Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for April 2013. 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.
Female Smokers More Susceptible to Colon Cancer
TUESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Female smokers seem to be more susceptible to colon cancer than male smokers, particularly to proximal colon cancer, according to a study published online April 30 in Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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More Than One-Third of Stroke Patients Don't Utilize EMS
TUESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- More than one-third of stroke patients still do not use emergency medical services (EMS), despite the fact that EMS use is linked to significantly more rapid evaluation and treatment, according to a study published online April 29 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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FDA Approves Kcentra to Reverse Anticoagulation
TUESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Kcentra (prothrombin complex concentrate, human) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat severe acute bleeding in adults after administration of warfarin and similar products.
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Multicenter Study Links Peri-Op SSRI Use to Adverse Outcomes
TUESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Perioperative use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with adverse outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, bleeding, and 30-day readmission, according to a multicenter study published online April 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Renewed Efforts From AAFP to Repeal OTC Provision in ACA
TUESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Members of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and other medical associations are urging further consideration of Section 9003 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires holders of tax-preferred health care accounts to obtain a physician's prescription to use funds from those accounts to pay for over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The concerns have been laid out in a letter to the chair and the ranking member of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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Hawaii Is Least Stressed State With Highest Enjoyment Levels
MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Hawaii remains the least stressed state, and also reports the highest level of enjoyment, according to a report from Gallup-Healthways.
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USPSTF Recommends Universal HIV Screening From Age 15 to 65
MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening all 15- to 65-year olds, younger and older at-risk individuals, and all pregnant women for HIV, according to a Recommendation Statement published in the April 30 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Mediterranean Diet Adherence Cuts Cognitive Impairment
MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MeD) is associated with a lower likelihood of incident cognitive impairment (ICI), especially among those without diabetes, according to a study published in the April 30 issue of Neurology.
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High Doses of Saw Palmetto Appear Safe Over 18 Months
MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Extracts of saw palmetto berry used at doses of up to 960 mg daily appear to be safe over an 18-month period, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Rx for High-Risk Meds Varies Widely in Medicare Advantage
MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- There is wide variation in the prescription rates of high-risk medications (HRM) among Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Zoledronic Acid Linked to Early Increase in Sclerostin Levels
MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Women with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with zoledronic acid show an early increase in serum levels of the negative regulator of bone formation, sclerostin, that return close to baseline after 360 days, according to a study published online April 17 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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FDA Announces New Network to Focus Exclusively on Patients
MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the launch of a new interactive tool for educating patients, their advocates, and consumers about the processes involved in medication development.
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Medical Interns Spending Less Time With Patients
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- Medical interns are spending less time with patients and more time at a computer since new rules limiting total work hours were instituted in 2011, according to a study published online April 18 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Standard Criteria Needed for Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- There is a need for a consensus on criteria to define and classify lumbar spinal stenosis, according to a review published in the April 15 issue of Spine.
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Saturday Marks Sixth Annual Rx Drug Take-Back Day
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- United States residents across the nation will have an opportunity to safely and anonymously unload expired, unwanted prescription medications on Saturday, April 27, during the sixth annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
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Post-Fracture Targeting Boosts Osteoporosis Management
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- A mail-based intervention targeting patients with recent frailty fractures and their physicians is a more cost-effective means of osteoporosis management than usual care, according to a simulation-based study published online April 17 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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Report Updates Impact of Hypoglycemia in Diabetes
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- An update of the current state of knowledge about the impact of hypoglycemia on patients with diabetes reviews outcomes, strategies to prevent hypoglycemia, and current knowledge gaps, and has been published in the May issue of Diabetes Care.
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Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum OK in Peyronie's
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with Peyronie's disease, treatment with collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) intralesional injections is efficacious and tolerable, according to research published online Feb. 1 in The Journal of Urology.
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History of Skin Cancer Linked to Secondary Cancers
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- Men and women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are at modestly greater risk of secondary cancers at other sites, according to a study published online April 23 in PLOS Medicine.
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One-Third of Female Marathon Runners Report Breast Pain
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- Approximately one-third of female marathon runners report mastalgia, according to a study published online April 19 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Improves PTSD
FRIDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can provide significant and clinically meaningful improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, according to a pilot study published online April 17 in Depression and Anxiety.
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Review: All Approved Drugs Similarly Prevent Migraines
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- There is no significant difference in effectiveness in approved drugs for preventing episodic migraine frequency by 50 percent or more, according to a review published in the April issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Even Light Smoking Increases Risk of RA Among Women
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Even light smoking increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among women, and smoking cessation reduces but does not eliminate this risk, according to a study published online April 22 in Arthritis Research & Therapy.
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Risk of Delay in Response to Patient E-Mails Up Over Weekend
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of delays in opening and responding to primary care patient e-mail communication is significantly worse at the weekends, according to a study published in the April/June issue of Quality Management in Health Care.
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Physicians Less Empathetic in Talking to Heavy Patients
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Primary care physicians (PCPs) are less likely to bond with overweight and obese patients, according to research published online March 20 in Obesity.
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Prevalence, Costs of Heart Failure Estimated for 2030
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- The impact of heart failure is likely to increase, with more than eight million U.S. adults anticipated to have heart failure by 2030, at an estimated total cost of $70 billion, according to a study published online April 24 in Circulation: Heart Failure.
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One 12-Ounce Sweet Drink a Day Ups Risk of T2DM 22 Percent
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Consumption of sweetened soft drinks correlates with the incidence of type 2 diabetes in European adults, with one 12-ounce daily increase in sweetened soft drinks correlating with a 22 percent increase in risk of the disease, according to a study published online April 25 in Diabetologia.
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Air Pollution Linked to Marker of Atherosclerosis
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Greater exposure to air pollution is associated with greater progression of carotid artery thickness, a marker of atherosclerosis, according to a study published online April 23 in PLOS Medicine.
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Analgesics in Endurance Events Can Have Serious Adverse Effects
THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Analgesic use before endurance sports can cause serious medical events, according to a study published online April 19 in BMJ Open.
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Diabetes Target Achievement Up From 1999 to 2010, More Needed
WEDNESDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- For U.S. adults with diabetes there has been an improvement in achievement of targets from 1999 to 2010, but many still do not meet the recommended goals, according to research published in the April 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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AMA Reveals First Step Toward Improving Health Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) has announced the first stage of its improving health outcomes initiative, which aims to optimize the health of the nation with a focus on preventing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
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Diagnostic Errors Are the Leading Type of Malpractice Claim
WEDNESDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- In the past 25 years, diagnostic errors have been the leading type of malpractice claim and account for the highest proportion of total payments, according to a study published online April 22 in BMJ Quality & Safety.
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Obesity Tied to Risk of Prostate Cancer After Negative Biopsy
WEDNESDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- In men with an initial benign biopsy or transurethral resection of the prostate, obesity at the time of the procedure is associated with the presence of precancerous lesions in the initial biopsy and a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, according to a study published online April 23 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Peri-Noncardiac Op Exposure to β-Blockers Improves Outcome
TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery with two or more Revised Cardiac Risk Index factors, early exposure to β-blockers is associated with improved 30-day postoperative outcome, according to research published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Interdisciplinary Model Ups Care of Hospitalized Elderly
TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- For elderly patients, admission to the Mobile Acute Care of the Elderly (MACE) service, a novel model of care delivered by an interdisciplinary team, correlates with lower rates of adverse events and shorter hospital stays, compared with usual care, according to a study published online April 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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U.S. Shortfall in Neurologists Expected to Get Worse
TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- The current national shortfall in neurologists is about 11 percent, and is likely to increase to 19 percent by 2025, according to research published online April 17 in Neurology.
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Severe Cutaneous Adverse Rxns Up in Allopurinol Initiators
TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Allopurinol initiators have an almost 10-fold increased risk of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) compared with nonusers, according to a study published in the April issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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Behaviors Indicative of More Trips to Buffet Table Identified
TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Surveying the food options before eating and using a smaller plate could result in less trips to the buffet at all-you-can-eat restaurants and buffets, according to a research letter published in the April issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Mammogram Rates Unchanged Since USPSTF Recommendations
MONDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- There has been no change in mammography screening rates among women aged 40 years or older following publication of the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations, according to research published online April 19 in Cancer.
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Genetics Linked to Abnormal Alzheimer's Markers
FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with a family history of late-onset Alzheimer's disease who are cognitively normal or mildly impaired have a higher prevalence of abnormal cerebral markers, according to a study published online April 17 in PLOS ONE.
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CDC: About 20,000 Cases of Foodborne Infection in 2012
FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- There were about 20,000 cases of foodborne infection in 2012, with the highest incidence among young children and the greatest proportion of hospitalizations and deaths among the elderly, according to research published in the April 19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
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CDC: Traffic-Related Pedestrian Deaths Increasing With Age
FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Traffic-related pedestrian death rates over the last decade were highest among the elderly, males, and racial and ethnic minorities, according to research published in the April 19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
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FDA Approves Updated Label for Reformulated OxyContin
FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved updated labeling for Purdue Pharma L.P.'s reformulated OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release) tablets, which will indicate that the reformulated product has physical and chemical properties that should make abuse by injection very difficult and reduce intranasal abuse.
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Community Gardening Programs Linked to Lower BMI
FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Male and female participants in community gardening programs have significantly lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than their neighbors and siblings, according to a study published online April 18 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Patient-Centered Decision Making Ups Health Outcomes
FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Patient-centered decision making (PCDM) is associated with improved health care outcomes, according to a study published in the April 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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NH-proBNP Strongly Predicts Cardiac Mortality in T2DM
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- NH2-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicts the risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes without previous CV disease (CVD), according to a study published online April 5 in Diabetes Care.
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Family-Centered Teaching Rounds Good for Patients, Students
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Teaching and conducting rounds in the presence of patients and their families can be beneficial for patients and learners, according to research published online April 15 in Pediatrics.
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Guidelines Issued Relating to Online Medical Professionalism
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians should be aware of the benefits on online media and should recognize the implications for patient confidentiality and public perception, according to a position paper published in the April 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Relative Proportion of MRSA Increasing in S. aureus Isolates
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- The relative proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasing in S. aureus isolates, and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, according to a study published in the April issue of JAMA Dermatology.
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Vascular Markers Linked to Cognitive Decline in Diabetes
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Stroke and subclinical markers of macrovascular disease are associated with cognitive decline in older adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online April 11 in Diabetes Care.
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For Older Men, Prostate Biopsy Uncommon After Abnormal PSA
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- For older men with abnormal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, performance of prostate biopsies is uncommon and decreases with advancing age and worsening comorbidity, according to a study published online April 15 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Glutamine, Antioxidants No Benefit to Critically Ill Patients
WEDNESDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- For critically ill patients with multiorgan failure, early supplementation with glutamine or antioxidants does not improve clinical outcomes, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Community Benefit Spending Varies for Tax-Exempt Hospitals
WEDNESDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- There is considerable variation in the level of community benefit expenditure by tax-exempt hospitals, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Presenting Fee Data to Docs Cuts Number of Tests Ordered
WEDNESDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Presenting fee data to providers at the time of laboratory test orders is associated with a small reduction in the number of tests ordered, according to a study published online April 15 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Aerobic Exercise Reduces Brain Damage From Alcohol
WEDNESDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with greater white matter damage in people who do not regularly do aerobic exercise, according to a study published online April 2 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
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Topical Anesthetics Effective for Premature Ejaculation
FRIDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) -- Topical anesthetic agents seem to be effective and are generally well tolerated for patients with premature ejaculation (PE), according to a review published in the April issue of Urology.
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Topical Treatment Effective for Toenail Fungal Infection
FRIDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) -- Once daily topical efinaconazole is effective in treating fungal infections of the toenail, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Speech Details Practices to Improve U.S. Health Systems
THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- There are specific steps health care providers and policymakers should take to create high-quality, patient-centered care at lower costs, according to remarks made in an April 9 speech to the National Press Club.
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ACS: Room for Improvement in Cancer Prevention, Detection
THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- Despite improvements in aspects of cancer prevention and early detection, more systematic efforts to reduce tobacco use and obesity, and expand the use of screening tests could prevent much of the suffering and death of cancer, according to a report published online April 11 by the American Cancer Society.
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Readmission Rates ID'd After Spine Stenosis Decompression
THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing lumbar spine stenosis decompression surgery with or without fusion, the one-year readmission rate is 9.7 or 7.2 percent, respectively, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of Spine.
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Mobility Shoe Improves Knee Loading in Osteoarthritis
THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with knee osteoarthritis, use of flat, flexible footwear (mobility shoes) for six months is associated with significant improvements in knee adduction moment (KAM), according to a study published online April 10 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Sales Representatives Provide Inadequate Safety Information
THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- Pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs) rarely inform primary care physicians about drug safety information during sales visits, according to research published online April 10 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Patients Accepting, Grateful for Death With Dignity Program
WEDNESDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Patients and families are accepting of and grateful for a Death with Dignity program established at a comprehensive cancer care center, according to a study published in the April 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Patients Using Different Rx Strategies to Save Money
TUESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Adults in the U.S. who are poor or uninsured are more likely to ask for lower-cost alternatives or not to take their prescribed medications, according to research published in the April NCHS Data Brief.
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SNP Spots Late Alzheimer's Risk in African-Americans
TUESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- A novel variant in the ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter (ABCA7) has been identified, which is associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease in African-Americans, according to a study published April 10 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Overall Alcohol Intake Not Tied to Breast CA-Specific Survival
TUESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate alcohol consumption before diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with modest improvement in disease-specific survival, although overall consumption before and after diagnosis are not linked to disease-specific survival, according to a study published online April 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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ACP: Men Need to Be Informed of PSA Testing Benefits, Harms
TUESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Men between the ages of 50 and 69 years old need to be informed about the limited potential benefits and substantial harms of screening for prostate cancer, according to a guidance statement published online April 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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NYC Health Department, ER Docs Clash Over Opioid Guidelines
TUESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- There is uncertainty as to whether the New York City Emergency Department Discharge Opioid Prescribing Guidelines will aid emergency physicians as they weigh the complex decisions of relieving patient pain while working to ensure patient safety, according to opposing viewpoints published online April 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Amiodarone Treatment Is Linked to Higher Cancer Risk
MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Amiodarone treatment for arrhythmias is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer, particularly in males and with increasing dose, according to a study published online April 8 in Cancer.
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African-Americans Are More Willing to Join in Research
MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Results from the Sentinel Network, which focuses on the health priorities and concerns of under-represented groups, indicate that African-Americans are more willing to participate in research than other racial/ethnic groups, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Less Sodium, More Potassium Can Have Major Health Impact
MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Lowering salt intake and increasing potassium intake are associated with cardiovascular risk improvements and could have a major impact on global health, according to three meta-analyses published April 4 in BMJ.
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Risk of Comorbidities Up With Hypoglycemia in T2DM
MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia, regardless of its severity, correlates with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events, all-cause hospitalization, and mortality, according to research published in the April issue of Diabetes Care.
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Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery Is Effective for Octogenarians
MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- For octogenarian patients with lumbar disc herniation, unilateral laminectomy and discectomy seems safe and effective, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & and Techniques.
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Novel Digital Stethoscope Detects Coronary Artery Disease
FRIDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) -- An advanced digital electronic stethoscope that detects coronary artery microbruits showed high sensitivity and specificity in detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) when compared to computed tomographic (CT) angiography, according to research published in March 15 issue in The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Statins Show Protective Effect Against Acute Kidney Injury
FRIDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) --Initiating a statin prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery may modestly reduce the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) post-CABG, especially in patients less than 65 years old, according to research published March 15 in The American Journal of Cardiology.
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EEG Proves Useful in Detection of Causes of In-Hospital Spells
FRIDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) -- Seizures are common among hospitalized patients who undergo electroencephalography (EEG) due to spells or altered mental status, according to a study in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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Walking Reduces CHD Risk Factors as Much as Running
FRIDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) -- Equivalent energy expenditure by moderate- or vigorous-intensity exercise is associated with similar risk reductions in coronary heart disease risk factors, according to a study published online April 4 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
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Chronic Pain Syndromes Are Common After Ischemic Stroke
FRIDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) -- About 10 percent of patients develop chronic pain syndromes post-stroke, and these patients are more likely to have increased functional dependence and cognitive decline, according to research published online April 4 in Stroke.
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Prevalence of Self-Reported Hypertension Rises in U.S.
THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of self-reported hypertension among U.S. adults increased slightly, but significantly from 2005 to 2009, and the proportion of adults using anti-hypertensive medications also increased, according to research published April 4 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly.
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Primary Care Model Ups African Americans' Glycemic Control
THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- A primary care strategy targeting rural, low-income, African-American patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with improved glycemic control, according to research published in March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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Low Risk With Normal Coronary Arteries, Nonobstructive CAD
THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who experience acute chest pain, and have nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), as determined by coronary computed tomographic angiography, have similarly benign outcomes as those with normal coronary arteries, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Glucocorticoids Are Tied to Increased Risk of Clots
THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Glucocorticoid users face an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a study published online April 1 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Testosterone Changes Precede Type of Rheumatoid Arthritis
THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Hormonal changes, especially testosterone, precede the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in men and may influence the type of RA, according to research published online April 3 in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
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Geographic Value Index May Not Produce Efficient Care
THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- A geographically based value index to set Medicare reimbursements may not take into account differences in health care decision-making by individual practitioners or organizations, according to an interim report released March 22 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
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CMS Announces Final Rates for Medicare Drug, Health Plans
THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the 2014 rate announcement and final call letter for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefit Part D programs.
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Annual Cost of Dementia About $200 Billion in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- In 2010, about 15 percent of elderly individuals in the United States had dementia, with the total monetary cost about $200 billion, according to a study published in the April 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Fed Gov to Cover 100% of New Medicaid Enrollees Under ACA
WEDNESDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the federal government will pay 100 percent of the costs of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act.
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Rural Hospital Mortality Rates Climbed From 2002-2010
WEDNESDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Thirty-day mortality rates for patients admitted to critical access hospitals (CAHs; designated hospitals for individuals living in rural communities) increased from 2002 to 2010 compared with patients admitted to other acute care hospitals, according to a study published online April 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Obama Administration Unveils The BRAIN Initiative
WEDNESDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Following the presentation of a new research initiative designed to map the human brain, set out in the State of the Union address, the Obama administration has unveiled the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, according to a White House press release issued April 2.
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Patients Taken Off Statins Can Be Re-Challenged With Success
TUESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Most patients who reported statin-related clinical events that resulted in statins being discontinued can often be re-challenged, and they can often tolerate the same or different statins long-term, according to research published in the April 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Higher Plasma Fatty Acid Levels Tied to Reduced Mortality
TUESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Higher circulating long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω3-PUFA) levels are tied to lower mortality later in life among cardiovascularly healthy adults, according to a study published in the April 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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After Chest Pain, Outcomes Are Better With Cardiologist's Care
TUESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with high cardiovascular risk seen for chest pain have better outcomes if they receive follow-up from a cardiologist rather than a primary care physician or no physician follow-up, according to a study published online April 1 issue of Circulation.
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Physical, Mental Activity Improve Seniors' Cognitive Function
TUESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Physical and mental activity are both associated with improved cognitive functioning in inactive, older adults with cognitive complaints, according to a study published online April 1 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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End-of-Life Talks Between Elderly, Doctors Inadequate
TUESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Most elderly patients at high risk for imminent death and their family members are discussing end-of-life (EOL) treatment preferences, but many do not communicate these with a member of the health care team, according to a study published online April 1 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Most Partners of U.S. Docs Satisfied in Their Relationships
MONDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Most spouses/partners of U.S. physicians report being satisfied with their relationships, with satisfaction linked to time spent together each day, according to research published in the March issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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Runners Achieve Greater Weight Loss Than Walkers
MONDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Runners lose more weight than walkers, according to a large study published in the April issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
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