2017 Annual Report to Congress

Providing the Science to Support Military Readiness and Resilience

The 2017 Annual Report to Congress highlights ways CPSTF recommendations can be used to support the readiness and resilience of the United States Armed Forces, improve the health of our military communities, and increase the population of young people who are eligible for service. The report also identifies important evidence gaps that researchers, evaluators, and funders may choose to address, as well as priority areas for future CPSTF work. Particular emphasis is placed on the challenges of obesity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use.

Cover of the 2017 CPSTF Annual Report to Congress

The Community Preventive Services Task Force is a panel of public health and prevention experts appointed by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its members represent a broad range of local, state, and national research, practice, and policy expertise in community preventive services, public health, health promotion, and disease prevention.

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the CPSTF and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The work of the Community Preventive Services Task Force complements that of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) which makes recommendations about the effectiveness of clinical preventive services and health promotion. Taken together, the recommendations of the two task forces provide our nation with knowledge of how health is improved by prevention in both clinical and community settings.

Seventh Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services

The 2017 report identifies evidence gaps related to five topics for which the evidence was insufficient, including screening for celiac disease and screening for obstructive sleep apnea. The report also highlights evidence gaps that prevent the USPSTF from making recommendations for specific racial/ethnic populations and age groups. Future research in these areas could lead to new recommendations benefit the health of all Americans.