Health screening in older women

Health screening is an important aspect of health promotion and disease pre vention in women over 65 years of age. Screening efforts should address con ditions that cause significant morbidity and mortality in this age group. I n addition to screening for cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and cancer, primary care physicians should identify risk factors unique to all aging population. These factors include hearing and vision loss, dysmo bility or functional impairment, osteoporosis, cognitive and affective diso rders, urinary incontinence and domestic violence. Although screening for m any conditions cannot be proved to merit an "A" recommendation (indicating conclusive proof of benefit), special attention to these factors can decrea se morbidity and improve quality of life in aging women.