Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Allergy for May 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.
Many Immunosuppressed Persons Join in Hurricane Cleanup
THURSDAY, May 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — About half of immunosuppressed persons reported participating in cleanup activities following Hurricane Harvey, and less than half of those who performed heavy cleanup reported wearing a respirator, according to research published in the May 31 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
High Costs Associated With Physician Burnout in U.S.
THURSDAY, May 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — High costs are associated with physician turnover and reduced clinical hours attributed to burnout, according to a study published online May 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Reading Visit Notes May Improve Medication Management
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Reading clinical notes can help patients to understand why medications are prescribed and improves medication adherence for some patients, according to a brief research report published online May 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Eczema-Related School Absences Higher Among Blacks, Hispanics
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Hispanic and black children are more likely than white children to miss school due to atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a research letter published online May 22 in JAMA Dermatology.
Decreased Air Pollutants Linked to Less Childhood Asthma
TUESDAY, May 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Decreases in ambient nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are associated with lower asthma incidence in children, according to a study published in the May 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Pediatricians Should Encourage Fish Consumption for Children
THURSDAY, May 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fish and shellfish consumption should be encouraged for children, according to a technical report published online May 20 in Pediatrics.
Clinical Drug Diversion Costly to Health Care Organizations
TUESDAY, May 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — U.S. health care organizations lost nearly $454 million due to clinical drug diversion in 2018, according to the 2019 Drug Diversion Digest, released by Protenus Inc.
Report (subscription and payment may be required)
Private Insurers Pay 241 Percent of What Medicare Would Pay
FRIDAY, May 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Prices paid to hospitals for privately insured patients in 2017 averaged 241 percent of what Medicare would have paid, with wide variation in prices among states, according to a report published by the RAND Corporation.
Many Lives Could Be Saved if All Hospitals Had Grade A Rating
FRIDAY, May 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than 50,000 lives could be saved if all hospitals had an avoidable death rate equivalent to “A” grade hospitals, according to an updated report prepared for The Leapfrog Institute.
Recs Updated for TB Screening, Treatment in Health Care Workers
THURSDAY, May 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines have been updated for screening and treatment for tuberculosis (TB) infection among health care personnel, according to research published in the May 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Patients Find Note Reading Important for Health Management
MONDAY, May 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients find note reading important for their health management and are rarely troubled by what they read, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Health Professionals Supportive of Medicinal Cannabis
FRIDAY, May 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Health professionals are generally supportive of medicinal cannabis use but report a lack of knowledge about its use, according to a review published online May 6 in PLOS ONE.
Doctors Aware of Patient Difficulties Affording Medical Care
FRIDAY, May 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians are aware of patients’ difficulty with affording medical care and consider out-of-pocket costs in their decision making, according to an article published in a supplement to the May 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
2018 Saw More Employed Physicians Than Self-Employed
THURSDAY, May 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, employed physicians outnumbered self-employed physicians, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
CDC: Uninsurance Levels Did Not Change Significantly in 2018
THURSDAY, May 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, the percentage of U.S. individuals who were uninsured was not significantly different from the numbers in 2017, although uninsurance increased among adults aged 45 to 64 years, according to a report published online May 9 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Prices Will Soon Be Included in TV Drug Ads
WEDNESDAY, May 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In response to public demands for action to control drug costs, the top U.S. health official says TV advertisements for prescription drugs will soon have to include prices.
AP News Article
In 2015 to 2016, 45.8 Percent of U.S. Population Used Rx Drugs
WEDNESDAY, May 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2015 to 2016, 45.8 percent of the U.S. population used prescription drugs within the past 30 days, according to a May data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
External Reference Pricing Could Cut Drug Costs in U.S.
TUESDAY, May 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The average price for single-source brand-name drugs is higher in the United States than in other countries, indicating that external reference pricing could reduce costs, according to a study published in the May issue of Health Affairs.
Efforts Needed to Ensure Publication of All Trials
TUESDAY, May 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Efforts are needed to ensure all completed large trials are reported, according to a research letter published online May 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
More Than Half of U.S. Adults Have Medical Financial Hardship
FRIDAY, May 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Medical financial hardship affects more than half of adults in the United States, according to a study published online May 1 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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