Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for July 2015. 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.
Treatment Targets Not Met by Most Older Patients With Diabetes
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Only one-third of American seniors with diabetes have their disease under control as defined by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, according to research published in the July issue of the Diabetes Care.
FDA Warns of Confusion Between Brintellix, Brilinta
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Confusion between the names of the antidepressant Brintellix (vortioxetine) and the antiplatelet Brilinta (ticagrelor) has led to the wrong medication being prescribed or dispensed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
CDC: 20 Percent of U.S. Adults Have a Disability
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than 50 million Americans live with a physical or mental disability, according to research published in the July 31 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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AMA Wants Doctor Input on EHRs, Meaningful Use
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) is encouraging clinicians to share their perspectives on electronic heath records (EHRs) and the meaningful use program.
U.S. Health Spending Projected to Rise 5.8 Percent By 2024
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2024, U.S. health spending growth is projected to increase by about 6 percent, according to a report published online July 28 in Health Affairs.
Recalcitrant Back Pain Could Be Vertebral Osteomyelitis
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Vertebral osteomyelitis should be considered in cases of back or neck pain unresponsive to conservative measures and elevated inflammatory markers with or without fever, according to new guidelines from the Infectious Disease Society of America published online July 29 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
U.S. Medical Groups Fighting Prescription Opioid Abuse
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Led by the American Medical Association (AMA), a group of 27 major U.S. medical organizations are banding together to tackle the continuing epidemic of opioid abuse.
More Information – AMA
More Information – ACOG
More Information – AAFP
Home-Based Device Beneficial for Obese Patients With Knee OA
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For obese individuals, a novel, biomechanical, home-based gait-training device is associated with improvements in gait parameters at three and 12 months, according to a study published online July 28 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
Chocolate Consumption Shows No Impact on Risk of A-Fib
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among U.S. male physicians, chocolate consumption is not associated with risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Tamsulosin Could Help Passage of Larger Kidney Stones
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Tamsulosin can boost the passage of large kidney stones, but not small ones, according to a study published online July 17 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Docs Report Patient Safety Often at Risk in ER to Inpatient Handoff
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians report that patient safety is often at risk during the emergency department admission handoff process due to ineffective communication. The findings were published online July 22 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Routine Dyspnea Severity Assessment Could Aid Care
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The majority of hospitalists believe that routinely assessing dyspnea severity would enhance their clinical decision making and positively affect patient care, according to a study published online July 20 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
2015 MOC Program Expected to Cost $5.7 Billion Over 10 Years
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The 2015 version of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) maintenance-of-certification (MOC) program is expected to generate considerable costs, mainly due to physician time costs, according to research published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Patients Report Improved Care Access, Better Health With ACA
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Millions more Americans have affordable health insurance, access to a personal doctor, and feel they are in better health following the first two open-enrollment periods of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new analysis shows. The results are published in the July 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
ASCO Calls for Cancer Trials to Include More Seniors
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a position statement published online July 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology has called on the U.S. government and the cancer research community to broaden clinical trials to include older adults.
Mortality, Hospital Stays, Costs All Down Among U.S. Seniors
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Between 1999 and 2013, yearly mortality and hospitalization rates steadily declined among Americans in the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program. Meanwhile, spending on inpatient care showed the same pattern. The findings were published in the July 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Visit-to-Visit BP Variability May Impact Cardiovascular Outcomes
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Wide blood pressure fluctuations may signal an increased risk of coronary heart disease and early death, according to research published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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USPSTF: Screen All Adults for Depression in Primary Care
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In an updated draft recommendation released Monday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force urges that primary care physicians regularly screen for depression in all adult patients (B recommendation).
Evidence Review
Draft Recommendation Statement
Comment on Recommendation
Components of Mediterranean Lifestyle Cut Postprandial Lipemia
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Components of the Mediterranean lifestyle may reduce postprandial lipemia (PPL), an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to a review published online July 7 in the American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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Not All Placebos Are Equal in Knee Osteoarthritis
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Not all placebos are equally effective for knee osteoarthritis and some can trigger clinically relevant responses, according to a review published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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2008 Initiative Had Minimal Impact on Pressure Ulcer Charges
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The 2008 Hospital-Acquired Conditions Initiative (HACI) payment changes for pressure ulcers have had a minimal effect, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Higher Health Costs for Diabetes Mainly Meds, Inpatient Care
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — From 2002 to 2012, individuals with diabetes had consistently higher health expenditure compared to those without diabetes, according to a study published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
FDA Approves Praluent for Certain Cases of High Cholesterol
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Praluent (alirocumab) injection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in addition to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, who need additional low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduction.
Delays Noted in the Reporting of Serious Patient Harms to FDA
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 10 percent of cases where a drug does serious harm are not reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the required 15-day period, according to a new analysis published online July 27 as a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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AAFP: Pay Primary Care Doctors for Inpatient Consulting
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Insurance companies should consider reviewing coverage policies to include situations where primary care physicians provide important and cost-saving inpatient consulting, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Risk of Death Up With Lower Extremity Amputation in Diabetes
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with diabetes and a lower extremity amputation (LEA) are more likely to die, with some of the increased risk due to diabetes-related complications, according to a study published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
Earlier Physical Therapy May Help Older Patients With Back Pain
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For older adults presenting to their primary care providers with a new visit for back pain, early referral to physical therapy (PT) services results in no clinically meaningful differences in outcomes; however, the extent of improvement in symptoms may be greater, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
Improved Care Transitions Needed Post Ambulatory Surgery
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients age 70 or older are at greater risk of unanticipated hospital admission within 30 days of ambulatory surgery, even after adjusting for comorbidities, according to a study published online July 22 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
‘Driving Straight’ May Be Suitable Road Test in Dementia
FRIDAY, July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Drivers with dementia who have more difficulties driving straight and making left and right turns are more likely to fail road testing, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Chemotherapy Use Doesn’t Improve QOL Near Death
FRIDAY, July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with end-stage cancer, chemotherapy use does not improve quality of life near death (QOD), even for those with good performance status, according to a study published online July 23 in JAMA Oncology.
Expansion of High-Deductible Plans to Impact Physician Care
FRIDAY, July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As a result of the increasing popularity of high-deductible health care plans, patients now have more financial responsibility for medical services, which is impacting physician practices, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
PTSD Symptoms Persist for Thousands of Vietnam Vets
THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than a quarter-million Vietnam veterans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms today, four decades after the war’s end, a new study estimates. And at least one-third of them have major depression as well. The findings were published online July 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Short Sleep Duration Ups Odds of Metabolic Syndrome
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Short sleep duration (less than seven hours) is associated with increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome, according to a meta-analysis published online July 13 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Blood Glucose Meter Accuracy Unclear at Low Glycemic Range
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The accuracy of blood glucose meters (BGMs) in the low glycemic range is questionable, according to an observation letter published online July 15 in Diabetes Care.
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Antibiotic May Reduce Anticoagulant Effect of Warfarin
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The antibiotic dicloxacillin may lessen the effects of vitamin K antagonists, according to research published in the July 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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No Link Found Between Testosterone Therapy and VTE
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Testosterone therapy doesn’t appear to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a study published online July 20 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Care Transitions Increasingly Important for Outpatient Doctors
TUESDAY, July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The divide between outpatient and inpatient medicine seems to be growing, highlighting the importance of managing care transitions as an outpatient-only physician, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Targeted Prophylaxis Effective in Post-Prostate Biopsy Sepsis
TUESDAY, July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy, targeted prophylaxis is similarly effective to empirical prophylaxis for prevention of post-biopsy sepsis, according to a study published in the August issue of The Journal of Urology.
CDC: Aspirin Use Common Among Americans With Heart Disease
TUESDAY, July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About seven in 10 Americans with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or stroke regularly take aspirin, according to a report published in the July 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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USPSTF: More Evidence Needed for Visual Acuity Screening
TUESDAY, July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of screening for impaired visual acuity in older adults. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement based on an evidence review published online July 20 by the USPSTF.
Evidence Review
Draft Recommendation Statement
Comment on Recommendation
Patients Not Talking About Using Alternative Therapies for Pain
MONDAY, July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many Americans with chronic pain who use alternative therapies — such as acupuncture — don’t discuss these treatments with their doctors, new research finds. The study was published online July 20 in the American Journal of Managed Care.
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Extensive Nonadherence to Vaccine Guidelines in Diabetes
MONDAY, July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with diabetes, considered to be at increased risk of infection and infectious complications, there is considerable nonadherence to national guidelines for hepatitis B, influenza, and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines, according to a study published in the July issue of Clinical Diabetes.
Prostate Cancer Interacts With Comorbidity to Increase VTE Rate
MONDAY, July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For men with prostate cancer (PC), the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased with high comorbidity, according to a study published online July 6 in Cancer.
Intervention Can Improve Appropriateness of Telemetry Use
MONDAY, July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A hospitalist-driven intervention to improve appropriate use of telemetry can reduce length of stay and costs, according to a study published online July 7 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
More Radiation Doesn’t Up Survival in Low-Risk Prostate CA
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Higher doses of radiation may improve survival in men with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancers, but it does not do the same for those with low-risk disease, according to a study published online July 16 in JAMA Oncology.
CMS May Adopt Doctors’ Calls for End-of-Life Counseling
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would implement physicians’ calls to pay for end-of-life counseling, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Clinicians May Harbor Biases About Sexual Orientation
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians may be biased when it comes to the sexual orientation of patients, new research suggests. The study was published online July 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treats Tinnitus
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve tinnitus severity, according to a study published online July 16 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
CVD Risk Similar for Metformin + Insulin or Sulfonylureas
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke is similar for treatment with insulin or sulfonylureas in combination with metformin, according to a study published online July 14 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Universal Health Literacy Precautions Recommended
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Universal health literacy precautions should be used to provide understandable information for all patients, according to an article published in the July 15 issue of American Family Physician.
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CDC: ACA May Have Boosted Uptake of Preventive Care
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Americans are up to three times more likely to receive preventive care if they have health insurance, federal officials reported Thursday. And people paying for private insurance received the same preventive care as people on Medicaid or Medicare, according to the findings published in the July 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Many Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Cases Upgraded at Prostatectomy
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many clinically low-risk prostate cancer patients are upgraded at prostatectomy, according to a study published in the August issue of The Journal of Urology.
AMA Suggests Ways to Encourage Use of Patient Portals
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Measures can be taken to encourage patients to use patient portals to help ensure practices meet current Stage 2 meaningful use requirements, according to an article published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Wildfires Can Trigger Acute Coronary Events for Miles Around
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Wildfires create air pollution that fuels the risk for cardiovascular events, especially in older adults, researchers report in the July issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Failed Communication Associated With Readmission
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Failed communication attempts are associated with readmission among Medicare beneficiaries with congestive heart failure, although the correlation is no longer significant after adjustment for other variables, according to a study published online June 26 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Choosing Wisely: How to Implement in Clinical Practice
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Strategies should be adopted to help with implementation of the Choosing Wisely program, which was designed to address the problem of medical overuse, according to an article published in the July/August issue of Family Practice Management.
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Coronary Artery Calcium Score Has Long-Term Prognostic Utility
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A zero coronary artery calcium (CAC) score has long-term prognostic utility, with CAC presence an independent predictor of mortality, according to a study published online July 15 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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New Guidelines Deemed Better for Identifying Statin Candidates
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Updated guidelines for cholesterol management were released in 2013 by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Now, a new report indicates they are more accurate and efficient than earlier guidelines in identifying adults at high risk for cardiovascular events who could benefit from statins. The findings are published in the July 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Considerable Burden for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The annual incidence of community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization is 24.8 cases per 10,000 adults, according to a study published online July 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Leisure Time Sitting Linked to Increased Risk of Specific Cancers
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — High levels of time spent sitting may increase a woman’s odds for cancer, particularly multiple myeloma, breast, and ovarian cancers, according to a study published online June 30 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
High Doses of Antibiotic Ups Risk of Over-Anticoagulation
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among hospitalized patients, high-dose amoxicillin/clavulanate correlates with increased risk of over-anticoagulation when combined with warfarin, according to a study published online July 2 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Climate Change Could Be Affecting Mortality Rates Now
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New research suggests that U.S. climate change, and the unpredictable temperature swings it can bring, may be affecting mortality rates in seniors. The findings appear in a research letter published online July 13 in Nature Climate Change.
Uncontrolled Diabetes Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Diabetes patients with high rates of complications from the disease may face increased risk for dementia, according to a study published online July 9 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Progress in Reporting Conflict of Interest Among IRB Members
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among institutional review board (IRB) members, there has been positive progress in the reporting and management of conflicts of interest, according to a study published online July 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Arts Observation Curriculum May Be Beneficial for Medical Students
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of an arts observation curriculum can help students learn to observe objectively and articulate their observations, which are important traits for clinical practice, according to an article published online July 3 in Academic Medicine.
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Coronary Artery Disease Ups Risk of Bowel Bleeds With NSAIDs
MONDAY, July 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with coronary artery disease are at higher risk of small bowel bleeding (SBB) when taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), according to research published online July 6 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
Structured Exercise Prevents Sleep Issues in Older Adults
MONDAY, July 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Structured physical activity may prevent poor sleep quality in older adults, according to a study published online June 26 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Researchers Say Some People Do Age Faster Than Others
FRIDAY, July 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adults who look older than their years may be aging at an accelerated pace, new research suggests. The findings were published online July 6 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Weekend Discharge Not Linked to Increased Readmission
FRIDAY, July 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and pneumonia, weekend discharge is not associated with 30-day readmission, according to a study published online June 30 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
ECG Metrics May Predict Cardiac Deaths in CKD Patients
FRIDAY, July 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Certain electrocardiographic (ECG) measures may improve prediction of cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research published online July 9 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
FDA Strengthens Heart Attack, Stroke Warning for NSAIDs
FRIDAY, July 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S Food and Drug Administration on Thursday strengthened the warning labels for non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), regarding increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
T2DM Linked to Declines in Cerebral Vasoreactivity, Cognition
THURSDAY, July 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In as little as two years, patients with type 2 diabetes may exhibit diminished global and regional cerebral vasoreactivity, which could negatively affect cognitive skills, a small study suggests. The findings were published online July 8 in Neurology.
Misunderstanding of Term ‘Hypertension’ May Impact Care
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Misunderstanding of the term hypertension may impact antihypertensive medication use and adherence, according to a perspective piece published online July 7 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Correction of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency No Benefit in Seniors
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, vitamin B-12 supplementation is not associated with improvements in neurologic or cognitive function, according to a study published online July 1 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Depression Up Among Men With Borderline Testosterone
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Men with borderline testosterone levels frequently have depression and depressive symptoms, according to a study published online June 30 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Stroke Tied to Accelerated Cognitive Decline Over Long Term
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients who suffer a stroke are more likely to experience an accelerated decline in their global cognition and executive function for at least six years following the acute event, according to a report published in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Surveillance Becoming More Common for Prostate Cancer
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More U.S. physicians are sparing their low-risk prostate cancer patients from prostatectomy, radiation, and androgen deprivation monotherapy in favor of active surveillance/watchful waiting, according to a research letter published in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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PCV13 Predicted to Be Cost Saving Versus PCV7
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV-13) is expected to be cost saving compared with PCV7, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
Very Small Brain Lesions Linked to Risk of Stroke, Death
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Very small subclinical cerebral lesions are associated with increased risks of stroke and death, according to a study published in the July 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Court Upholds Medical Liability Damages Cap
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The non-economic damages cap under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) has been upheld again in a California court of appeal, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
Despite Risk to Patients, Health Providers Often Work While Sick
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many health care professionals work when they are sick, putting their patients at risk for serious illness or even death, according to a study published online July 6 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Lifestyle Factors Can Halve Heart Failure Risk in Elderly
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The fittest seniors are half as likely as others to suffer from heart failure, according to research published in the July 1 issue of JACC: Heart Failure.
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New Evidence Can Help Informed Choice in Incontinence Surgery
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An intervention review indicates that mid-urethral sling (MUS) operations are a highly effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women; however, complication rates and long-term need for repeat surgery are factors for patients to consider when choosing a procedure, according to the authors. The review was published online July 1 in The Cochrane Library.
Adapted Diabetes Prevention Program Deemed Effective
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An adapted Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention significantly improves cardiovascular disease-related risk factors among participants, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Regional Variation in Treatment of Ischemic Stroke
THURSDAY, July 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable regional variation in thrombolysis treatment for ischemic stroke, according to a study published online June 2 in Stroke.
Residents’ Knowledge of High-Value Care Varies
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — U.S. internal medicine (IM) residents report varying knowledge and practice of high-value care (HVC), according to research published online June 16 in Academic Medicine.
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Public Opinion Sought on New Licensure for Assistant Physicians
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New classification of licensure for assistant physicians has been created, and public opinion is being sought by the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts prior to filing these rules with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
In Elderly, Moderate Exercise Ups Cholesterol Transfer to HDL
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Older women who exercise regularly have higher transfers of unesterified cholesterol (UC) and esterified cholesterol (EC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), compared with sedentary women, according to a letter to the editor published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Nocturia, Need for Reassurance Key Drivers for Men Seeking Care
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), reasons for seeking medical care include wanting reassurance about not having prostate cancer and the nuisance of symptoms, according to a study published online June 24 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
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