Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for November 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.
Rates of Postoperative Mortality High for Frail, Very Frail Patients
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients who are frail and very frail have high rates of postoperative mortality across all levels of operative stress, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in JAMA Surgery.
Continuous PPI Use May Increase Risk for Acute Gastroenteritis
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Continuous use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy is associated with an increased risk for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) during winter epidemic periods with peak circulation of enteric viruses, according to a study published online Nov. 27 in JAMA Network Open.
U.S. Life Expectancy Dropped Since 2014 for Working-Age Adults
TUESDAY, Nov. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — U.S. life expectancy increased from 1959 to 2016 but has been decreasing since 2014, according to research published in the Nov. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Taking Multiple Fracture-Linked Meds Ups Risk for Hip Fracture
TUESDAY, Nov. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The addition of a second and third fracture-associated drug (FAD) is associated with an increase in hip fracture risk, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in JAMA Network Open.
Large BP Variation Tied to Greater Long-Term Risk for Dementia
TUESDAY, Nov. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Large variation in blood pressure is associated with an increased long-term risk for dementia, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in PLOS Medicine.
Decline in Primary Care Visits Continued After ACA
MONDAY, Nov. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The long-term decrease in primary care contact was not interrupted following implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Expansion of Diagnostic Criteria Proposed for COPD
MONDAY, Nov. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An integrated approach using data from the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Genetic Epidemiologic study (COPDGene®) could identify individuals with possible or probable COPD as well as definite COPD, according to a study published in a special issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation.
Electronic Health Record Usability Graded F by Physicians
FRIDAY, Nov. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The usability of current electronic health records (EHRs) is classified as unacceptable, with physician-rated EHR usability independently linked to the odds of burnout, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
COPD Mortality Rates Decreasing in Many Countries
FRIDAY, Nov. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In many countries, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rates are decreasing, although the absolute number of deaths is increasing, according to a research letter published online Nov. 19 in the European Respiratory Journal.
Treatment Beneficial for Nonagenarians With Lung Cancer
FRIDAY, Nov. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Receiving treatment is associated with better survival for nonagenarians with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with the greatest survival benefit for stage I patients, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
CDC: PCV13 No Longer Routinely Recommended for Adults ≥65
THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is no longer recommended for routine use among adults aged ≥65 years, according to research published in the Nov. 22 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
New Medicare Online Drug Plan Finder Might Lead to Higher Cost
THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The newly overhauled Medicare prescription plan finder can direct unsuspecting users to coverage that is much more expensive than necessary, experts say.
AP News Article
Employee Premiums, Deductibles Eating Larger Share of Income
THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — During the last decade, health care costs have eaten up a larger share of income for millions of middle-class Americans with employer coverage, according to Trends in Employer Health Care Coverage, 2008-2018, a Nov. 21 report from The Commonwealth Fund.
More Appropriate Prostate Cancer Tx Seen at Multidisciplinary Clinic
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Receiving care at a multidisciplinary (MultiD) clinic facilitates adherence to evidence-based national treatment guidelines for prostate cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in Cancer.
Weight Loss Tied to Loss of Hip Bone Density in Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Obese and overweight older individuals who lose weight have lower bone mineral density (BMD) in their hips, according to a study published in the November issue of Obesity.
Statin Use Not Linked to Rate of Cognitive Decline in Seniors
TUESDAY, Nov. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Statin therapy is not associated with increased decline in memory or cognition among older adults, according to a study published in the Nov. 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
White House Wants Hospitals, Insurers to Provide Actual Costs of Care
MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New rules requiring hospitals and insurers to disclose the actual prices for common tests and procedures before they are performed have been proposed by the Trump Administration.
AP News Article
Bipartisan Bill to Curb Drug Costs Backed by White House
MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A bipartisan Senate bill that would curb prescription drug costs is being backed by the Trump administration as a new poll shows that many Americans think the White House has done little to tackle the issue.
AP News Article
Less Sleep Tied to Lower Bone Mineral Density in Women
MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Short sleep duration is associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher risk for osteoporosis among postmenopausal women, according to a study published online Nov. 6 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Higher Waist Circumference Tied to Increased Risk for Dementia
FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Abdominal obesity is associated with a significantly increased risk for dementia, even after adjustment for general obesity, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Obesity.
Treatment Response Rates High for Seniors With Hep C Infection
FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, sustained viral response (SVR) rates are similar for those aged 65 years and older and those younger than 65, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
WHO to Test, Approve Generic Insulin
THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Testing and approval of generic insulin will be conducted by the World Health Organization in an attempt to combat rising prices and shortages of the drug.
The New York Times Article
Survey of U.S. Registered Nurses Points to Worsening Shortages
THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 2019 AMN Healthcare Survey of Registered Nurses raises concerns about the outlook for the nursing profession in the United States.
2019 Survey of Registered Nurses
Illiteracy Tied to Dementia in Older Adults With Low Education
THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Illiteracy is associated with prevalent and incident dementia, but not with the rate of cognitive decline, among older adults with low education, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in Neurology.
Insomnia Symptoms Associated With Increased Risk of CVD
THURSDAY, Nov. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Individual and coexisting symptoms of insomnia are associated with increased risk for cardio-cerebral vascular diseases (CVD), according to a study published on Nov. 6 in Neurology.
Smartwatch App Shows Promise for Identifying Atrial Fibrillation
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For participants without atrial fibrillation, use of a smartwatch application (app) can identify irregular pulse, which may indicate atrial fibrillation with high positive predictive value, according to a study published in the Nov. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
More Hospital Days Seen With Antipsychotic Use in Alzheimer Disease
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Alzheimer disease patients who initiate treatment with antipsychotic medications spend more days hospitalized than those who do not initiate antipsychotics, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
Imaging Rates Continue to Rise Despite Efforts to Reduce
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Despite initiatives to reduce the use of medical imaging, rates continue to rise in both the United States and Ontario, Canada, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Exercising More Often May Lower CVD Risk in Older Adults
FRIDAY, Nov. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Older adults who increase their frequency of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) have a significantly lower risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with those who are continuously physically inactive, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in the European Heart Journal.
SNAP Participation May Reduce Premature Deaths in the U.S.
THURSDAY, Nov. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Participation in the national Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reduces the risk for premature mortality among U.S. adults, according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
2009 to 2016 Saw Drop in 30-Day Mortality Tied to Emergency Care
THURSDAY, Nov. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2009 to 2016, there was a decrease in 30-day mortality associated with emergency department care for Medicare beneficiaries, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Medical Practices Burdened by Regulatory Requirements
TUESDAY, Nov. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The vast majority of group medical practices report that regulatory requirements, including prior authorization and quality payment programs, are burdensome, according to a survey released by the Medical Group Management Association.
Annual Regulatory Burden Survey
Low-Intensity Warfarin Not Noninferior in Hip, Knee Surgery
TUESDAY, Nov. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among older patients undergoing hip or knee replacement, low-intensity compared with standard-intensity warfarin prophylaxis did not meet the noninferiority criterion for the composite outcome of risk for venous thromboembolism or death, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Dietary Patterns May Possibly Be Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk
TUESDAY, Nov. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Plant-based diets are associated with a decreased or unchanged risk for prostate cancer, while animal-based diets, especially those containing dairy products, are associated with an increased or unchanged risk, according to a review published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Poll: Many Seniors Do Not Follow Instructions Related to Antibiotics
TUESDAY, Nov. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many older adults do not follow instructions related to antibiotic use, according to a report published online Nov. 4 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
CRC Screening Recommended for Average-Risk Adults Age 50 to 75
MONDAY, Nov. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Average-risk adults between the ages of 50 and 75 years should be screened for colorectal cancer, with the screening test selected based on discussion with patients, according to a guidance statement from the American College of Physicians published online Nov. 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Seriously Ill Medicare Beneficiaries Face Financial Hardship
MONDAY, Nov. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Seriously ill Medicare enrollees experience considerable financial distress, according to a report published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
Dr. Stephen Hahn Nominated to Head FDA
MONDAY, Nov. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Radiation oncology expert Stephen Hahn, M.D., has been nominated as the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner.
CNN Article
Intensive BP Control in Elderly With HTN May Aid Brain Health
MONDAY, Nov. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Intensive lowering of ambulatory blood pressure in older patients with hypertension reduced accumulation of small vessel disease in the white matter of the brain, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Circulation.
Recommendations Developed to Address Clinician Burnout
FRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout, a new report published online Oct. 23 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, recommendations are presented to address clinician burnout.
Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout
Hospitalizations May Hasten Cognitive Decline in the Elderly
FRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, a higher rate of hospitalizations is associated with more rapid cognitive decline, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in the Annals of Neurology.
Risk for Second Primary Malignancy Up in CLL Survivors
FRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have an increased risk for second primary malignancy (SPM), according to a study published online Sept. 30 in Blood Cancer Journal.
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