Home Rheumatology September 2020 Briefing – Rheumatology

September 2020 Briefing – Rheumatology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Rheumatology for September 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.

Hospital Admissions Not Related to COVID-19 Fell in Early 2020

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Non-COVID-19 hospital admissions decreased considerably with the onset of COVID-19, with declines generally similar across patient demographic subgroups from February to April 2020, according to a report published online Sept. 24 in Health Affairs.

Lockdown Tied to Worsening of Musculoskeletal Conditions

TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Early stages of the U.K. COVID-19 lockdown had negative consequences for people with musculoskeletal conditions, according to a letter to the editor published online Sept. 22 in Rheumatology: Advances in Practice.

Private Health Plans Pay Hospitals 247 Percent of Medicare

MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During 2018, prices paid to hospitals by privately insured patients averaged 247 percent of what Medicare would have paid, according to a study from the RAND Corporation.

Hydroxychloroquine Tied to Heart Problems Prior to Pandemic

MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Real-world, pre-COVID-19 adverse events data show hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are associated with cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs), according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Survey: Rheumatic Diseases Pose Routine Challenges

THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many patients with rheumatic diseases face significant challenges in their daily lives, including affordability issues, lifestyle and activity limitations, and negative effects on mental and emotional health, according to the results of a survey released by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Genetically Predicted BMI Increases Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Genetically predicted body mass index (BMI) significantly increases the risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online Sept. 22 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Oral Steroids May Raise Risks for Diabetes, HTN, VTE in Children

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children with current glucocorticoid exposure have increased risks for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Glucocorticoids Linked to Hospitalized Infection Risk in RA

TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, continued use of glucocorticoids is associated with an increased risk for hospitalized infections, according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Adding Belimumab Improves Renal Outcome in Lupus Nephritis

THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The addition of belimumab versus placebo to standard therapy increases the likelihood of a primary efficacy renal response in patients with active lupus nephritis, according to a study published in the Sept. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Curcuma longa Extract Improves Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis

TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with knee osteoarthritis, Curcuma longa extract (CL) is more effective than placebo for knee pain but does not improve knee effusion-synovitis, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Lipid-Rich Necrotic Core Linked to Psoriasis Severity

TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with psoriasis, lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) is associated with psoriasis severity and cardiovascular risk factors and is reduced for those patients receiving biologic therapy, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.

Study Examines Diet and Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women

MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedD) is associated with the risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among ever-smoking women, but not among women in general, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Predictors of Transition to Adult Rheumatology Care Explored

FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For pediatric patients transferring to an adult rheumatology clinic, continued insurance coverage and referral from a pediatric rheumatologist predict shorter time to completed adult visit, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in Arthritis Care & Research.

Widespread Avoidance of Medical Care Found Due to COVID-19 Concerns

THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There was widespread reporting of avoidance of medical care due to COVID-19-related concerns in June 2020, according to research published in the Sept. 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Early Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis May Slow Heart Disease

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment also cuts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Some Lupus Erythematosus Cases Tied to Drug Exposure

FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Some cases of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are drug-induced, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in JAMA Dermatology.

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