Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for July 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.
Telemedicine Use Explodes During COVID-19 Pandemic
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The emergence of telemedicine has accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. HD Live! sat down with Rujuta Saksena, M.D., an oncologist at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey, and Ateev Mehrotra, M.D., associate professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School in Boston, to discuss the future of telemedicine and its impact on health care.
Sex Differences in Income Vary With Proportion of Male Doctors
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For surgical and nonsurgical specialists, sex differences in income vary with the proportion of male physicians in a practice, according to a study published online July 30 in The BMJ.
Second BMD Measurement Not Beneficial for Identifying Hip Fracture
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A second bone mineral density (BMD) assessment about three years after initial measurement does not improve discrimination beyond baseline BMD value alone for women who do and do not experience subsequent hip fracture or major osteoporotic fracture, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Dual Sensory Impairment Ups Dementia Risk
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adults with both hearing and visual impairments — dual sensory impairment (DSI) — are at a significantly increased risk for dementia, according to a study published online July 7 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
Poor Dental Health May Increase Risk for Incident Dementia, MCI
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with severe periodontal disease or edentulism have an increased risk for incident dementia, according to a study published online July 29 in Neurology.
Cancer-Related Encounters Down Since Start of COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There has been a decrease in cancer-related encounters and in cancer screening since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online July 27 in JCO: Clinical Cancer Informatics.
SGLT-2 Inhibitors May Raise Risk for Diabetic Ketoacidosis
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In patients with type 2 diabetes, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are associated with an increased risk for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), according to a study published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Injury Patterns Differ for Elder Abuse Versus Unintentional Falls
TUESDAY, July 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Specific, clinically identifiable differences in injury patterns may exist for those presenting to the emergency department with unintentional injuries versus victims of physical elder abuse, according to a study recently published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Incidence of Hip Fracture Decreased From 1970 to 2010
TUESDAY, July 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of hip fracture decreased from 1970 to 2010, with reductions in smoking and heavy drinking coincident with this decrease, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Myocardial Injury Seen in Many Early in Recovery From COVID-19
TUESDAY, July 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many patients recently recovered from COVID-19 infection have cardiac involvement, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Cardiology.
Vertebral Fractures Up With Long-Term Delay of Denosumab
TUESDAY, July 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compared with on-time dosing, delay of denosumab by more than 16 weeks is associated with an increased risk for vertebral fractures, according to a study published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Postmarketing Surveillance Helps Identify Vaccine Safety Issues
TUESDAY, July 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A review of all safety-related labeling changes for FDA-approved vaccines during a 20-year period shows vaccines are largely safe, and many of the safety issues are identified through postmarketing surveillance, according to a study published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Risk Factors Provide Targets for Preventing Alzheimer Disease
MONDAY, July 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ten risk factors should be targeted to prevent Alzheimer disease, according to a review published online July 20 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Worse Multisensory Function May Accelerate Cognitive Aging
FRIDAY, July 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Worsening multisensory function is associated with accelerated cognitive aging, according to a study published online July 12 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
CDC Guidance Issued for Testing, Management of HCP Exposed to Hep C
FRIDAY, July 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance report, published in the July 24 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, recommendations are presented for testing and clinical management of health care personnel (HCP) exposed to the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Financial Health of Hospitals ‘Dire’ Due to COVID-19
THURSDAY, July 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 continues to cause financial peril for U.S. hospitals, according to a report released by the American Hospital Association (AHA).
Most Individuals in U.S. Have Not Been Infected With SARS-CoV-2
THURSDAY, July 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During March to early May 2020, most individuals in the United States had not been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), although the estimated number of infections seems to have been much higher than the number of reported cases, according to a study published online July 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Few Dementia Caregivers Receive Firearm Safety Counseling
THURSDAY, July 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Few caregivers of adults with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) receive professional counseling about firearm safety, according to a study published online July 15 in JAMA Network Open.
Too Much, Too Little Sleep May Up Mortality in Patients With T2DM
THURSDAY, July 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In people with type 2 diabetes, sleeping more or less than seven hours/day is associated with an increased risk for all-cause and condition-specific mortality, according to a study published online July 16 in Diabetologia.
Predictors of Amyloid-β Deposits Identified in Oldest Old
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Predictors of amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition have been identified in the oldest old, according to a study published online July 22 in Neurology.
Experiencing Racism May Worsen Subjective Cognitive Function
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experiences of racism are associated with lower subjective cognitive function (SCF) among African-American women, according to a study published online July 21 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
CDC: Former Smokers Have Higher Levels of Fair, Poor Health
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Smoking cessation is beneficial, but even after cessation, former smokers have worse health measures, according to a study published online July 22 in National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rise in Avoidable Cancer Deaths Expected Due to COVID-19
TUESDAY, July 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An increase in the number of avoidable cancer deaths is expected in England as a result of diagnostic delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online July 20 in The Lancet Oncology.
U.K. Study Looks at Stepping Down Meds in Stable Asthma
TUESDAY, July 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Asthma patients are increasingly prescribed higher levels of treatment, and few patients step down medications, according to a study published online July 21 in PLOS Medicine.
More Online Advance Directives Completed During COVID-19
TUESDAY, July 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There has been an increase in completion of advance directives (ADs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research letter published online July 20 in JAMA Network Open.
Reduced-Dose Prasugrel Efficacious for Acute Coronary Syndrome
MONDAY, July 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For elderly or low-weight patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a reduced dose of prasugrel is efficacious compared with ticagrelor, according to a study published online July 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Demographic, Clinical, Hospital Factors Tied to COVID-19 Death
MONDAY, July 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), demographic, clinical, and hospital-level risk factors are associated with death, according to a study published online July 15 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Guidance Issued for Elective Orthopedic Surgery During COVID-19
MONDAY, July 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In new guidelines from the International Consensus Group, published in the July 15 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, recommendations are presented for the reintroduction of elective orthopedic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poll: Most Older Adults Routinely Experience Ageism
MONDAY, July 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The majority of older U.S. adults commonly experience ageism in their daily lives, according to a report published online July 13 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Family Medicine Resident Graduates Remain in the Field
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Family medicine (FM) residency graduates continue to practice in the field after residency, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Social Determinants of Health Linked to Incident Stroke Risk
FRIDAY, July 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For adults younger than 75 years, increases in the number of social determinants of health (SDOH) are associated with an increased risk for incident stroke, according to a study published online July 16 in Stroke.
Exposure to Wildfire Smoke Ups Deaths of Hemodialysis Patients
FRIDAY, July 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients receiving in-center hemodialysis, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire is associated with all-cause mortality, according to a study published online July 16 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Lopinavir/Ritonavir COVID-19 Treatment Linked to Bradycardia
FRIDAY, July 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV) treatment of COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk for bradycardia, according to a study published online July 9 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
Higher SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load Tied to Shorter Symptom Duration
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Viral load (VL) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is lower in hospitalized patients, and higher VL is associated with a shorter duration of symptoms and hospital stay, according to a study published online July 2 in The American Journal of Pathology.
Physical Distancing Interventions Cut Incidence of COVID-19
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physical distancing interventions are associated with a reduced incidence of COVID-19 globally, according to a study published online July 15 in The BMJ.
n3-PUFAs May Protect the Brain From Effects of Air Pollution
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs) attenuate the inverse association between fine particular matter (PM2.5) exposure and white matter volumes, according to a study published online July 15 in Neurology.
Delirium Episode Tied to Long-Term Cognitive Decline
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An episode of delirium is significantly associated with long-term cognitive decline in both surgical and nonsurgical patients, according to a meta-analysis published online July 13 in JAMA Neurology.
Medication Use Linked to Weight Gain in Postmenopausal Women
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For postmenopausal women, antidepressants, beta-blockers, and insulin are associated with weight gain over three years, according to a study published online July 15 in Menopause.
Global Population Anticipated to Peak in 2064
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The global population is anticipated to peak in 2064 and then decline to year 2100, according to a study published online July 14 in The Lancet.
Layoffs Cost 5.4 Million Americans Their Health Insurance
TUESDAY, July 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — About 5.4 million Americans lost their health insurance after being laid off between February and May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows.
The New York Times Article
Hyperglycemia Linked to Higher Mortality in COVID-19 Patients
TUESDAY, July 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For COVID-19 patients without a previous diagnosis of diabetes, fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥7.0 mmol/L is an independent predictor of 28-day mortality, according to a study published online July 10 in Diabetologia.
Commercially Viable Mobile Lung Screening Program Feasible
TUESDAY, July 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Developing a commercially viable and financially sound mobile program for lung screening is feasible, according to a study published online July 14 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Surgery in Older Adults Does Not Up Risk for Alzheimer Disease
TUESDAY, July, 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adults who have surgery with general anesthesia may experience a modest cortical thinning in the brain, but it does not appear to be tied to Alzheimer disease, according to a study recently published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.
Predicted Albumin-Creatinine Ratio Useful for CKD Screening
MONDAY, July 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Predicted albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) calculated from urine protein-creatinine ratio (PCR) or urine dipstick protein may be useful for chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening, staging, and prognosis, according to research published online July 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
More Than One in Four Seniors Reported Falling in Past Year
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, 27.5 percent of older adults reported falling at least once in the previous year, with 10.2 percent reporting an injury from a fall, according to research published in the July 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
COVID-19 Pandemic Exacerbates Mental Health Issues
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Just as the physical symptoms of COVID-19 vary among the population, mental health is enduring a variety of effects from the virus as well, according to Don Mordecai, M.D., national mental health and wellness lead at Kaiser Permanente, who recently spoke with HD Live! about the effects of the pandemic on mental health.
Electronic Health Records Fail to Detect Many Medication Errors
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is wide variation in the safety performance of electronic health record (EHR) systems used in U.S. hospitals, according to a study recently published in JAMA Network Open.
2008 to 2018 Saw Increase in Shingles Vaccination in Over 60s
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2008 to 2018, there was an increase in shingles vaccination among adults aged 60 years and older, with demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic variations in vaccination rates, according to a July data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Higher Vitamin C, Carotenoid Intake May Lower Risk for T2DM
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher intakes of vitamin C and carotenoids, as well as total whole grains, are associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, according to two studies published online July 8 in The BMJ.
Abstract/Full Text – Zheng
Abstract/Full Text – Hu
Multifactor Program Does Not Cut Serious Fall Injuries in Elderly
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A nurse-administered multifactorial intervention does not result in a significantly lower rate of first adjudicated serious fall injury among older adults at increased risk for fall injuries, according to a study published in the July 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Statin Use May Cut All-Cause, CVD Mortality in Those 75 and Older
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In U.S. veterans aged 75 years and older, statin use is associated with reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, according to a study published in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Rising Number of People Report Anxiety, Depression During COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — New evidence shows that depression and anxiety are increasing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey released by Mental Health America (MHA).
Interruption of Sitting May Cut Acute Postprandial Response
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — When individuals interrupt prolonged sitting with bouts of light physical activity, postprandial insulin and glucose levels are reduced, according to a study published in the June issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Social Distancing Effective for Mitigating COVID-19 Spread
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Social distancing is one of the main measures to combat COVID-19 spread, according to a study published online July 1 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Genetic Variant Identified for Adult-Onset Hearing Loss
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An inherited form of adult-onset hearing loss is relatively common, according to a study published online July 6 in the Journal of Medical Genetics.
USPSTF Advises Annual Low-Dose CT Lung Screening for High-Risk Individuals
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for people aged 50 to 80 years at high lung cancer risk due to smoking history. These recommendations form the basis of a draft recommendation statement, published online July 7 by the USPSTF.
Draft Evidence Review
Draft Recommendation Statement
Comment on Recommendation Statement
Decline in REM Sleep Linked to Increased Mortality
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A reduction in the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is associated with increased mortality in middle-aged and older adults, according to a study published online July 6 in JAMA Neurology.
Some Say Allow Family Access to Dying Patients With COVID-19
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Allowing adult family member presence at the bedside of dying patients during COVID-19 is feasible, and could have multiple benefits, according to an editorial published online June 8 in Intensive Care Medicine.
Point-Prevalence Surveys in SNFs Help Cut COVID-19 Transmission
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Conducting point-prevalence surveys in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) can inform cohorting and infection prevention and control (IPC) activities to reduce transmission, according to research published in the July 1 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
HDHPs Up Disparities in Access to Care Among Cancer Survivors
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For cancer survivors, high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) are associated with cost-related barriers to care, and these barriers are greater for black cancer survivors, according to a study published online June 24 in JAMA Network Open.
Low Physical Function May Up Bone Loss After Hip Fracture
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older patients with low physical function and lower lean body mass (LBM) may be at risk for greater decline in tibia bone properties during the first year after hip fracture, according to a study published online June 9 in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
Roughly 2 Million Americans Buy Prescriptions From Outside the Country
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 1.5 percent of American adults purchase prescription medication from outside of the United States to save money, according to a study published online June 24 in JAMA Network Open.
COVID-19-Related Death Count Likely Higher Than Official Tallies
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Official COVID-19 death tallies underestimate the full increase in deaths associated with the pandemic in many states, according to a study published online July 1 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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