Which screening has an A grade for adults?

• A. Glaucoma screening in adults
• B. Hypertension (blood pressure) screening in adults 18+
• C. Depression screening in adults
• D. Lipid disorder screening in adults

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how USPSTF grades reflect the balance of benefits and harms of a preventive service. An A grade means there is high certainty that the net benefit is substantial, so the service should be offered or provided.

For screening adults for high blood pressure, the evidence is strong and consistent that finding elevated blood pressure and initiating treatment reduces major cardiovascular events and mortality across diverse adult populations. This substantial reduction in risk across various ages and risk profiles gives a high certainty of a meaningful net benefit, which is why hypertension screening earns the A grade.

The other screenings do not have this A grade in this context: glaucoma screening in the general adult population lacks enough evidence to show a clear net benefit, depression screening has demonstrated benefits but is not categorized as an A-grade intervention, and lipid disorder screening, while important, is not designated as an A-grade preventive service for adults in this scenario.