Focus on Health

Prevention Guidelines for Men 50 to 64

Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most men ages 50 to 64 need. A screening test is done to find possible disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not considered diagnostic, but are used to determine if more testing is needed. Although you and your healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you, this plan can guide your discussion.

Screening

Who needs it

How often

Alcohol misuse

All adults

At routine exams

Blood pressure

All adults

Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal*

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg*

If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider

Colorectal cancer

All men of average risk in this age group

According to the American Cancer Society:

Several tests are available and used at different times.

For tests that find polyps and cancer:

  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years1, or

  • Colonoscopy every 10 years, or

  • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years

For tests that primarily find cancer:

  • Yearly fecal occult blood test2, or

  • Yearly fecal immunochemical test every year2, or

  • Stool DNA test, every 3 years

 You will need a follow-up colonoscopy if you choose any test other than a colonoscopy and you have an abnormal result. Screening recommendations vary among expert groups. Talk with your healthcare provider about which test is best for you. Some people should be screened using a different schedule because of their personal or family history. Talk with your provider about your health history.

Depression

All men in this age group

At routine exams

Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

All men beginning at age 45 and men without symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more additional risk factors for diabetes

At least every 3 years

Type 2 diabetes

All men with prediabetes

Every year

Hepatitis C

Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider

At routine exams (All men age 50 to 70 should be tested once for hepatitis C.)

High cholesterol and triglycerides

All adults

At least every 5 years

HIV

All men

At routine exams

Lung cancer

Adults age 50 to 80 who have smoked

Yearly screening in smokers with 20 pack-year history of smoking or who quit within 15 years

Obesity

Anyone at increased risk

At routine exams

BMI (body mass index)

All men in this age group (3)

Every year, to help find out if you are at a healthy weight for your height

Prostate cancer

Starting at age 45, talk to health care provider about risks and benefits of digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening***

At routine exams

Syphilis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams

Tuberculosis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

Check with your healthcare provider

Vision

All men in this age goupr3

  • Men ages 40 to 54: every 2 to 4 years if no risk factors for eye disease

  • Men ages 55 to 64: every 1 to 3 years if no risk factors for eye disease

Ask  your healthcare provider if you need glaucoma screening with a dilated eye exam every 2 years

Counseling

Who needs it

How often

Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events

Men ages 45 to 79 when potential benefits from a decrease in heart attacks outweigh the harm or risks from an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage

When diagnosed with risk for cardiovascular/heart disease; check with your healthcare provider before starting

Diet and exercise

Adults who are overweight or obese

When diagnosed and at routine exams

Sexually transmitted infection prevention

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams

Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease

All adults

Every exam

Immunization

Who needs it

How often

Tetanus/diphtheria/
pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster

All adults

Td: every 10 years

Tdap: substitute a 1-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster after age 18, then boost with Td every 10 years

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)

Men in this age group through their late 50s who have no previous infection or record of vaccines**

1 or 2 doses; check with your healthcare provider

Chickenpox (varicella)

Adults ages 50 to 64 who have no previous infection or record of vaccines**

2 doses; second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose

Flu (seasonal)

All adults

Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community

Hepatitis A

Men at risk4

2 or 3 doses (depending on the vaccine) given at least 6 months apart; check with your healthcare provider

Hepatitis B

Men at risk5

2 or 3 doses (depending on the vaccine) over 6 months; check with your healthcare provider. The second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose, and the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose and at least 4 months after the first dose.

Haemophilus influenzae Type B (HIB)

People at risk

1 to 3 doses

Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY)

People at risk**

1 or more doses, depending on your case, then a booster every 5 years if you are still at risk; check with your healthcare provider

Meningococcal B (MenB)

People at risk

2 or more doses, depending on the vaccine and your case; check with your healthcare provider

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)

People at risk6

PCV13: 1 dose ages 19 to 65 (protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria)

PPSV23: 1 to 2 doses through age 64, or 1 dose at 65 or older (protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria)

 

Zoster recombinant (RZV)

All men ages 50 and older**

2 doses given 2 to 6 months apart

Zoster live (ZVL)

All men ages 60 and older

1 dose

*Recommendation from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines

**Exceptions may exist; talk with your healthcare provider

***National Comprehensive Cancer Network

1If the test is positive, a colonoscopy should be done

2The multiple stool take-home test should be used. One test done by the healthcare provider in the office is not adequate for testing. A colonoscopy should be done if the test is positive.

3Recommendation from the American Academy of Ophthalmology

4For complete list, see the CDC website

5For complete list, see the CDC website

6For complete list, see the CDC website

Screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Immunization schedule from the CDC

Online Medical Reviewer: Pierce-Smith, Daphne, RN, MSN, CCRC
Online Medical Reviewer: Watson, L Renee, MSN, RN
Date Last Reviewed: 2/1/2023
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.