Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for October 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.
Opioid Use Often Persists in Workers’ Compensation Claimants
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many patients in a workers’ compensation cohort have persistent opioid use, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
Antibiotics, Acid Suppressants in Infancy May Up Obesity Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prescription of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications in early childhood is associated with an increased risk for obesity, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Gut.
Link Between Statins, Non-CVD Outcomes Lacks Evidence
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a lack of convincing evidence for an association between statin use and non-cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, according to a review published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors May Up Lung CA Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer compared with angiotensin receptor blockers, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in the BMJ.
Pilot Studies May Shed Light on How to Treat Lymphedema
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with ketoprofen may improve the skin biology in lymphedema, with improvements noted in histopathology and skin thickness, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JCI Insight.
Health Officers Express Concerns About Vaccine Exemptions
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After the passage of Senate Bill 277 (SB277) in California, which eliminated nonmedical vaccine exemptions for school entry, health officers and immunization staff reported concerns including an increase in medical exemptions, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in Pediatrics.
In Complicated UTI, Cefiderocol Noninferior to Imipenem-Cilastin
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For complicated urinary tract infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative uropathogens, the siderophore cephalosporin cefiderocol is non-inferior to imipenem-cilastatin, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Durvalumab Extends Survival in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CA
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Durvalumab results in significantly longer overall survival than placebo among patients with stage III, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer who did not have disease progression after concurrent chemoradiotherapy, according to a study published Sept. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Trump Administration Announces Plan to Cut Drug Prices
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to cut high drug costs, the prices paid by Medicare for certain prescription drugs would be based on those in other advanced industrial nations, according to a proposal announced Oct. 25 by the Trump administration.
HHS Study
New York Times Article
Prior-Season Vaccination Does Not Curb Flu Shot Effectiveness
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prior-season vaccination is not associated with reduced vaccine effectiveness (VE) among children aged 2 to 17 years, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
Giving Patients Treatment Choice Improves PTSD Outcomes
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Giving patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) their preferred treatment improves adherence and symptoms, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
High-Coverage Rollout of PReP Tied to Drop in HIV Diagnoses
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A rapid, targeted, high-coverage rollout of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is associated with a decrease in HIV diagnoses among high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a study published online Oct. 17 in The Lancet.
Neither Haloperidol, Ziprasidone Shortens Delirium in ICU
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute respiratory failure or shock and hypoactive or hyperactive delirium in the intensive care unit, neither haloperidol nor ziprasidone alters the duration of delirium compared with placebo, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bill to Fight U.S. Opioid Crisis Signed Into Law
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A bipartisan bill meant to combat the United States’ opioid abuse epidemic was signed into law Oct. 24 by President Donald Trump.
Open Surgery for Early Lung CA Tied to Long-Term Opioid Use
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Surgical invasiveness might play a role in the odds of becoming a long-term opioid user after early-stage lung cancer surgery, according to a research letter published online Sept. 24 in JAMA Oncology.
FDA Approves First New Influenza Drug in 20 Years
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For the first time in nearly two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of antiviral influenza drug.
Almost One in 10 Treated in Hospital for Non-Fatal Injury
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In 2013, 9.8 per 100 people were treated in the hospital for a non-fatal injury, with costs estimated at $1.853 trillion, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Injury Epidemiology.
Algorithm-Defined Tx Duration Non-Inferior in Staph Bacteremia
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with staphylococcal bacteremia, an algorithm that defines treatment duration results in a non-inferior rate of clinical success compared with usual care, according to a study published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
AGA Issues Guidelines for Opioid-Induced Constipation
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations for medical management of opioid-induced constipation include laxatives as first-line agents, according to a guideline from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) published online Oct. 17 in Gastroenterology.
Abstract/Full Text – Guideline (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Technical Review (subscription or payment may be required)
Most Supplements Contain Prohibited Stimulants
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many supplements contain one or more stimulants that have been the subject of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-issued public notices, according to a research letter published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
High-Dose Flu Vaccine May Cut Hospitalization in Dialysis Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of the high-dose influenza vaccine in 2016 to 2017 was associated with lower rates of hospitalization among dialysis patients, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
White House Unveils New Insurance Option for Small Firms
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A plan to allow small businesses to use tax-free accounts to provide health coverage for employees was announced today by the Trump administration.
A-Fib Patients With Cancer Less Likely to See Cardiologist
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with cancer are less likely to see a cardiologist and fill prescriptions for anticoagulants, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Intensive SBP Tx Cuts Kidney Damage Biomarkers in Incident CKD
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the setting of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) treatment have decreases rather than increases in kidney damage biomarkers, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
High Uptake, Acceptability of Rapid Fentanyl Test Strips
MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Young adults who report injecting drugs or using heroin, cocaine, or illicitly obtained prescription pills report high uptake and acceptability of fentanyl test strips to detect illicitly manufactured fentanyl, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in the International Journal of Drug Policy.
Variability in Geographic Availability of New Antibiotics
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variability in the geographic availability of antibiotics, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in PLOS ONE.
CDC: Vaccination Rates More Than 95 Percent for Kindergartners
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall vaccination coverage is high among the nation’s kindergarten students, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Triple Combo Regimens May Address Cause of Cystic Fibrosis
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Triple therapy with VX-659 or VX-445 combined with tezacaftor-ivacaftor shows promise for the treatment of adult patients with cystic fibrosis who have mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), according to two studies published online Oct. 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The studies were published to coincide with a presentation at the annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, held from Oct. 18 to 20 in Denver.
2014 to 2016 Saw 470 Percent Increase in HIV PrEP Use in U.S.
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2016 there was an increase in the annual number of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users in the United States, although only about 7 percent of those with indications for PrEP were prescribed PrEP in 2016, according to research published in the Oct. 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Aspirin, Anticoagulants Similarly Prevent VTE After TKA
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), aspirin alone may provide protection against postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) that is similar to that of other anticoagulants, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Surgery.
Sharp Drop in U.S. Life Expectancy Rankings by 2040
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The United States will have the largest drop in life expectancy rankings of all high-income countries by 2040, a new study says.
WHO: Congo Ebola Outbreak Not a Global Emergency
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The latest Ebola outbreak in Congo is not yet severe enough to be declared a global emergency, the World Health Organization decided after a meeting of experts yesterday.
HPV Vaccination Not Tied to Risky Sexual Behavior in Teen Girls
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of a school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Canada did not lead to an increase in sexual risk-taking behaviors among adolescent girls, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Procurement Requirements Drive Interoperability in Health Care IT
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Interoperability of health care information technology (IT) must be improved to facilitate creation of a fully integrated health care system that can improve health and health care at lower cost, according to a report published by the National Academy of Medicine.
CDC: Many Pregnant Women Not Receiving Immunizations
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many pregnant women are not getting recommended vaccinations, with less than half of those pregnant during the peak influenza vaccination period in 2017 to 2018 reporting being vaccinated before or during their pregnancy, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Limited Evidence for OTC Preps to Treat Nasal Symptoms of Colds
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Limited evidence is available for over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for nasal symptoms of the common cold, according to a report published online Oct. 10 in The BMJ.
Giving Flu Shots in Pharmacies Could Up Vaccination Coverage
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Administering influenza vaccines through pharmacies in addition to traditional locations can increase vaccination coverage in the event of an epidemic, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Vaccine.
Gabapentin Beats Pregabalin for Chronic Sciatica
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic sciatica (CS), gabapentin (GBP) is superior to pregabalin (PGB), with fewer and less severe adverse events (AEs), according to a study published online Oct. 15 in JAMA Neurology.
Well-Being of Young Adults on Kidney Replacement Tx Studied
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For young adults receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT), well-being and medication adherence are associated with psychological morbidity, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Long-Term Benzodiazepines Do Not Up Mortality in COPD, PTSD
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), long-term benzodiazepine use is not associated with mortality, but there is an association for short-term benzodiazepine use, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Dose Range of IV Ketamine for Adjunct Tx of Depression Tested
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Two subanesthetic dosages of ketamine appear to provide significant symptom relief to patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), according to a study published online Oct. 3 in Molecular Psychiatry.
Seven-Day Metronidazole Better for Trichomoniasis Tx in Women
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A seven-day dose of metronidazole is associated with a reduced likelihood of being Trichomonas vaginalis-positive at test-of-cure compared with single-dose treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
CHF in Pregnancy Up for Cancer Survivors With Cardiac Toxicity
TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) during pregnancy is 31 percent among women with a history of cardiotoxicity associated with cancer treatment, according to a study published in the Oct. 23 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Clinical Trials Support Efficacy of Tretinoin Lotion for Tx of Acne
TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Tretinoin 0.05 percent lotion (ALTRENO Lotion) provides statistically significant improvement in patients with moderate-to-severe acne compared with placebo, according to two phase 3 studies published in the October issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Gastric Banding, Metformin Similar for Improving Glycemia
TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In adults with moderate obesity and either impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed mild type 2 diabetes (T2D), gastric banding and metformin are similarly effective for slowing disease progression over a two-year period, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in Diabetes Care.
β-Blockers in 1st Trimester Do Not Up Congenital Malformations
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Maternal use of β-blockers in the first trimester of pregnancy is not associated with a large increase in the risk for overall or cardiac congenital malformations, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Number of Children Not Receiving Vaccines Slightly Increased
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall, vaccine coverage for children aged 19 to 35 months remained high and stable from 2013 to 2017; however, a small, but growing number of children received no vaccinations, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Without Medicaid Expansion, Poor Patients Forgo Medical Care
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doing without medical care is much more common among low-income residents of states that have not expanded Medicaid than among low-income people in other states, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
AP News Article
Active Pharmaceuticals ID’d in >700 Dietary Supplements
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Dietary supplements often include active pharmaceuticals, even after warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in JAMA Network Open.
Cannabinoids Mildly Effective for Treating MS Symptoms in Adults
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cannabinoids may be mildly effective at treating spasticity, pain, and bladder dysfunction in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review published online Oct. 12 in JAMA Network Open.
Cases Show Periodic Fasting May Cut Medication Use in T2DM
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medically supervised, therapeutic fasting regimens can help reverse type 2 diabetes (T2D) and minimize the need for pharmacological interventions, according to a case series published online Oct. 9 in BMJ Case Reports.
More Socioeconomic Challenges for Hispanic Women With HIV
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Hispanic/Latino women with HIV infection face more socioeconomic and language challenges than men, but the clinical outcomes are similar, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Flu Vaccine Cuts Hospitalization Rates in Pregnant Women
FRIDAY, Oct. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among pregnant women, the flu vaccination is effective at reducing the risk for flu-related hospitalizations, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in Clinical Infectious Disease.
Hormone Therapy Not Beneficial in Subclinical Hypothyroidism
FRIDAY, Oct. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Thyroid hormone therapy is not associated with improvements in general quality of life or thyroid-related symptoms in non-pregnant adults with subclinical hypothyroidism, according to a review published in the Oct. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Low-Dose Aspirin May Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk
THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Low-dose aspirin use is associated with a reduced risk for ovarian cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 4 in JAMA Oncology.
Low Recurrence With Shortened IV Abx Course in GBS Bacteremia
THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For infants with uncomplicated, late-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia, a shortened intravenous (IV) course of antibiotic therapy is sometimes prescribed and is associated with low rates of disease recurrence and treatment failure, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in Pediatrics.
Aetna-CVS Merger Approved
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A $69 billion merger between health insurer Aetna and pharmacy manager CVS Health has been approved, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
The New York Times Article
Atrial Fibrillation Tied to Higher Dementia Risk in Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a faster global cognitive decline and an increased risk for dementia in older people, though anticoagulants may reduce dementia risk in AF patients, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in Neurology.
Trump to Sign Bills Lifting Drug Price ‘Gag Orders’ on Pharmacists
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Two bills that allow U.S. pharmacists to disclose drug prices to customers to help them save money are expected to be signed today by President Donald Trump.
NBC News Article
ADA, EASD Issue New Recommendations for T2DM
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes have been updated, according to a consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) published online Oct. 5 in Diabetes Care.
Duvelisib Promising for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, SLL
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with relapsed or refractory (RR) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), the oral, dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ and -γ, duvelisib, seems effective, according to a study published online Oct. 4 in Blood.
Halobetasol Propionate Lotion Shows Efficacy for Tx of Psoriasis
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Halobetasol propionate 0.01 percent lotion (BRYHALI Lotion) appears safe and effective for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, according to the results of two phase 3 trials published in the October issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
FDA Approves HPV Vaccine for People Through Age 45
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the Gardasil 9 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been expanded to include people ages 27 through 45, the agency said in a news release.
FDA Approves Marketing of First User-Fitted Hearing Aid
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first hearing aid that does not require the assistance of an audiologist or other health care provider has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Risk of Opioid-Benzodiazepine Overlap Up for Dual Prescribing
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Receiving prescriptions from both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare Part D is associated with increased risk for overlapping of opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Acetaminophen Can Reduce Recurrence of Febrile Seizures
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Acetaminophen can reduce the risk for febrile seizure (FS) recurrence during the same fever episode among infants and children, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Pediatrics.
TYK2 Inhibitor Clears Psoriasis Over 12 Weeks
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Selective inhibition of TYK2 with the oral agent BMS-986165 at doses of 3 mg daily and higher results in greater clearing of psoriasis versus placebo over 12 weeks, according to a phase 2 study published in the Oct. 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Application of Blood Pressure Guidelines Ups Treatment
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) blood pressure guideline would direct initiation and intensification of antihypertensive medication treatment to adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, according to a study published in the Sept. 11 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Congress Passes Bill to Fight Opioid Crisis
FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A bipartisan bill to fight the opioid addiction crisis in the United States has been passed by Congress. President Donald Trump said he would sign the bill into law.
AP News Article
Industry-Funded Trials Often Involve Employees in Studies
FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Industry employees are often involved in the design, conduct, and reporting of industry-funded trials in high-impact journals, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in The BMJ.
More Than 14 Million Preteens Need to Receive HPV Vaccine
FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than 14 million additional 11- to 12-year-olds need to be vaccinated to reach the American Cancer Society goal of 80 percent of adolescents being up to date (UTD) with the human papillomavirus vaccination (HPVV) by their 13th birthday by 2026, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Cancer.
Price Hikes Noted in Small Subset of Generic Drugs
THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A small but growing subset of generic drugs experienced sudden large price increases from 2007 to 2013, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Three-Quarters of Health Care Workers Got Flu Shot Last Year
THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Just over three-quarters of health care personnel received a flu vaccine last season, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Opioid Use Down With ‘Enhanced Recovery After Surgery’ Program
THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An “enhanced recovery after surgery” (ERAS) program is associated with a significant reduction in opioid consumption after gynecologic surgery with no increase in pain scores, according to a study published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Uninsured Rate at 8.8 Percent in First Quarter of 2018
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In the first quarter of 2018, the uninsured rate was 8.8 percent, not significantly different from a year earlier, according to a report released Aug. 29 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Opioid-Related Hospital Use Up in Elderly Adults
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rates of opioid-related prescriptions and health care utilization are rising among seniors, according to two September statistical briefs released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The reports relied on data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Abstract/Full Text – Weiss
Abstract/Full Text – Moriya and Miller
Preventable Cardiovascular Events Are Big Economic Burden
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Preventable cardiovascular events place a considerable health and economic burden on the United States, according to research published in the Sept. 7 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
For Employer-Based Plans, Spending Across Services Steady
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite large health policy changes, the distribution of spending across service areas has remained fairly consistent over the past 10 years for those enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Voluntary Recall of Robaxin 750 mg Due to Dosage Misprint
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Endo Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling two lots of Robaxin (methocarbamol tablets) 750 mg tablets (100-count bottles) due to incorrect dosage information.
Endo Press Release
FDA Recall Notice
Telemedicine RTI Visits Shorter When Antibiotic Prescribed
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine setting, respiratory tract infection (RTI) encounters in which antibiotics are prescribed are shorter than other encounters, according to a research letter published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Ondansetron in Pregnancy Not Linked to Most Birth Defects
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of ondansetron for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy does not appear to be associated with birth defects, according to research published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Alternative Medicines May Aid in the Treatment of Psoriasis
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Some complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) may be helpful in the treatment of psoriasis, according to a review published online Sept. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.
Number of Health-Related Data Breaches Increasing
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of health data breaches has steadily increased since 2010, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
WHO: ‘Very High Risk’ That Ebola Will Spread From Congo
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a “very high” risk that the latest Ebola outbreak in Congo will spread beyond that nation’s borders, the World Health Organization warns.
FDA Approves New Treatment for Squamous Cell Carcinoma
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Libtayo (cemiplimab-rwlc) injection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, the agency said in a news release.
FDA Approves New Drug for Antibiotic-Resistant Lung Disease
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Arikayce (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat lung disease caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteria among patients who do not respond to conventional therapies, the FDA said in a news release.
Intravitreal Triamcinolone Beats Periocular Tx for Macular Edema
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with uveitic macular edema (ME), intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (ITA) and intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) are superior to periocular triamcinolone acetonide (PTA), according to a study published online Sept. 27 in Ophthalmology.
More Non-Elderly Americans Uninsured in 2017 Versus 2016
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2016 to 2017, there was an increase in the number of uninsured non-elderly Americans, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism Recurrence High
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of recurrence after incident venous thromboembolism is high, particularly among patients with cancer-related venous thromboembolism, according to a study published in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
Factors Associated With Phantom Odor Identified
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Phantom odor perception in middle-aged and older individuals is associated with poor health, persistent dry mouth, and head injury, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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