Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for January 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.
FDA Approves First Generic Version of Advair for Asthma, COPD
THURSDAY, Jan. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The first generic form of the Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder) inhaler has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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AHA: Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Have Cardiovascular Disease
THURSDAY, Jan. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is 48.0 percent in adults in the United States based on 2013 to 2016 data, according to a report published online Jan. 31 in Circulation.
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Small Increase in HbA1c Seen With Switch to Human Insulin in T2DM
THURSDAY, Jan. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Switching from analogue to human insulin is associated with a small increase in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, according to a study published in the Jan. 29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Aerobic Exercise Tied to Better Cognition at All Ages
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Aerobic exercise contributes to brain health in individuals as young as 20 years, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in Neurology.
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Large Insulin Price Hike to Be Investigated by U.S. Congress
TUESDAY, Jan. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The soaring cost of insulin will be investigated as the U.S. Congress holds hearings into the high cost of prescription drugs, a lawmaker says.
AP News Article
Older Adults With Comorbidities Identified as Frequent ED Users
TUESDAY, Jan. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More than 5 percent of seniors visit emergency departments more than six times in one year, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
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Intensive BP Treatment Does Not Reduce Dementia Risk
TUESDAY, Jan. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Treating systolic blood pressure (BP) to a goal of less than 120 mm Hg rather than 140 mm Hg does not result in a significant reduction in the risk for probable dementia, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Evidence Lacking for Benefit of Surgery for Vertebral Fractures
MONDAY, Jan. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Surgical procedures do not appear to provide significant benefit for patients with vertebral fractures (VF), according to a second American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Task Force report published in the January issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
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Bone Health in Older Adults Not Improved by High-Dose Vitamin D
MONDAY, Jan. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- There is little benefit for older adults taking high-dose vitamin D supplements to improve their bone strength and reduce the risk for falls, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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Machine Learning Methods Can Detect UTI in Dementia Patients
MONDAY, Jan. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Algorithms that combine Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and in-home sensory devices with machine learning techniques can be used to monitor the health and well-being of people with dementia, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in PLOS ONE.
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Report IDs Areas Lacking Good Practice in Health Tech Assessment
FRIDAY, Jan. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- In a report published in the January issue of Value in Health, an ISPOR--The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research working group indicates the lack of good practices in three areas of health technology assessment (HTA).
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Home-Based Program Achieves Hypertension Control
FRIDAY, Jan. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A new home-based care delivery program can provide efficient and effective blood pressure (BP) control in individuals with hypertension, according to a study recently published in Clinical Cardiology.
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Assessment Tools Aid Risk Planning at Nursing Homes
FRIDAY, Jan. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Better use of risk assessment tools, like the Changes in Health and End-stage disease Signs and Symptoms (CHESS) score, can help nursing homes identify which new residents are at risk for hospitalization or death within the first 90 days after admission, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.
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Short Duration Between Dinner, Bed Has No Effect on HbA1c
THURSDAY, Jan. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Ensuring a short duration between dinner and bedtime has no effect on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in middle-aged and older Japanese adults, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.
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Body Size, Physical Activity Could Impact Odds of Reaching 90
THURSDAY, Jan. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Height, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity are associated with longevity, with correlations differing by sex, according to research published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
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Insulin Price More Than Doubled in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Some Americans with type 1 diabetes have cut back on their insulin usage as the cost of the drug nearly doubled over a five-year period.
CBS News Article
Benzodiazepine, Opioid Co-Usage Up in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Concurrent use of benzodiazepine receptor modulators and opioids and of nonselective and selective benzodiazepine receptor modulators increased from 1999-2000 to 2013-2014, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in SLEEP.
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Most Stroke Survivors ≥50 Years Report Complete Mental Health
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More than two-thirds of stroke survivors aged 50 years or older report being in complete mental health (CMH), according to a study published online Jan. 9 in the Journal of Aging and Health.
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Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis Tied to Increased Risk for Death
FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Radiographic knee osteoarthritis (RKOA) is associated with an increased risk for mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and renal diseases, but self-reported OA is not, according to a study published in the December issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology.
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Frailty Could Increase Susceptibility for Dementia
FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Frailty and Alzheimer disease-related brain changes independently contribute to dementia status, according to a study published in the February issue of The Lancet Neurology.
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FDA Down to 5 Weeks of Funding to Review New Drug Applications
THURSDAY, Jan. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only about five weeks of funding left to review new drug applications, according to Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D.
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High Symptom Burden in Elderly Linked to Adverse Outcomes
THURSDAY, Jan. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Community-dwelling older adults frequently have co-occurring symptoms, according to a study published online recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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High Levels of Activity, Motor Ability Linked to Better Cognition
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- In older adults, higher levels of total daily activity and better motor abilities are associated with better cognition, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in Neurology.
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Adoption of Advanced Health IT Capabilities Inconsistent
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Adoption of advanced health information technology (HIT) capabilities is inconsistent across health care systems, with electronic health record (EHR) standardization being the strongest predictor of advanced capabilities, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.
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Components of Ideal Cardio Health Cut Diabetes Risk
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- For individuals with normal fasting glucose but not those with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), a higher number of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) components correlates with a lower risk for diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Diabetologia.
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American College of Physicians Releases 7th Edition of Ethics Manual
TUESDAY, Jan. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Ethical principles are discussed in an updated Ethics Manual, issued by the American College of Physicians (ACP) and published as a supplement to the Jan. 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
American College of Physicians Ethics Manual
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One in Five Back Pain Patients Experience Persistent Pain
MONDAY, Jan. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Eighteen percent of patients with back pain experience a persistent trajectory, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in Arthritis Care & Research.
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CDC: Flu Cases Hit 7 Million in the United States
FRIDAY, Jan. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The flu season is picking up steam, with about 7 million Americans having been struck by a strain of the flu virus, health officials said Friday.
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Number of Colorectal CA Deaths Projected to Rise Worldwide
FRIDAY, Jan. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- An overall rise in the number of colorectal cancer deaths worldwide is expected through 2035, according to a study recently published in the International Journal of Cancer.
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Prices Still Explain High U.S. Health Care Spending
FRIDAY, Jan. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The difference in health spending between the United States and other countries is still explained by health care prices, according to a study published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
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Use of Diabetes Monitoring Tests in Primary Care Suboptimal
FRIDAY, Jan. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many primary care patients are not given tests recommended for monitoring diabetes, according to a study published in the December issue of Family Medicine and Community Health.
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Statin Therapy Reduces Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy in T2DM
FRIDAY, Jan. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- For Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, statin therapy is associated with a reduced risk for diabetic retinopathy, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Seniors Still Report Barriers to Hearing Care Services
THURSDAY, Jan. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicaid are less likely to use hearing care services and more likely to report having trouble with their aids, according to a study published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
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Less Deep Sleep in Elderly Tied to Alzheimer Disease Markers
THURSDAY, Jan. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Older people who have less slow wave sleep have higher levels of the brain protein tau, a marker of brain damage and Alzheimer disease (AD), according to a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Private Equity Acquisition of Physician Practices Discussed
THURSDAY, Jan. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The phenomenon of private equity acquisition of physician practices is discussed in an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Jan. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Transdermal HRT Not Linked to Increased Risk for VTE
THURSDAY, Jan. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), while transdermal preparations are not linked to increased risk, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in the BMJ.
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No Increased Fall Risk With HTN Treatment in Older Women
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Treating high blood pressure (BP) is not associated with an increased fall risk among older women, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Many Female Health Care Workers Live in Poverty
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many U.S. female health care workers, particularly women of color, live in poverty and lack health insurance, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Increase in Brand-Name Drug Cost Mainly Due to Existing Drugs
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The costs of oral and injectable brand-name drugs increased from 2008 to 2016, with most of the increase due to existing drugs, while new drugs accounted for cost increases in specialty and generic drugs, according to a study published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
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Medical Marketing Has Increased in Past 20 Years
TUESDAY, Jan. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- From 1997 through 2016, there was an increase in medical marketing, especially direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, according to research published in the Jan. 1/8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Feeling Life Is Worthwhile Linked to Healthier Aging
TUESDAY, Jan. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The feeling that life is filled with worthwhile activities may promote healthier aging and help sustain meaningful relationships, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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ACA Coverage Gains Could Erode Without Individual Mandate
TUESDAY, Jan. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Eliminating the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate penalty is unlikely to destabilize the individual market in California but could roll back coverage gains, according to a study published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
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Cancer Death Rate in U.S. Decreased Continuously From 1991 to 2016
TUESDAY, Jan. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The overall cancer death rate decreased continuously by 27 percent from 1991 to 2016, according to a report published online Jan. 8 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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Flu Vaccine Cuts Flu-Related Hospitalization in COPD Patients
MONDAY, Jan. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalization, influenza vaccination is associated with a significant reduction in influenza-related hospitalization, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in CHEST.
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Rx Opioids Up Pneumonia Risk in Patients With, Without HIV
MONDAY, Jan. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Prescribed opioids are associated with an increased risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization among persons with and without HIV, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Employment, Earning Losses Noted After Cardiovascular Events
MONDAY, Jan. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrest, and stroke are associated with substantial loss in employment and earnings at three years postevent, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Risk for MCI Up With Progressive Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
FRIDAY, Jan. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with hypertension with progression of periventricular white matter hyperintensities have an increased risk for incident mild cognitive impairment, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in Hypertension.
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More Comorbidities, Lower Mortality for Holocaust Survivors
FRIDAY, Jan. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Holocaust survivors in Israel have higher rates of comorbidities but lower mortality compared with a control population, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Network Open.
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Applying Population Health Data IDs Patients at Risk for CVD
FRIDAY, Jan. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Population-level data can help medical practitioners use electronic health records to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
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Clinical Tool Rapidly Assesses Post-Intensive Care Syndrome
THURSDAY, Jan. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The self-report version of the Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor is valid for assessing post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Critical Care.
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Many Adults in 50s, Early 60s Worried About Health Insurance
THURSDAY, Jan. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many adults aged 50 to 64 years are concerned about being unable to afford the cost of health insurance, according to the results of the National Poll on Healthy Aging published on Jan. 3.
National Poll on Healthy Aging
Moderate Drinking Not Harmful for Seniors With Heart Failure
THURSDAY, Jan. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults with heart failure, limited alcohol consumption after diagnosis is associated with survival benefit versus long-term abstinence, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Network Open.
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Antidepressant Use in Seniors Linked to Risk for Hip Fracture
THURSDAY, Jan. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Among older adults, antidepressant users sustain more hip fractures than nonusers both before and after therapy initiation, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Impaired Cognitive Status Impacts Rehab Potential in SNFs
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults admitted to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) with cognitive impairment show less improvement in functional status than older adults admitted with no cognitive impairment, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Price of Alirocumab Would Have to Be Cut to Be Cost-Effective
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome receiving a statin, the price of alirocumab would have to be reduced to be cost-effective, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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