Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for January 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Cardiovascular Event Risks May Be Affected by Timing of Meals
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), published online Jan. 30 in Circulation, highlights what’s known — and what’s not — about meal timing and cardiovascular health.
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CVD-Related Hospital Admissions Up Second Day After Snowstorm
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is a sharp increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular events two days after a major snowfall, according to research published online Jan. 30 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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Mentally Stimulating Tasks May Lower Risk of MCI in Older Adults
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Activities that keep the brain busy — using a computer, crafting, playing games, and participating in social activities — appear to lower the risk of age-related mental decline in individuals 70 and older, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Neurology.
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Inconsistency Noted in Ocular Symptom Reporting
MONDAY, Jan. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patient self-report of symptoms on an Eye Symptom Questionnaire (ESQ) is frequently inconsistent with documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR), according to a study published online Jan. 26 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Prediabetes Linked to Sedentary Lifestyle, Even in Slim Adults
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Inactivity is associated with greater risk of prediabetes and diabetes, even for healthy-weight adults, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Review: Intentional Weight Loss Improves Daytime Sleepiness
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For overweight or obese adults, intentional weight loss is associated with improvement in daytime sleepiness, according to a review published online Jan. 24 in Obesity Reviews.
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Rates of Heart Failure Rising in the United States
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Heart failure rates are increasing in the United States, and cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, even as the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease is falling, according to a new report from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Antibiotics, Not Poor Hygiene, Main Cause of C. difficile Outbreak
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Reducing the use of fluoroquinolones has curbed an outbreak of Clostridium difficile that began in 2006 in England, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Unusual Amnestic Syndrome Seen With Opioid Abuse
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Short-term memory loss may be yet another price of America’s opioid addiction epidemic, according to a report published in the Jan. 27 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Anxiety, Depression May Up Mortality Risk for Some Cancers
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Anxiety and depression may increase the risk of death from certain cancers, according to research published online Jan. 25 in The BMJ.
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Mindfulness-Based Class Aids Generalized Anxiety Disorder
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) class can reduce stress markers, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Psychiatry Research.
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Most PCPs Oppose Complete Repeal of the Affordable Care Act
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A majority of primary care doctors oppose full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, according to a perspective piece published online Jan. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Strategies Presented for Addressing Uncompensated Time
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Strategies can be employed to help physicians deal with the increasing burden of uncompensated tasks, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Satisfactory Overall Success Rate for Catheter Ablation in A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The overall success rate of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation is satisfactory, but the complication rate remains considerable and a significant portion of patients remain on antiarrhythmic drugs, according to a report published online Jan. 18 in the European Heart Journal.
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USPSTF: Not Enough Evidence to Screen for OSA in Asymptomatic
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults without any known signs or symptoms of the condition, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation published in the Jan. 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Safety Profile of Red Yeast Rice Found Similar to Statins
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The cholesterol-lowering supplement red yeast rice could pose the same health risks to users as statin drugs, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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ACA Has Increased Coverage, Access for Chronically Ill Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Millions of Americans with a chronic illness gained health insurance coverage after the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2010, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Diabetes Care Compromised for Hispanics With Limited English
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Hispanic-American type 2 diabetes patients who lack proficiency in English are much less likely than non-Hispanic patients to take newly prescribed diabetes medications as directed, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Cervical Cancer Mortality Higher Among Older, Black Women
MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The number of women who die from cervical cancer in the United States may be higher than previously believed, and the risk is greatest among older and black women, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Cancer.
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Age Modifies Impact of Resting Heart Rate on Death, CV Events
MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The effect of resting heart rate (RHR) on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events varies with age, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Obesity Underrepresented in Medical Licensing Exams
FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The most important concepts of obesity prevention and treatment are not adequately represented on the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step examinations, according to a study published recently in Teaching and Learning in Medicine.
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Sedentary Behavior May Lead to Shorter Telomeres in Women
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A sedentary lifestyle may accelerate biological aging, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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Grilled, Smoked Meats May Up Mortality Risk After Breast Cancer
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Research has suggested that diets high in barbecued, grilled, and smoked meats could increase the risk of breast cancer. Now, a new study finds these cooking methods may also lower survival after a breast cancer diagnosis. The findings have been published online Jan. 4 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
17 Million U.S. Adults May Have Masked Hypertension
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Seventeen million American adults may have masked hypertension, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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Survival Rates High for Older Patients With ICDs
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Seniors who receive an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) have high survival rates, according to a study published in the Jan. 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Biomarkers, Clinical Risk Improve Prediction of Renal Function
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), a set of nine molecular biomarkers together with clinical risk factors enhances prediction of renal function loss, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in Diabetes Care.
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Brief Bouts of Exercise Can Reduce Inflammation
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Just 20 minutes of moderate exercise may reduce inflammation in the body, according to research published online recently in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
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Dementia May Be Exacerbated by Hospital-Related Delirium
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalization-related delirium may speed mental decline in patients with dementia, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Hypertension Onset After Age 80 May Protect Against Dementia
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Developing hypertension in very old age may provide some protection from dementia, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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Physician Excess Charges Create Financial Burden for Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many doctors bill their private-paying patients two, three, even six times more than what Medicare pays for the same services, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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ACP, AAFP Raise BP Rx Threshold for Healthy Adults Over 60
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Two leading medical organizations are recommending a less aggressive target for the treatment of hypertension in adults 60 and older who are otherwise healthy. The new clinical practice guideline was published online Jan. 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Interventions Don’t Improve Osteoarthritis Outcomes
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patient- and provider-based interventions do not improve osteoarthritis outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria More Problematic Than Thought
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is more widespread in U.S. hospitals than previously thought and needs to be more closely monitored, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Lower Inpatient Costs for Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban in A-Fib
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), inpatient costs are lower with dabigatran and rivaroxaban than with warfarin, according to a letter published online in the Jan. 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Caffeine Found to Reduce Age-Related Inflammation
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Caffeine may help reduce the type of inflammation that’s linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in Nature Medicine.
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Heart Rate Variability Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Low resting short-term heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published in the Jan. 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Educational Methods Have Improved Bowel Prep Compliance
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Recently developed educational methods have improved patient compliance with bowel preparation for colonoscopy, according to a review published online Jan. 5 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
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BNP, Gal-3 Levels Predict 60-Day Readmission in Heart Failure
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) before discharge can predict hospital readmission within 60 days, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Mortality Risk in T2DM Increased With Depression and/or Anxiety
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with type 2 diabetes, anxiety symptoms affect mortality risk, independently of depression symptoms, and attenuate the excess mortality associated with depression, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in Diabetes Care.
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Concussions May Accelerate Alzheimer’s Disease Progression
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Concussions may be associated with accelerated cortical thickness and memory decline in Alzheimer’s disease-relevant areas, according to a study published online Jan. 12 in Brain.
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Pace of Influenza Activity Picking Up Across the United States
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The pace of flu activity continues to quicken across the United States, and probably hasn’t peaked yet, according to an assessment by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Modest Links for Systemic Medication Use, IOP in Glaucoma
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Some systemic medication has a modest effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) among Asian patients with glaucoma, according to research published online Jan. 12 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Left Ventricular Assist Device Ups QoL in Ambulatory Heart Failure
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improve quality of life in ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure, but increase lifetime costs, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JACC: Heart Failure.
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New Comprehensive Report Looks at Benefits, Harms of Cannabis
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Current medical science has proven there are legitimate medical uses for marijuana and cannabis-derived drugs, according to a new report — The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids — published Jan. 12 by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
β-Blockers Linked to Reduced Mortality in HFrEF, A-Fib
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — β-blockers are associated with significantly reduced mortality, but not hospitalizations, in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JACC: Heart Failure.
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No Cognitive Benefit for Long-Term Lifestyle Intervention
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For overweight and obese adults with diabetes mellitus, a long-term intensive lifestyle intervention does not offer cognitive benefits, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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PCP Involvement Tied to End-of-Life Care Patterns
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Higher primary care physician involvement in end-of-life care is associated with less intensive and lower cost end-of-life care, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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Sitagliptin Has Neutral CV Risk Effect in Elderly With T2DM, CVD
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Sitagliptin has a neutral effect on cardiovascular risk among older patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in Diabetes Care.
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Excessive FDA Regulation Driving High Drug Prices
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The excessive regulatory regime at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is an important driver of high drug prices, and should be curbed to introduce more competition and lower prices, according to a report published online Jan. 5 by the National Center for Policy Analysis.
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Global Rates of Hypertension on the Rise
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The global rate of hypertension and prehypertension rose significantly between 1990 and 2015, according to a report published in the Jan. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Many Ischemic Stroke Survivors Not Prescribed Anticoagulants
TUESDAY, Jan. 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many patients surviving ischemic stroke are not discharged with an oral anticoagulant (OAC), according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Reduced Mortality Seen for ‘Weekend Warriors’
MONDAY, Jan. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Weekend warriors may add almost as many years to their life span as those who work out all week long, according to research published online Jan. 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Panic Disorder May Up Odds of Depression Rx Side Effects
MONDAY, Jan. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic depression, comorbid panic disorder is associated with increased likelihood of side effects during treatment, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
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Long-Term Disability Risk Up for Seniors Who Visit ER
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Seniors treated in an emergency department for illness or injury are more likely to become disabled and less physically agile over the next six months, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
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Major Increase in U.S. Glaucoma Cases Expected by 2030
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Glaucoma affects more than three million Americans, but that number is expected to surge to more than four million by 2030, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
Acid Suppression Rx Linked to Risk of C. difficile, Campylobacter
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) users may be at higher risk of infection with Clostridium difficile and Campylobacter bacteria, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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Continuing Warfarin Protective After Diagnosis of Dementia
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For veterans receiving warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, continuing warfarin after a diagnosis of dementia is associated with a protective effect in prevention of stroke and mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Dementia Risk Up for Those Living Near Major Roads
THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — People who live relatively close to busy traffic have a slightly higher risk for dementia, according to research published online Jan. 4 in The Lancet.
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Cancer Mortality Rates Continue to Decline in the United States
THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cancer mortality rates in the United States have dropped 25 percent since the early 1990s, according to a new report published online Jan. 5 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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Further Evidence Mediterranean Diet Ups Brain Health in Seniors
THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The heart-healthy Mediterranean diet may also help preserve brain health in older adults, according to research published online Jan. 4 in Neurology.
Meta-Analysis Links Omega-3 Fatty Acid Consumption to T2DM
THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Consumption of single omega-3 is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), with dosage, ethnicity, trial duration, and recruited age influencing the effect, according to a meta-analysis published online Dec. 29 in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation.
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SBP <135 mm Hg Tied to Greater Mortality in Elderly With HTN
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For adults aged 80 years and older without comorbidity, systolic blood pressure (SBP) <135 mm Hg is associated with greater mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Skin Diseases Have Large Impact on Patients’ Well-Being
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Skin diseases affect quality of life differently across distinct aspects of the EuroQoL five dimension questionnaire (EQ5D), according to a study published online Dec. 29 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Participation in Meaningful Use Doesn’t Up Quality of Care
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physician participation in meaningful use is associated with improvement in colorectal cancer screening, but is not associated with improvement in other quality measures, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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ACP Updates Recommendations for Oral Medications in T2DM
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) has updated recommendations on the oral pharmacologic treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. The clinical practice guideline update was published online Jan. 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Alcohol Abuse Ups Risk of Several Heart Conditions
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Alcohol abuse increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), and congestive heart failure (CHF) as much as other well-established risk factors, according to a study published in the Jan. 3/10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Arm Circumference May Be Useful Predictor of CVD Survival
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Mid upper arm circumference (AC) is an independent predictor of survival in older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Greater Drop in Readmissions With ACA Program Penalties
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — There is a greater reduction in readmission rates at hospitals subject to penalties under the Affordable Care Act’s Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), according to a study published online Dec. 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Caregiver Phone Support Ups Use of Community Resources
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention for dementia caregivers increases use of community resources and reduces caregiver use of hospital-based health care resources, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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