Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Rheumatology for August 2016. 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 Approves Biosimilar Drug Erelzi for Rheumatoid Arthritis
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A new biological drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
ACA Is Helping More Americans Afford Prescriptions
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Though a growing number of Americans are able to afford prescription medications, millions still have difficulty, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Nighttime Sleep Disturbance Common in Chronic Pain
MONDAY, Aug. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Individuals suffering from chronic pain frequently have nighttime sleep disturbance, and it might be exacerbated by opioid treatment, according to a study published online Aug. 22 in Anaesthesia.
Plain Radiography Can ID Changes in Gouty Tophi Size
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with tophaceous gout, plain radiography can assess response to hypouricemic treatment, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
Ultrasonography Can Guide Drug Modification in Arthritis
THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Ultrasonography can be useful for guiding modification of anti-rheumatic drugs and steroids for patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA), according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
Steep Rise in U.S. Drug Prices Tied to Patent Monopolies
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Prescription drug prices are skyrocketing in the United States due in large part to government regulations, according to a study published in the Aug. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Radiofrequency Neurotomy Efficient in Knee Osteoarthritis
TUESDAY, Aug. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain, radiofrequency (RF) neurotomy of genicular nerves is safe and efficient, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
ACA Has Increased Rx Drug Use, Cut Out-of-Pocket Spending
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased prescription use and reduced out-of-pocket spending, according to a report published online Aug. 17 in Health Affairs.
Legal Issues Impact Delivery of Telehealth
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Telehealth technologies can allow delivery of high-quality care at a lower cost, especially in underserved areas, but there is currently no uniform legal approach to telehealth, hampering its provision, according to a Health Policy Brief published online Aug. 15 in Health Affairs.
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Residents Often Order Perceived Unnecessary Lab Tests
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Residents frequently order perceived unnecessary inpatient laboratory tests, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Abaloparatide Reduces Fracture Risk in Women With Osteoporosis
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, an experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of bone fractures better than teriparatide or a placebo, according to a study published in the Aug. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
U.S. Female Doctors Reimbursed Significantly Less Than Males
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Female doctors in the United States make much less than their male colleagues, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in the Postgraduate Medical Journal.
DASH Diet May Be Beneficial for Gout Patients
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet may offer a non-drug treatment for gout, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Arhalofenate Beats Allopurinol for Gout Flares
MONDAY, Aug. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Arhalofenate (800 mg) is safe and significantly decreases gout flares compared to allopurinol (300 mg), according to a study published online July 27 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Many U.S. Hospitals Offer Language Services
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 68.8 percent of hospitals offer language services, with the proportion increasing with level of need, according to research published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Water-Based Ai Chi Program Beneficial in Fibromyalgia
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A water-based Ai Chi program is associated with improvements in quality of life for women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), according to a study published online July 26 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
Soy Isoflavone May Improve Bone Health Post Menopause
THURSDAY, Aug. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For postmenopausal women, soy isoflavone supplementation is associated with improvement in bone health, according to a study published online July 28 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Opioid-Related Insurance Claims Rise 3,000 Percent
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The number of private health insurance claims for Americans addicted to opioids and heroin rose 3,203 percent from 2007 to 2014, according to a Fair Health report.
Overweight/Obesity Up Incidence of Hand, Hip, Knee Osteoarthritis
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of hand, hip, and knee osteoarthritis (OA) increases with overweight and obesity, particularly in the knee, according to a study published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Biosimilar and Reference TNF-α Inhibitors Comparable
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Biosimilar and reference tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors appear to be appropriately interchangeable, according to a review published online Aug. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Urinary Biomarkers Can Predict Response in Lupus Nephritis
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Low abundance biomarker panels can predict lupus nephritis outcomes, according to research published online July 27 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
European Countries Implementing Cost-Sharing
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — European health systems are requiring an increase in cost-sharing measures for patients 50 years of age and older, according to research published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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