Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Rheumatology for February 2019. 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.
FDA: Pulmonary Embolism Risk Up With Tofacitinib 10 mg for RA
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A safety clinical trial has revealed that tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) 10 mg twice daily is associated with an increased risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) and death among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in a safety alert this week.
Sustained Smoking Cessation May Delay, Prevent Seropositive RA
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — While smoking is a strong risk factor for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sustained smoking cessation could delay or even prevent disease development, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Ultrasound of Calcaneus Efficient for Screening Bone Health
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Ultrasonography (US) of the calcaneus is efficient for screening bone health, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
2014 to 2017 Saw Improvement in Burnout for U.S. Physicians
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2017, there was an improvement in burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration among U.S. physicians, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
FDA: Gout Drug Uloric Increases Risk of Death
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The gout medicine Uloric (febuxostat) carries a higher risk of death than allopurinol, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
National Health Spending Set to Increase 5.5 Percent Annually
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — National health spending is projected to increase at an annual rate of 5.5. percent from 2018 to 2027, with fundamental economic and demographic factors the main drivers, according to a report published online Feb. 20 in Health Affairs.
Most Patients Do Not Disclose Complementary Medicine Use
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Just one-third of users of biologically based complementary medicine (CM) disclose their use to traditional health care providers, according to a review published online Feb. 7 in Scientific Reports.
Guideline Covers Extracutaneous Manifestations of Psoriasis
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The extracutaneous manifestations of psoriasis and guidance on use of biologic treatment for management of psoriasis are discussed in two new guidelines published online Feb. 13 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Abstract/Full Text – Elmets
Abstract/Full Text – Menter
Vertical Integration Has Little Impact on Quality Measures
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Vertical integration between hospitals and physicians has little impact on quality measures, while increased hospital market concentration is strongly associated with reduced quality in measures of patient satisfaction, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Medical Care Research and Review.
New Kaiser Permanente Medical School Plans to Waive Tuition
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new medical school to be opened by California-based health system Kaiser Permanente will waive tuition for all students in its first five graduating classes.
Altered Gut Microbiome Seen in Patients With Active Lupus
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The microbiome of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly those with increased disease activity, has reduced taxonomic complexity, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Hospital Prices Growing Faster Than Physician Prices
FRIDAY, Feb. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Growth in hospital prices and payments outpaced growth in physician prices and payments from 2007 through 2014, according to a report published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
Fewer Older Men Assessed, Treated for Osteoporosis
FRIDAY, Feb. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fewer older men than women undergo evaluation for or management of osteoporosis, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in the Journal of Investigative Medicine.
Hip Preservation Appropriateness Guidelines May Be Limited
THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) hip preservation surgery appropriateness classification system is driven almost entirely by age and radiographic hip osteoarthritis (OA) evaluation, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Physical Activity Down Across Chronic Disease Subgroups
THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People with a wide variety of chronic diseases are less physically active than individuals without chronic diseases, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Yoga May Help With Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms, Severity
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Yoga may be effective as a complementary or adjunct therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), according to a study published online Feb. 1 in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.
Health Care Spending Per Person Increased to $5,641 in 2017
TUESDAY, Feb. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2017, health care spending per person reached $5,641, according to the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report.
Health Care Cost and Utilization Report
Many Systematic Reviews Do Not Fully Report Adverse Events
TUESDAY, Feb. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many systematic review protocols in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) do not include adverse event reporting, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
Low Fitness, Obesity Linked to Later Disability Pension
MONDAY, Feb. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among men, low cardiorespiratory fitness and obesity in adolescence are associated with an increased risk for later receipt of a disability pension, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Johnson & Johnson to Provide Drug Prices in TV Ads
FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In a drug industry first, Johnson & Johnson will start giving the list prices of its prescription drugs in television ads.
AP News Article
Discord Found in Clinician-, Criteria-Based Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
THURSDAY, Feb. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is disagreement between clinical diagnosis and criteria-based diagnosis of fibromyalgia, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in Arthritis Care & Research.
MRI-Guided Tx Strategy Not Superior for Rheumatoid Arthritis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided treat-to-target strategy is not associated with improved disease activity remission rates for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission, according to a study published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Compounded Topical Pain Creams No Better Than Placebo
TUESDAY, Feb. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Compounded topical pain creams are no better than placebo creams for neuropathic pain, nociceptive pain, or mixed pain, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Long-Term Opioid Use With OA Varies Across States
TUESDAY, Feb. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is substantial variation across states in rates of long-term opioid therapy among patients with advanced osteoarthritis, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Tofacitinib Benefits Sustained for Two Years in Patients With RA
MONDAY, Feb. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The clinical benefits of tofacitinib in combination with methotrexate are sustained over two years among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Discontinuing TNFi Before Gestational Week 20 Is Feasible
FRIDAY, Feb. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Discontinuing tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) before gestational week 20 in women with well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is not associated with disease worsening in late pregnancy, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Pharmacist-Led Phone Follow-Up May Cut Readmission Rates
FRIDAY, Feb. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A pharmacist-led, postdischarge structured telephone follow-up (TFU) intervention can reduce 30-day and 90-day readmission rates for polypharmacy patients, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Longitudinal TNF Levels Mainly Stable With Adalimumab in RA
FRIDAY, Feb. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), longitudinal tumor necrosis factor (TNF) concentrations are mainly stable during adalimumab treatment, although early low TNF is strongly linked to nonresponse to treatment, according to a study published in the Jan. 30 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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