Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for March 2018. 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.
Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration Linked to High HDL
FRIDAY, March 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a higher risk for early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in individuals with high plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, according to a study published online March 29 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Nurse Education Improves Post-Op Survival in Dementia Patients
THURSDAY, March 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Having more nurses in the hospital with at least a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) is tied to lower post-surgical mortality among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), according to a study published online March 20 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Novel Interstitium Has Been Identified in Human Tissues
THURSDAY, March 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A previously unrecognized interstitium has been identified in human tissues, according to a study published online March 27 in Scientific Reports.
Physical, Executive Function Most Affected After Ischemic Stroke
WEDNESDAY, March 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The most affected health domains after ischemic stroke are physical function, executive function, and satisfaction with social roles, according to a study published online March 28 in Neurology.
‘Nontrivial’ Number of Seniors Lack a Personal Physician
WEDNESDAY, March 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medicare beneficiaries without a personal physician report substantially worse patient experiences and less routine care, according to a study published online Feb. 16 in Medical Care.
EHR Usability Contributes to Possible Patient Harm Events
TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Electronic health record (EHR) usability may contribute to possible patient harm events, according to a research letter published in the March 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Concern for Employer, Insurance Discrimination for Alzheimer’s Patients
TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — U.S. adults express concerns about discrimination by employers and insurance for patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia, according to a study published online March 27 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
Hepatitis C Screening Increasing Among Baby Boomers
TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1965, the odds of hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening increase over time, although the rates of screening are low, according to a study published online March 27 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Ethical Duties ID’d for Short-Term Global Health Experiences
MONDAY, March 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a position paper published online March 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, ethical obligations have been detailed for physicians participating in short-term global health experiences (STEGHs).
Lean Approach May Help Tackle Burnout in Health Care Providers
FRIDAY, March 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Lean approach, which emphasizes reducing waste and improving customer value by focusing on the big picture, can be used to address physician burnout, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
History of Cancer Tied to Lower Endurance, Higher Fatigability
FRIDAY, March 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A history of cancer is associated with fatigability and poor endurance, particularly in older adults, according to a study published recently in Cancer.
MVPA Mortality Risk Reduction Not Tied to Exercise in Bouts
FRIDAY, March 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with reduced mortality risk, regardless of whether it is accumulated in bouts, according to a study published online March 22 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Hearing Difficulty May Up Risk of Accidental Injury
FRIDAY, March 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Hearing difficulty is associated with accidental injury, according to a study published online March 22 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Calorie Restriction Linked to Sustained Metabolic Adaptation
THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Calorie restriction (CR) over two years is associated with considerable weight loss, and with lower than expected energy expenditure (EE) relative to the weight loss, according to a study published online March 22 in Cell Metabolism.
Unique Risks Associated With Texting Medical Orders
THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite the popularity, convenience, and speed of texting medical orders, there are unique and alarming risks associated with the practice, according to a report published in Drug Topics.
Home-Based Primary Care Ups Access in Rural Areas
THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Expanding home-based primary care (HBPC) to American Indian reservations and other rural communities increases access to long-term care and enrollment for health care benefits within the Veterans Affairs (VA) system, according to a study published online March 12 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Short-Term PPIs Tied to Higher Hip Fracture Risk in Alzheimer’s
THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Short-term proton pump inhibitor use, but not long-term or cumulative use, is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture among Alzheimer’s patients, according to a study published online March 6 in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Blueprint Being Developed to Address Physician Burnout
WEDNESDAY, March 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new, three-pronged approach is being applied to develop a blueprint for addressing physician burnout, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Personal Health Info Found in Recycling at Five Hospitals
TUESDAY, March 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A considerable amount of personal health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII) was found in the recycling at five Canadian teaching hospitals, according to a research letter published in the March 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Prior Authorization Negatively Impacts Clinical Outcomes
MONDAY, March 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The burdens associated with prior authorization (PA) are high and include a negative impact on clinical outcomes, reported by 92 percent of physicians, according to the results of a survey conducted for the American Medical Association (AMA).
Nurse-Supported Post-Stroke Voiding Program Appears Helpful
MONDAY, March 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Participants in a systematic voiding program for post-stroke incontinence found it to be helpful, according to a study published online March 8 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
2013 to 2016 Saw No Change in Antibiotic Prescribing Practices
FRIDAY, March 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2016, annual national outpatient antibiotic prescribing practices remained unchanged, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Family Influences Older Adults’ Care Preferences
THURSDAY, March 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Family is an important influence on care preferences among older adults with advanced illness, according to a review published online March 7 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Review: Virtual Reality Distracts From Pain of Medical Procedures
THURSDAY, March 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Virtual reality (VR) appears to be an effective distraction intervention to relieve pain and distress during various medical procedures, according to a review published online Feb. 26 in The Clinical Journal of Pain.
Drug Copayments Often Exceed Prescription Drug Costs
WEDNESDAY, March 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Drug copayments frequently exceed prescription drug costs, with overpayments affecting 23 percent of all prescriptions, according to a research letter published in the March 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
U.S. Spends Twice As Much for Similar Health Care Utilization
TUESDAY, March 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Spending on health care is much higher in the United States than other high-income countries, but utilization rates are similar, according to a study published in the March 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Tied to Increased β-Amyloid
TUESDAY, March 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Baseline excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is associated with increased β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation in elderly individuals without dementia, according to a study published online March 12 in JAMA Neurology.
Great Recession Linked to Increase in BP, Blood Glucose
TUESDAY, March 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The 2008 to 2010 Great Recession (GR) had a negative impact on the health of U.S. adults, with significant elevations in blood pressure and fasting glucose, according to a study published online March 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Three-Pronged Approach Can Improve Physician Engagement
MONDAY, March 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The three-pronged approach implemented by one practice successfully improved physician engagement, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Doctors Facing Challenge to Help Needy While Protecting Practices
FRIDAY, March 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians are increasingly being challenged to protect their practice finances while helping patients without insurance, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Falls in Elderly Patients Cost $50 Billion Annually
FRIDAY, March 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Older adult falls result in substantial medical costs, according to a study published online March 7 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
High Total Cholesterol Protects Against Cognitive Decline
FRIDAY, March 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of cognitive decline is reduced for people age 85 years and older with high cholesterol, according to a study published online March 4 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
Patients With CKD Face High Symptom Burden at End of Life
FRIDAY, March 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with advanced kidney disease face a substantial symptom burden in the last 12 months of life, according to a small study published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Renal Care.
Vascular Risk Factors Tied to Increased Incontinence Risk
THURSDAY, March 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many factors, including vascular risk factors, may play a role in the development of urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) in older men and women, according to a study published online March 7 in the BJU International.
30-Day ER Revisit Predicts Poor Outcomes in Elderly
THURSDAY, March 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A revisit to the emergency department within 30 days of a previous visit predicts poor outcomes in elderly adults, according to a study published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Strong State Firearm Policies, Lower Firearm Suicide Rate Tied
MONDAY, March 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Strong state firearm policies are associated with lower firearm suicide rates and lower homicide rates, according to a study published online March 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Gender Minorities Have Greater Mental Illness, Disability
MONDAY, March 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Gender minority Medicare beneficiaries have larger disability and mental health burdens than the general Medicare population, according to a study published online March 4 in Health Affairs.
ACP Updates Guidance for HbA1c Targets for Adults With T2DM
MONDAY, March 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Guidance has been developed for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) targets for glycemic control among nonpregnant adults with type 2 diabetes; the guidance statement was published online March 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Determining ‘Avoidability’ of Nursing Home Transfers Complex
MONDAY, March 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A substantial proportion of acute transfers from nursing facilities to hospitals are potentially avoidable, but symptoms and risk conditions are only weakly predictive of hospital diagnoses, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Program Aids Communication for Spouses Affected by Dementia
FRIDAY, March 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An at-home dyadic, relationship-focused psychoeducational intervention improves communication outcomes among spouses affected by dementia, according to a small study published in the February issue of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Conventional Hemodialysis Induces Drop in Cerebral Blood Flow
THURSDAY, March 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In elderly patients, conventional hemodialysis induces a reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF), according to a study published online March 1 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Retinopathy Associated With Accelerated Cognitive Decline
THURSDAY, March 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Retinopathy is associated with accelerated rates of 20-year cognitive decline, according to a study published online Feb. 28 in Neurology.
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