Leapman MS, Wang R, Park H, et al. - Following the publication of the USPSTF’s (US Preventive Services Task Force) draft statement in 2017, an increase in the rates of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has been noted, reversing trends observed after earlier guidance against PSA testing for all patients. Testing also increased among older men, who may be less likely to benefit from prostate cancer screening.

• A draft guideline by the USPSTF was introduced in April 2017, that reversed its 2012 guidance advising against PSA–based screening for prostate cancer in all men (grade D), instead endorsing individual decision-making for men aged 55 to 69 years (grade C).

• A retrospective large national cohort study utilizing deidentified claims data from Blue Cross Blue Shield beneficiaries aged 40 to 89 years from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2019.

• Among privately insured patients (mean bimonthy cohort size of 8 087 565) analyzed, rates of PSA testing for men aged 40 to 89 years showed a 12.5% relative increase from 2016 to 2019.

• There were significant increases not only in patients aged 55 to 69 years, for whom screening is specified by the guideline, but also among patients aged 40 to 54 years as well as those aged 70 years or older, for whom screening is not advised.

• Among all beneficiaries, a significantly rising trend of PSA testing was observed after April 2017 (0.30 tests per 100 person-years for each bimonthly period; P < .001).