Health videos have gained immense popularity on social media platforms. While these platforms can be valuable for learning about various health conditions and treatments, a recent study highlights that many influencers are promoting medical tests that might be more harmful than beneficial.
The study, published on February 26 in JAMA Network Open, reveals that most online posts discussing medical tests lack evidence-based information about the benefits and potential harms of these tests.
Researchers analyzed 982 English-language social media posts on Instagram and TikTok, focusing on five medical screening tests: full-body MRI scans, cancer blood tests, testosterone tests, hormone tests to measure egg count, and gut microbiome tests.
Most posts did not mention the risks of overdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and other potential harms associated with these medical tests.
Promotional Tone and Financial Incentives
The study found that approximately 84% of the posts had a promotional tone, and 68% of the account holders had some financial incentive to promote a specific medical test. Over half of the posts encouraged people to “take action and get the test.”
However, posts made by doctors were more likely to discuss potential harms and were less likely to endorse the tests.
“The vast majority of these posts were overwhelmingly misleading,” stated study author Brooke Nickel, PhD, a research fellow at the University of Sydney School of Public Health. “They are being promoted under the guise of early screening, as a way to take control of your own health. The problem is they are unnecessary for most people, and, in some cases, the science backing their efficacy is shaky.”
Here’s what experts have to say about these five popular medical tests and how to determine if you should actually get one.
Full-Body MRI Scans
Also known as whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI), this medical procedure scans your entire body for cancer or tumors, among other potential health issues. Some companies claim to check for over 500 conditions. The procedure involves no radiation and takes about 40 to 50 minutes, costing around $2,500.
Mina Makary, MD, a clinical associate professor of radiology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted an increased public interest due to social media coverage and endorsements by influencers and celebrities.
The scan is recommended for some people with cancer or those predisposed to it, but there are risks involved.
“There are no standard protocols for WB-MRI, and it’s common for the exams to vary from one facility or scanner to the next in the type of images obtained and quality of exam,” Makary explained.
After the scan, patients receive a report, but the average person may not know how to interpret the information, experts warned.
“Only centers that specialize in high-risk screening have experience and expertise in interpreting and managing the results of these scans,” said Michael Rosenthal, MD, PhD, a senior physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an assistant professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School.
The results may not be very helpful, as full-body MRIs frequently detect false positives, which can be stressful for patients. Additionally, patients might be diagnosed with conditions that do not require immediate care.
In such cases, individuals may undergo unnecessary procedures like biopsies, which, although beneficial in the right settings, can cause complications, Rosenthal noted.
Due to these risks, the test isn’t recommended for healthy individuals.
“The practice is not supported by any recognized medical society, payer group, or public health program because the harms outweigh the benefits,” said Matthew Davenport, MD, a professor of radiology and urology at the University of Michigan.
“A patient is more likely to be harmed than helped from this practice because of the overwhelming identification of findings that will not benefit health, but will trigger extensive work-up and intervention, and their related complications,” Davenport added.
Multi-Cancer Early Detection Tests
Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are relatively new and check for substances shed by cancer cells, rather than the cancer itself. This might include abnormal DNA fragments or proteins from cancer tumors in the bloodstream.
However, these tests cannot diagnose cancer; they only offer a prediction.
Test manufacturers claim these tests can screen for more than 50 cancers before symptoms appear. But with many tests still in clinical trials, Nickel’s team stated that the evidence doesn’t effectively show that the benefits outweigh the harms.
If you receive a positive test result, additional testing is needed to confirm the presence of cancer. However, this testing may often be unnecessary—some research suggests that over half of people with a positive MCD test don’t actually have cancer.
There is a blood test for colorectal cancer approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2024. However, no MCD tests claiming to detect multiple cancers have been authorized by the agency.
These tests can also be expensive. The Galleri test, the most popular MCD, has a list price of $949.
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Test
Also known as the egg-timer test, the AMH test measures levels of this hormone, produced in the ovaries and testicles.
The test, costing between $15 and $200, can quantify the number of eggs in the ovaries, help determine menopause stage, or suggest how well one might respond to fertility treatments.
Many companies promote it as a fertility test, and social media users are intrigued.
However, AMH tests can’t predict conception chances as they can’t determine egg quality. They also can’t specify the age at which menopause will occur.
“Experts do not consider it to be reliable,” Nickel said. “There is concern that a low result discovered outside the context of a specific medical issue may drive some women to unnecessary, costly fertility interventions.”
There’s also concern that the test could give users a false sense of security about delaying pregnancy.
“These tests are useful, but it is the interpretation of these tests which requires a clinical conversation,” said Scott Nelson, MBBS, PhD, a professor of reproductive and maternal medicine at the University of Glasgow.
Gut Microbiome Tests
A test that measures organisms in your microbiome and indicates potential health issues may sound appealing. There’s plenty of research linking gut health to overall health.
Gut microbiome tests, often done with fecal samples, can identify specific microorganisms in the gut or count pathogens. Other tests calculate a gut health score and provide tips for improvement.
They usually cost a couple of hundred dollars.
However, Nickel and her team noted that Instagram and TikTok posts on gut microbiome tests promise “wellness via early detection of many conditions without good evidence of benefit and concerns about medical overuse causing harm and waste.”
Though many tests are available online, only one is FDA-approved.
Testosterone Tests
Low testosterone blood and saliva tests claim to determine if men or women have low testosterone levels, generally costing between $70 and $150.
However, the long-term safety of testosterone replacement therapy on cardiovascular health and mortality is still unknown, Nickel warned.
The tests are “often marketed to men using fear-mongering tactics to then promote testosterone supplements which claim to enhance masculinity and sexual performance,” Nickel explained.
There’s a danger of overusing treatments in response to an abnormal result. Low testosterone therapy has been linked to an increased risk of exacerbated sleep apnea and a greater risk of blood clotting.
Conclusion
When people see these medical tests on their social media feeds, it’s understandable why they might be interested in purchasing one.
“People are making use of these tests due to social media influences coupled with a very real and understandable desire to extend health and life,” Rosenthal explained. It’s also natural to assume minimizing risks would be beneficial for health, he added.
However, medical guidance from social media is often “problematic because it is not anchored to good medical evidence and is provided by people who usually have no expertise in the area,” Rosenthal said.
If someone does end up getting one of these tests, the results might be unreliable or taken out of context when the patient tries to interpret them. Plus, taking action after a test can lead to unnecessary follow-up testing, needless spending, and anxiety.
“The buzz that you are hearing on social media and online is almost all driven by companies looking to capitalize on people’s worries,” said Christopher Hess, MD, PhD, chair of the department of radiology and biomedical imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. “Screening tools like MRI are great for their wallets, but not so great for improving the health of the people to whom they advertise.”
If you do end up getting one of these or other medical tests, investigate the credentials of the lab testing your sample. “Consider the source, and look to confirm what you see using other sources of information from reliable, evidence-based sources,” Hess advised.
But in general, Hess recommended, don’t believe everything you see on social media.
“Information on medical testing should come from your doctor, not from your favorite media personalities,” Rosenthal concluded.
🔗 **Fuente:** https://www.health.com/5-medical-tests-popular-online-11690961