of this prevention strategy vs fracture risk assessment and treating women at increased risk remains to be seen.

8. Migraine Headaches: Diagnostic and Treatment Tips | April 20, 2025 (1,591 views)

Although several drug classes are effective for acute migraine, a 2024 systematic review and network meta-analysis of 137 randomized controlled trials (summarized in a POEM in the April 2025 issue of American Family Physician) found that triptans produced greater pain relief at 2 hours and less use of rescue drugs in the first 2 to 24 hours than the newer and more expensive medications ubrogepant, rimegepant, and lasmiditan.

9. Diagnosing Acute Bacterial vs Viral Rhinosinusitis | February 16, 2025 (1,258 views)

Assuming a pretest probability of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis of 33%, the sign with the highest positive likelihood ratio (+LR = 3.9) and lowest negative likelihood ratio (-LR = 0.33) is the physician’s clinical impression, making it the most helpful sign to distinguish between bacterial and viral etiologies. If present, this sign increases the probability of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis to 66%. If absent, it reduces the probability to only 14%.

10. Laceration Repair Best Practices | August 3, 2025 (1,049 views)

Lacerations may be repaired using sutures, skin adhesive, or staples or allowed to heal by secondary intention. Topical anesthetics appear to be similarly effective to injected anesthetics for pain control with laceration repair and may be better tolerated by children. A small randomized controlled trial in 2024 compared the use of Steri-Strips, Dermabond, and absorbable sutures in children and found no significant difference in scar appearance, pain, or guardian satisfaction.