Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pain Management for January 2020. 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.
Opioid Prescribing Rates Down at State Level From 2010 to 2016
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data from individual states show a decline in opioid prescribing rates in 11 participating states from 2010 to 2016, according to research published in the Jan. 31 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
2017 to 2018 Saw Increase in Life Expectancy in the United States
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2017 to 2018, there was an increase in life expectancy in the United States and a decrease in age-adjusted death rates, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
U.S. Spends More on Health Care, but Has Worse Life Expectancy
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The United States spends substantially more than any other wealthy nation on health care, yet it has a lower life expectancy and a higher suicide rate than other wealthy nations, according to a January data brief released by the Commonwealth Fund.
Just a Few Providers Account for Large Number of Opioid Scripts
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A small proportion of providers account for almost half of all opioid doses and about one-quarter of opioid prescriptions, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in The BMJ.
Many Patients Receive Guideline-Nonconcordant Care for Low Back Pain
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many patients who develop new low back pain (LBP) receive advanced imaging and opioids without having been prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or physical therapy (PT), according to a study published in the February issue of Medical Care.
Gender Gap Persists in Starting Salary for Physicians
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The gender gap in starting salary for physicians persists, although it is unclear which factors account for this gap, according to a report published online Jan. 22 in Health Affairs.
Naloxone Prescribing Increasing but Still Very Low
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Naloxone prescribing has increased but is still very low among patients at risk for opioid overdose, according to a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Virtual Physical Therapy Feasible Following Knee Replacement
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Virtual physical therapy (PT) with telerehabilitation for skilled clinical oversight significantly lowers three-month health care costs after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) while providing similar effectiveness to traditional PT, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Wealthy Pay Most to Finance U.S. Health Care
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Health care payments in the United States are more regressive than previously thought, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Health Services Research.
Major Insurers Offer $55 Million to Lower Generic Drug Costs
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A nonprofit that develops and sells cheaper drugs will receive a $55 million investment from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and associated organizations to create cheaper versions of expensive generic drugs.
The New York Times Article
Fewer Than Half of Clinical Trials Comply With Reporting Laws
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 is low, with only 40.9 percent of trials reporting results within one year, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in The Lancet.
Production of Two Excedrin Painkillers Halted
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Production and distribution of Excedrin Extra Strength and Excedrin Migraine products have been temporarily stopped, maker GlaxoSmithKline said Tuesday.
CNN Article
Fast-Track Review of ACA Lawsuit Rejected by U.S. Supreme Court
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A fast-track review of a lawsuit that threatens the Affordable Care Act was rejected Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court.
AP News Article
Full Impact of Drug Use on U.S. Mortality Not Captured by Data
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The impact of drug use in the United States is likely to be higher than estimated, with drug-associated mortality higher than drug-coded deaths alone, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in PLOS ONE.
ACP: Medicare for All Needed to Fix ‘Ill’ U.S. Health Care System
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) says the U.S. health care system “is ill and needs a bold new prescription” that includes coverage for all Americans and lower costs.
AP News Article
American College of Physicians
Medical Cannabis May Initially Aid Sleep in Chronic Pain Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic pain, medical cannabis (MC) use has a positive effect on maintaining sleep; however, cannabinoids do not appear to reduce cancer pain, according to a study and review published online Jan. 20 in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.
Abstract/Full Text – Sznitman
Abstract/Full Text – Boland
Cognitive Behavioral Program Benefits Patients With Diabetes
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A peer-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based intervention may improve quality of life (QOL) among patients with diabetes and chronic pain, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Single-Payer System Would Likely Save Money
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is near consensus across 30 years of economic analysis of single-payer plans that a single-payer system would reduce health expenditures in the United States, according to a review published online Jan. 15 in PLOS Medicine.
ACA Tied to Narrowing of Disparities in Access to Care
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act has reduced disparities in access to health care among black, Hispanic, and white adults, according to a January data brief released by the Commonwealth Fund.
Ageism Predicts Significantly Worse Health Outcomes
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ageism predicts significantly worse health outcomes, according to a review published online Jan. 15 in PLOS ONE.
Evolution of Approval, Regulation Processes for Drugs Explored
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. approval and regulation processes for pharmaceutical agents have evolved during the last four decades, according to a study published in the Jan. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Doctor Replacement Ratios Higher in Largest, Hospital-Owned Practices
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2009 to 2016, more physicians entering the Medicare program worked at large group or hospital-owned practices than small group or independent practices, according to a research letter published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Physicians Spend >16 Minutes Per Encounter on EHR Use
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physicians spend a considerable amount of time using electronic health records (EHRs) to support care delivery, with wide variation seen in the distribution of time within specialty, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Burnout in Med Students Tied to Perceived Stress, Phone Behavior
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher levels of perceived stress, poorer sleep quality, and smartphone addiction contribute to burnout in osteopathic medical students, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Total Opioid Overdose Deaths Down With Medicaid Expansion
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid expansion is associated with a reduction in total opioid overdose deaths and with increases in methadone-related mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in JAMA Network Open.
California May Start Producing Its Own Medicines
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A proposal for California to contract generic drug companies to make medications would make the state the first in the country to produce its own medications.
AP News Article
Treatment Guidelines Updated for Hand, Hip, Knee Osteoarthritis
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In the 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline, published online Jan. 6 in Arthritis Care & Research, updated recommendations are presented for the management of hand, hip, and knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Neighborhood Disadvantage Impacts Hospital Quality Ratings
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitals caring for neighborhoods with high levels of disadvantage may have lower hospital ratings due to social risk factors (SRFs) in the community, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Medical Care.
Recruitment Satisfactory for Foreign-Educated Health Providers
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Foreign-educated health professionals (FEHPs) in the United States are overall satisfied with their recruitment experience, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing.
Four Weeks of Active TENS Beneficial for Fibromyalgia
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Four weeks of active transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) results in significant improvement in movement-evoked pain and other clinical outcomes compared with placebo-TENS or no TENS, according to a study recently published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Large Gap Found in Health Administrative Spending for U.S., Canada
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is a large and widening gap in health administrative spending between the United States and Canada, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
2014 to 2016 Saw Decline in U.S. Adults Prescribed Opioids
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2016, there was a decrease in the proportion of U.S. adults who were prescribed opioids, with a larger decrease seen for those who reported moderate or more severe pain versus less-than-moderate pain, according to a report published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
Poll: Older Adults Frequently Use Online Physician Ratings
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adults commonly use online ratings to choose a doctor, according to a report published online Jan. 6 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
National Poll on Healthy Aging
Patient Experiences Modestly Worse After Hospital Acquisition
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Modestly worse patient experiences are seen following hospital acquisition by another hospital, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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