Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for December 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.
Antiepileptic Drug Exposure Low in Breastfeeding Infants
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among infants breastfed by mothers who are receiving drug therapy for epilepsy, antiepileptic drug (AED) concentrations in infant blood samples are substantially lower than those in maternal blood samples, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Neurology.
Nurses Can Help Manage Drug Interactions in HIV/Hep C Treatment
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) pose a clinical challenge in patients with HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection, according to an article published online Dec. 17 in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
MIV-711 No Better Than Placebo for Pain Relief in Knee OA
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A novel cathepsin K inhibitor, MIV-711, is no more effective than placebo for reducing pain in patients with symptomatic, radiographic knee osteoarthritis, according to a study published online Dec. 31 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Few Pharmacies Provide Correct Info on Medication Disposal
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fewer than half of California pharmacies provide correct information about disposal of antibiotics and opioids, and few report take-back programs, according to a research letter published online Dec. 31 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Machine Learning System Makes More Alerts for Med Errors
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A machine learning system can generate clinically valid alerts for medication errors that might be missed with existing clinical decision support (CDS) systems, according to a study published in the January issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
Closures of Automotive Assembly Plants Tied to Opioid OD Deaths
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Automotive assembly plant closures from 1999 to 2016 were associated with increases in opioid overdose mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
CDC: Cases of Flu Continue to Mount Across America
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Flu continues to spread throughout the United States and has reached elevated levels in nearly every state, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Number of Children With Opioid Poisonings Increasing
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The severity of pediatric admissions for acute opioid ingestions, especially following attempted suicide, increased from 2005 to 2018, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Clinical Toxicology.
Marijuana Use for MS Tied to Legal Permissiveness
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis use among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is more likely where cannabis laws are more permissive, according to a study published in the February issue of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
Case Study: Methylmercury Toxicity Found From Skin-Lightening Cream
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In a Notes from the Field report, published in the Dec. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, doctors present the case of a California woman with significant central nervous system damage after using a skin-lightening cream from Mexico that contained toxic mercury.
Protection Similar With Single, Multiple HPV Vaccine Doses
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — U.S. women who have received one dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have similar protection as women who have received two or three doses, according to a research letter published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Network Open.
BMI, Survival Linked in NSCLC Treated With Atezolizumab
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Baseline high body mass index (BMI) is associated with improved survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with atezolizumab, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Oncology.
Prescribing Practices Can Mitigate Opioid Overdose Risk for Teens
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Older teens may have similar risk factors for prescription opioid overdose as adults, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Regular Cannabis Use May Cause Adverse Cardiac Changes
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Regular recreational cannabis use is associated with alterations in cardiac structure and function, according to a letter to the editor published in the December issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Most Children Do Not Have Positive Results to Antibiotic Challenge
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Most children with non-β-lactam antibiotic (NBLA) allergy can be delabeled, with positive results on allergy testing for only 18 percent, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in Pediatrics.
Antioxidant, Supplement Use May Worsen Breast Cancer Outcomes
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Use of antioxidants and other dietary supplements before and during chemotherapy is associated with worse survival outcomes for patients with breast cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Overdose, Relapse After Buprenorphine Discontinuation High
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Buprenorphine treatment may be needed for several years after an opioid overdose to reduce the risk of overdose and other adverse events, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Patient Share of Out-of-Network Costs Rising
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network (OON) care grew rapidly for privately insured Americans from 2012 to 2017, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.
Half of Patients on PPIs for GERD Still Have Persistent Symptoms
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) symptoms are common, and more than half of patients taking daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy continue to experience persistent symptoms, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Gastroenterology.
Obesity May Up Cardiotoxicity Risk From Breast Cancer Therapy
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is associated with an increased risk for cardiotoxicity among patients receiving treatment for breast cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in PLOS Medicine.
12 Million U.S. Residents Drove Under Influence of Marijuana in 2018
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, 12 million U.S. residents reported driving under the influence of marijuana in the previous 12 months, according to research published in the Dec. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Enrollment in Affordable Care Act Holds Steady for Third Straight Year
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage for next year has surpassed 8 million, a sign that many Americans still turn to the government health insurance program to help pay for their medical care.
Vaccination Rates Improved With Removal of Nonmedical Exemptions
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of a policy that eliminated nonmedical exemptions from school entry requirements correlated with an increase in vaccination coverage and a reduction in nonmedical exemptions in California, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in PLOS Medicine.
Number of Teens Vaping Marijuana on the Rise
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The number of adolescents who vape marijuana is increasing, according to two research letters published online Dec. 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Vitamin D Supplementation Offers No Benefit for Critically Ill
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For critically ill, vitamin D-deficient patients, early administration of high-dose enteral vitamin D3, compared with placebo, does not improve 90-day mortality or other outcomes, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tivozanib Bests Sorafenib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, progression-free survival was longer in those receiving tivozanib versus sorafenib as third- or fourth-line therapy, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in The Lancet Oncology.
Aspirin May No Longer Have Effect in Primary CVD Prevention
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Aspirin may not be effective for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality, according to research published online Nov. 21 in Family Practice.
Opioid-Related Suicides Down, Rate of Unintentional Deaths Up
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The rate of opioid-related suicides as well as unintentional deaths significantly increased from 2000 to 2017, according to a research letter published in the Dec. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
FDA Gives First Ebola Vaccine for Adults the Green Light
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The first Ebola vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a single-dose injection called Ervebo. The vaccine from Merck & Co. is approved to protect against the Zaire ebolavirus in people ages 18 years and older.
Gabapentinoids, Opioids Combo Carries Risk for Breathing Problems
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New warnings about the risk for dangerous breathing difficulties when gabapentinoids are used with opioids or by certain patients must now appear on product labels, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.
Anifrolumab Improves Response at 52 Weeks in Lupus
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), anifrolumab is associated with improved response at 52 weeks versus placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Continuing Full Induction Regimen Not Beneficial in Metastatic CRC
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, continuing full cytotoxic chemotherapy until progression offers no benefit over observation, according to research published online Dec. 19 in JAMA Oncology.
Antiretroviral Prescribing in Pregnancy Strays From National Guidelines
THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For pregnant women with HIV, antiretroviral medication (ARV) prescribing practices do not align well with national guidelines, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Network Open.
Misuse of Nonopioid Medications Appears to Be on the Rise in U.S.
THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Misuse/abuse, use in suicide attempts, and hospital admissions associated with gabapentin and baclofen have significantly increased among U.S. adults since 2013, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in Clinical Toxicology.
Addition of Maintenance Olaparib Slows Advanced Ovarian Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Compared with placebo, the addition of olaparib to maintenance therapy with bevacizumab is associated with a significant progression-free survival benefit for patients with advanced ovarian cancer, according to a study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Cannabis Use Up, Especially Among Those With Depression
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis use is increasing rapidly among people with depression, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Addiction.
FDA to Allow States to Import Prescription Drugs From Other Countries
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Federal health officials have unveiled plans to allow prescription drug imports from Canada and other foreign nations.
Fenfluramine Reduces Convulsive Seizures in Dravet Syndrome
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with Dravet syndrome, the reduction in frequency of convulsive seizures is greater with fenfluramine than with placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in The Lancet.
Possible Measles Exposures Occurred at LA International Airport
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People who were at Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 11 may have been exposed to the measles virus, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned Monday.
CNN Article
SAE Rate Higher With Nilotinib Versus Placebo in Parkinson Disease
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with moderately severe Parkinson disease, exploratory biomarkers are altered in response to nilotinib, but the rate of serious adverse events (SAEs) is significantly higher in those receiving nilotinib versus placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in JAMA Neurology.
One in 10 Hospital Patients May Carry C. Diff at Admission
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Nearly one in 10 patients admitted to a hospital with no symptoms of diarrhea may be a carrier of Clostridioides difficile, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Benzodiazepines With Opioid Agonist Tx May Up Mortality Risk
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Coprescription of benzodiazepines and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is associated with an increased risk for drug-related poisoning (DRP) mortality in opioid-dependent individuals, according to a study published online Nov. 26 in PLOS Medicine.
Rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Remain High in U.S.
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The rate of in-hospital births with neonatal abstinence syndrome was 6.7 per 1,000 births in 2016, according to a research letter published online Dec. 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Many Lung Cancer Patients Receive Meds That Prolong QTc Interval
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of patients with lung cancer are prescribed medications that prolong the corrected QT (QTc) interval, limiting their eligibility for clinical trials, according to a study published online Nov. 23 in Clinical Lung Cancer.
Hahn Confirmed as New FDA Chief
FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Stephen Hahn, M.D., was confirmed as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a 72-18 Senate vote on Thursday.
The New York Times Article
Factors Predict Adverse Opioid-Related Outcomes in Cancer Survivors
FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among cancer survivors, demographic, cancer, and treatment factors can predict adverse opioid-related outcomes, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Evidence Supports Use of High-Dose Aspirin for Migraine
FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Evidence supports the use of high-dose aspirin for treating acute migraine and low-dose aspirin for prevention of recurrent attacks, according to a review recently published in the American Journal of Medicine.
Antibiotic Exposure May Be Tied to Risk for Parkinson Disease
FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to certain types of oral antibiotics may be associated with an elevated risk for Parkinson disease (PD), according to a study published online Nov. 18 in Movement Disorders.
Cost Saving-Related Rx Nonadherence Found for 7 Percent With HIV
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Seven percent of persons with HIV infection report cost saving-related nonadherence to prescription medication, according to research published in the Dec. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Facebook Asked to Remove ‘Factually Inaccurate’ Ads About PrEP
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Facebook should remove “factually inaccurate” ads that “suggest negative health effects” of the HIV-prevention medication Truvada, more than 50 LGBTQ, HIV, and public health groups say in an open letter to the company.
NBC News Article
Potentially Nephrotoxic Meds Prescribed to Children With CKD
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Potentially nephrotoxic medications are prescribed at a higher rate to children with versus without chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Antibiotics Often Prescribed Without Documented Indication
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of antibiotics are prescribed without a documented indication, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in The BMJ.
Few Child Care Centers Report Flu Vaccine Requirements
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Few child care center directors report having an influenza vaccine requirement for children and adult caregivers, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
Survival Worse for Nonwhite Children With Hodgkin Lymphoma
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among children with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) enrolled in phase III trials, nonwhite patients have an increased risk for death, according to a study published in the Nov. 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Access to High-Cost Targeted Treatments Varies for Lung Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Not all patients have access to new, high-cost lung cancer drugs, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Single Antidepressant Dose of Intravenous Ketamine Safe
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A single, low-dose ketamine infusion is relatively free of side effects for patients with treatment-resistant depression, according to research recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
One in Three Parents Report Skipping Doctor, Dentist Appointment
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One in three parents have skipped a doctor or dentist appointment in the past year because they could not afford to pay for visits or find transportation, according to the results of a survey released Nov. 18 by Nemours Children’s Health System.
Redefining Health for the Well-Being of Children
Use of Pain, Sleep Drugs Ups Risk for Frailty in the Elderly
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Prescription pain and sleep drug use is significantly associated with an increased incidence of frailty, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
State Legislators React to Preventable Disease Outbreaks
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Increases in vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) outbreaks are associated with an increase in proposed state legislation that would restrict vaccine exemptions, according to a research letter recently published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Factors Examined for Time to First Rx for Biologic DMARD in RA
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For older patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is considerable variation in time to receipt of first biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) after prescription of the first conventional synthetic (cs) DMARD, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in JAMA Network Open.
Fewer Blacks Use Aspirin Therapy for Primary Prevention of CVD
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Low-dose aspirin is used less consistently by blacks than whites for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and its impact on ischemic cardiac disease varies by race, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
U.S. Primary Care Doctors Face Challenges in Coordinating Care
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians from the United States and other high-income countries report difficulties with care coordination, with a substantial proportion of U.S. physicians not receiving timely notification or the information needed from specialists or other sites of care, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in Health Affairs.
Few MMR-Vaccine Eligible Children Receive Vaccine Before Travel
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Less than half of pediatric travelers who are eligible for pretravel measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination are vaccinated during pretravel consultation, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Low-Dose Aspirin May Cut Dementia Risk in Women With Diabetes
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Long-term use of low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk for dementia in women with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Diabetes Care.
Many With Diabetes Engage in Underground Exchange of Medications, Supplies
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients with diabetes frequently engage in underground exchange activities for medications and supplies, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.
U.S. Health Care Spending Up 4.6 Percent in 2018
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, U.S. health care spending increased 4.6 percent, a faster rate than that seen in 2017, according to a report published online Dec. 5 in Health Affairs.
Extending HPV Vaccination to Age 45 Provides Small Additional Benefit
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Extending the current human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program to age 45 years is expected to produce small additional reductions in HPV-associated diseases with high additional costs, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Half of U.S. Physicians Recommend Complementary Health Approaches
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than half of office-based physicians recommend complementary health approaches (CHAs) to their patients, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Receipt of Anticoagulant Rx in ED Linked to Use at Six Months
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients aged 65 years or older with atrial fibrillation, receipt of a prescription for an oral anticoagulant in the emergency department is associated with increased use of oral anticoagulants at six months, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Effects of Omega-3 Fish Oil Mixed for ADHD Symptoms in Youth
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The effect of omega-3 fish oil supplements on cognitive symptoms in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may vary according to endogenous levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), according to a study published online Nov. 20 in Translational Psychiatry.
FDA Testing Levels of Carcinogen in Diabetes Drug Metformin
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Levels of possible cancer-causing chemicals in metformin diabetes medications are under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Retail Prescription Drug Prices Fall for First Time in 45 Years
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Retail prescription drug prices in the United States fell by 1 percent last year, a new government report shows.
AP News Article
Pharmacist-Led Interventions Cut Cardiovascular Risk Factors
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacist-led interventions in general practice can significantly reduce medical risk factors associated with cardiovascular events, according to a review published online Nov. 27 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Daily Cannabis Use Tied to Lower Illicit Opioid Use for Chronic Pain
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with chronic pain who use daily cannabis have lower odds of using illicit opioids, according to a Canadian study published online Nov. 19 in PLOS Medicine.
Annual Reported Measles Incidence Dropped From 2000 to 2018
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The annual reported measles incidence decreased from 2000 to 2018, but the number of cases increased from 2016 to 2018, according to research published in the Dec. 6 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Early-Onset CVD Rate Up for Children of Moms With Diabetes
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Children of mothers with diabetes have increased rates of early-onset cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Dec. 4 in The BMJ.
First-Line Osimertinib May Up Survival in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an EGFR mutation, overall survival is longer for treatment with osimertinib rather than comparator tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR-TKIs), according to a study published online Nov. 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
6.5 Percent of Adults Report Prescription Opioid Analgesic Use
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 6.5 percent of adults aged 20 years and older reported using a prescription opioid analgesic in the previous 30 days during 2013 to 2016, according to a report published in the December Health E-Stats, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
New HIV Infections Remained Stable in U.S. From 2013 to 2017
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2017, the number of new HIV infections remained stable, and only 18.1 percent of the 1.2 million people with indications for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) had been prescribed the medication in 2018, according to research published in the Dec. 3 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Ubrogepant Relieves Pain, Symptoms of Acute Migraine
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The percentage of patients with migraine reporting freedom from pain is higher for those receiving ubrogepant than those receiving placebo, according to a study published in the Dec. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Aspirin Use May Reduce Cancer, All-Cause Mortality in Seniors
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Aspirin use three or more times per week is associated with reductions in all-cause, any cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality among older adults, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Network Open.
Services Affected by Rural Hospitals Joining Health Systems
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — While affiliating with health systems may boost a rural hospital’s financial viability, the affiliation is often associated with reductions in critical services, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
Postpartum Opioid Prescription Rates Vary Widely by Hospital
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Postpartum opioid prescription rates vary widely among hospitals, according to a study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
Adults Not Living in Metro Areas Have Reduced Access to Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Adults not living in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are more likely to have reduced access to or use of health care services, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Physician Depressive Symptoms Tied to Higher Risk for Medical Errors
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians showing depressive symptoms are at higher risk for medical errors, according to a review published Nov. 27 in JAMA Network Open.
New Federal Program Provides Free HIV Prevention Drugs to Uninsured
TUESDAY, Dec. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new program to provide free HIV prevention drugs to people who cannot afford them because they do not have health insurance was announced Tuesday by the U.S. government.
AP News Article
Palmoplantar Pustulosis Confirmed as Orphan Disease
TUESDAY, Dec. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Co-occurring psoriasis is common among patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), according to a study published in the November issue of the British Journal of Dermatology.
Obesity Mediates Response to Antiarrhythmic Drugs in A-Fib
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Obesity may cause a differential response to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) used to suppress atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online Nov. 27 in JAMA Cardiology.
Current Statin Use May Lower Risk for Lethal Prostate Cancer
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Current statin use is inversely associated with the risk for lethal prostate cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in Clinical Cancer Research.
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