Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for August 2016. 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.
First Case of Zika-Associated Sensory Polyneuropathy Reported
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In a case report published online Aug. 21 in the Journal of Neurological Sciences, researchers confirm the first case of Zika-associated sensory polyneuropathy in an adult male.
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9/11 Responders May Be at Higher Risk for Early Dementia
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by many rescuers and other first responders of 9/11 now appears linked to cognitive impairment and dementia, according to a report published online Aug. 18 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
ACA Is Helping More Americans Afford Prescriptions
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Though a growing number of Americans are able to afford prescription medications, millions still have difficulty, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Optimism, Cynical Hostility Influence Fall Risk in Women
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Optimism is associated with a decreased fall risk and cynical hostility with an increased fall risk for women, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Older MI Survivors Have High Event Risk Over Long Term
TUESDAY, Aug. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Older myocardial infarction (MI) survivors have long-term elevated risks of mortality and cardiovascular events, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
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Maintaining Body Weight Linked to Reduced Costs in T2DM
TUESDAY, Aug. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, maintaining body weight is associated with a reduction in medical care costs, while weight gain is associated with variable cost increases depending on the hemoglobin A1C level, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in Diabetes Care.
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Many Cases of Depression in Adults Not Being Treated
TUESDAY, Aug. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many American adults who suffer from depression aren’t getting treatment, according to a study published online Aug. 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Caregiver Well-Being Linked to Quality of Cancer Patient Care
TUESDAY, Aug. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Informal caregiver well-being is associated with patient-perceived quality of care (QOC), according to a study published online Aug. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Adults With CVD Have Gaps in Secondhand Smoke Knowledge
MONDAY, Aug. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Low-income adults with cardiovascular disease have considerable gaps in knowledge relating to secondhand smoke (SHS), according to a study published online Aug. 25 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.
Ezetimibe Plus Rosuvastatin Bests Rosuvastatin Alone
MONDAY, Aug. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with primary hypercholesterolemia, fixed-dose combination of ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin is more effective than rosuvastatin alone, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
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Nighttime Sleep Disturbance Common in Chronic Pain
MONDAY, Aug. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Individuals suffering from chronic pain frequently have nighttime sleep disturbance, and it might be exacerbated by opioid treatment, according to a study published online Aug. 22 in Anaesthesia.
Delirium-Related Training Inadequate for ICU Staff
MONDAY, Aug. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Training related to delirium is inadequate for intensive care unit (ICU) health care professionals, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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No Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Hospital LOS, Mortality
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — State Medicaid expansion as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is not associated with length of stay (LOS) or in-hospital mortality among general medicine patients, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Plain Radiography Can ID Changes in Gouty Tophi Size
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with tophaceous gout, plain radiography can assess response to hypouricemic treatment, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
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In-Hospital Mortality Up With Weekend Admission in NSTEMI
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), weekend admission is associated with increased in-hospital mortality, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Most Clinicians Report That Sleep Quality in ICU Is Poor
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Most clinicians believe that sleep in the intensive care unit (ICU) is poor and that poor sleep adversely affects patient outcomes, according to a study published in the August issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Major Depressive Disorder Ups Acute MI Risk in HIV-Infected
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For HIV-infected adults, major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to a study published online Aug. 24 in JAMA Cardiology.
Ultrasound Treatment Appears Promising for Essential Tremor
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients with essential tremor may benefit from a new noninvasive ultrasound procedure, according to a report published in the Aug. 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
IARC: Absence of Excess Body Fat Lowers Risk of Many Cancers
THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Excess weight is linked to risk of developing at least eight types of cancer, according to a report published in the Aug. 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Circulating Biomarkers May Be Indicative of Stroke Risk
THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In the future, a simple blood test might gauge a patient’s odds of incident ischemic stroke (IIS), according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Neurology.
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Cancer Replaces CVD As Leading Cause of Death in 22 States
THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The gap between heart disease and the second-leading cause of death, cancer, has been narrowing since 1968, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Vonoprazan-Based Triple Tx Feasible for H. pylori
THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan-based triple therapy seems safe and effective compared with conventional proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy as first-line treatment against Helicobacter pylori, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
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Steep Rise in U.S. Drug Prices Tied to Patent Monopolies
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Prescription drug prices are skyrocketing in the United States due in large part to government regulations, according to a study published in the Aug. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
CDC Urges Prevention, Early Recognition of Sepsis
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many cases of life-threatening sepsis could be recognized and treated long before they cause severe illness or death, according to an Aug. 23 Vital Signs report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Review: Frailty Status May Predict Outcome After Cardiac Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Frailty status may be able to predict outcome in older adults undergoing cardiac surgical procedures, although the quality of evidence is variable, according to a review published online Aug. 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Disease-Guided Approach Ups Specificity of Statin Treatment
TUESDAY, Aug. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A disease-guided approach to statin eligibility can improve treatment specificity, according to a study published in the Aug. 30 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Metformin Linked to Increased Risk of Acute Dialysis in T2DM
TUESDAY, Aug. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, metformin is associated with about a 50 percent increase in the risk of acute dialysis compared to sulfonylureas, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
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Testosterone Solution Found Safe, Effective for Hypogonadal Men
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Once-daily 2 percent testosterone solution (T-sol) is safe and effective for sex drive and energy in hypogonadal men, according to a study published online in The Journal of Urology.
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ACA Has Increased Rx Drug Use, Cut Out-of-Pocket Spending
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased prescription use and reduced out-of-pocket spending, according to a report published online Aug. 17 in Health Affairs.
Decision Regret Uncommon After Radical Prostatectomy, IMRT
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) and post-prostatectomy image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT), decision regret (DR) is uncommon and occurs more often after RP, according to research published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
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Barrier-Specific Care Significantly Improves Glycemic Control
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, barrier categories to glycemic control include psychological/support, socioeconomic, and accessibility, and addressing these barriers improves glycemic control, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in Diabetes Care.
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Post-Op Doctor Shopping for One in Four With Nephrolithiasis
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Postoperative doctor shopping occurs in about one-quarter of patients with nephrolithiasis undergoing ureteroscopy, according to research published in the September issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Cardiac Arrest In-Hospital Death Down in Teaching Hospitals
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with cardiac arrest (CA), teaching hospital status is associated with decreased in-hospital mortality, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Antimicrobial Tx Duration Often Exceeds Recommendations
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Antimicrobials are often prescribed for a longer duration than recommended in guidelines, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Coronary Heart Disease Risk Up in Patients With Gallstones
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients with history of gallstone disease may have a slightly increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), according to research published online Aug. 18 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
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Oily Fish Consumption May Ward Off Diabetic Retinopathy
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with diabetes, two servings of fatty fish a week may be enough to lower their risk of diabetic retinopathy, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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USPSTF Ruling Followed by Fall in Early Prostate Cancer Diagnoses
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Diagnoses of early prostate cancer continue to decline in the United States, following the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against routine screening, according to a research letter published online Aug. 18 in JAMA Oncology.
Calcium Supplements Tied to Dementia Risk in Older Women
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Taking calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis may raise an older woman’s risk of dementia, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Neurology.
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Depression Often Seen in Patients Discharged From ICU
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A significant number of former intensive care unit (ICU) patients experience depression, according to a review published in the September issue of Critical Care Medicine.
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Anemia Tied to Increased Mortality Risk Following Stroke
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Anemia may increase mortality risk for older stroke patients, according to research published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Diabetes Linked to Increased CVD, Cancer, Other Mortality
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Diabetes is associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and noncardiovascular noncancer causes, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in Diabetes Care.
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Legal Issues Impact Delivery of Telehealth
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Telehealth technologies can allow delivery of high-quality care at a lower cost, especially in underserved areas, but there is currently no uniform legal approach to telehealth, hampering its provision, according to a Health Policy Brief published online Aug. 15 in Health Affairs.
Full Med Adherence Reduces Costs for Patients With CVD
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Full adherence to guideline-recommended therapies is associated with a reduced rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cost savings, according to a study published in the Aug. 23 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Sociodemographic Factors Affect Prostate CA Treatment Initiation
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For men with low-risk prostate cancer undergoing active surveillance, sociodemographic factors are associated with initiation of active treatment, according to a study published in the September issue of The Journal of Urology.
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β-Blockers Not Always Indicated for PCI Patients
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians might be overprescribing β-blocker medications to heart patients, according to research published in the Aug. 22 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Physician Under-Recognition of Angina Often Occurs
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians frequently under-recognize angina in their patients with coronary artery disease, with under-recognition more likely for patients with heart failure and less-frequent angina, according to research published online Aug. 16 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Abaloparatide Reduces Fracture Risk in Women With Osteoporosis
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, an experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of bone fractures better than teriparatide or a placebo, according to a study published in the Aug. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Residents Often Order Perceived Unnecessary Lab Tests
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Residents frequently order perceived unnecessary inpatient laboratory tests, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Physician-Perceived Frailty Tied to Warfarin Discontinuation
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physician-perceived frailty and low life expectancy are the main reasons for warfarin discontinuation in elderly patients, according to a study published online July 29 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
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Large Trial Proposed to Compare HCTZ, Chlorthalidone
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A large randomized trial is being developed to compare the effectiveness of hydrochlorothiazide with chlorthalidone in Veterans Affairs (VA) patients, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Aug. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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U.S. Female Doctors Reimbursed Significantly Less Than Males
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Female doctors in the United States make much less than their male colleagues, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in the Postgraduate Medical Journal.
Feeding Tube Use Down in Patients With Advanced Dementia
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The use of feeding tubes for nursing home patients with advanced dementia is declining, according to a research letter published in the Aug. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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DASH Diet May Be Beneficial for Gout Patients
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet may offer a non-drug treatment for gout, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
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Physical Function Tied to Clinical, Subclinical Neurological Disease
MONDAY, Aug. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physical function is associated with clinical and subclinical brain disease, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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Arhalofenate Beats Allopurinol for Gout Flares
MONDAY, Aug. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Arhalofenate (800 mg) is safe and significantly decreases gout flares compared to allopurinol (300 mg), according to a study published online July 27 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Unstable Vital Signs for About One in Five Hospital Discharges
MONDAY, Aug. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Among adults with a hospitalization, vital sign instability on discharge is associated with increased risk of 30-day mortality and readmission, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Virtual Reality Component Reduces Risk of Falls in Elderly
FRIDAY, Aug. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For older adults at risk of falls, the addition of non-immersive virtual reality (VR) to treadmill training reduces the incidence of falls, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in The Lancet.
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Review Links Anxiety Disorders to Risk of Cardiovascular Events
FRIDAY, Aug. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Anxiety disorders are associated with a range of cardiovascular events, according to a meta-analysis published in the Aug. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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One-Third of Patients Don’t Retain Important Warfarin Info
FRIDAY, Aug. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Just over two-thirds of patients retain an “acceptable” amount of key information following warfarin counseling, according to a small study published online Aug. 6 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
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Considerable Health Care System Burden for Undiagnosed COPD
FRIDAY, Aug. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The overall health system burden of exacerbations in patients with undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considerable, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Grapefruit-Midazolam Interaction Varies With Juice Characteristics
FRIDAY, Aug. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The interaction between grapefruit juice and midazolam varies based on grapefruit juice-related characteristics such as the amount of furanocoumarin, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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Topical Iodine Can Cause Overestimation of Blood Glucose
FRIDAY, Aug. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of topical iodine can cause overestimation of blood glucose (BG) readings, according to a case report published online Aug. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
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2013 Saw 1.7 Million Home Visits From Primary Care Doctors
THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In 2013, about 5,000 primary care providers made about 1.7 million home-based medical visits, according to research published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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CA-125 Strategy Cuts Death, Readmission in Heart Failure
THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients discharged with acute heart failure (AHF), antigen carbohydrate 125-guided therapy (CA125-strategy) is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of one-year death or readmission for AHF, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in JACC: Heart Failure.
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About Half of Older ICU Survivors Have Functional Recovery
THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — About half of older intensive care unit (ICU) survivors have functional recovery within six months, with higher body mass index and functional self-efficacy associated with recovery, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Resistant Hypertension Linked to Increased Risk of Sleep Apnea
THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Among adults with hypertension, resistant hypertension (RH) is associated with increased risk of sleep apnea, according to a study published online July 18 in Respirology.
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Risk of Post-Op Opioid Abuse Deemed Low for Elderly Patients
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Opioid abuse arises in only a very small fraction — less than half of 1 percent — of cases involving surgical patients aged 65 or older, according to a research letter published online Aug. 10 in JAMA Surgery.
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Suicide Rate Increased in Patients With Serious Infections
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients hospitalized for serious infections may face an increased risk of suicide, according to research published online Aug. 10 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Many U.S. Hospitals Offer Language Services
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 68.8 percent of hospitals offer language services, with the proportion increasing with level of need, according to research published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Counterfeit Alprazolam Cut With Fentanyl Can Be Fatal
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — At least one San Francisco-area individual died and eight more were treated in the emergency department in late 2015 after taking counterfeit alprazolam (Xanax) tablets that had been cut with fentanyl, according to a case report published online Aug. 8 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Water-Based Ai Chi Program Beneficial in Fibromyalgia
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A water-based Ai Chi program is associated with improvements in quality of life for women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), according to a study published online July 26 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
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Many Americans Exposed to Toxic Chemicals in Drinking Water
TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The levels of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in drinking water exceed government-recommended safety levels for at least six million people in the United States, according to a report published online Aug. 9 in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
Low Initial Dose, No Refills Can Help Prevent Opioid Dependency
TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients who are first-time users of opioids should be prescribed a small dose without refills to reduce the risk of long-term use and possible addiction, according to a study published online Aug. 2 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Active Life Expectancy Varies for Older Blacks, Whites
TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy has increased for older whites and blacks, but blacks, especially women, have a smaller percentage of remaining life spent active, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Guidance Needed for Frail Elderly With Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
MONDAY, Aug. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — More attention should be given to frailty-related items in clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), according to a study published online Aug. 3 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Readmission Rates Up for Seniors With Low Access to Pharmacies
MONDAY, Aug. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Limited access to pharmacies may be one reason hospital readmission is more common among older patients in rural, remote, or smaller communities, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.
Acupuncture May Be Useful in Treatment of Amnestic MCI
FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Acupuncture seems to be effective for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (AMCI), according to a meta-analysis published online Aug. 4 in Acupuncture in Medicine.
No Recent Increase in Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease in U.S.
FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Since the early 2000s there has been little increase in the prevalence of stage 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States, according to a study published online Aug. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Opioid-Related Insurance Claims Rise 3,000 Percent
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The number of private health insurance claims for Americans addicted to opioids and heroin rose 3,203 percent from 2007 to 2014, according to a Fair Health report.
Spending on Compounded Drugs Skyrocketing
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Government spending on compounded drugs has skyrocketed, raising concerns of fraud and overbilling, according to a report published by Kaiser Health News.
Mortality Up With Impaired Glucose Tolerance
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) face an increased risk of mortality, with much of the increased risk of mortality associated with progression to type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online July 13 in Diabetes Care.
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Overweight/Obesity Up Incidence of Hand, Hip, Knee Osteoarthritis
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of hand, hip, and knee osteoarthritis (OA) increases with overweight and obesity, particularly in the knee, according to a study published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
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Standardized Cardiac Telemetry IDs Cardiac Rhythm Change
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — An off-site central monitoring unit (CMU) applying standardized cardiac telemetry is associated with detection and notification of cardiac rhythm and rate changes before emergency response team (ERT) activation, according to a study published in the Aug. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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High Doses of Omega-3s May Help Healing After Acute MI
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who take high doses of omega-3 fatty acids for six months show improved heart function and less scarring, according to a study published in the Aug. 2 issue of Circulation.
Liraglutide Not Beneficial in Advanced Heart Failure
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Liraglutide (Victoza) doesn’t appear to improve heart function in patients with advanced heart failure, according to a study published in the Aug. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Physician Reviews Approaches to Treating Opioid-Use Disorders
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Different approaches to the treatment of opioid-use disorders are addressed in an article published in the July 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Active Music Therapy Beneficial in Parkinson’s Disease
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Active music therapy has beneficial effects in Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study published online July 26 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Memories of Delusions in ICU Include Fact, Fiction
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Memories of delusions in the intensive care unit are composed of a mixture of fact and fiction, and are not dependent on the presence of delirium, according to a study published online July 26 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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Predictors ID’d for Switching to Active Tx in Prostate Cancer
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For men with low-risk prostate cancer, factors such as ethnicity influence patient decision to pursue active treatment during active surveillance, according to a study published online in The Journal of Urology.
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Bleeding Risk Up With Aspirin After Lower GI Bleeding
TUESDAY, Aug. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with a history of lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, continuation of aspirin is associated with increased risk of recurrent bleeding, but reduced risk of cardiovascular events and death, according to a study published in the August issue of Gastroenterology.
High Animal Protein Intake Tied to Higher Risk of Early Mortality
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — People who get more of their protein from plant sources have an overall lower mortality risk than those who consume more animal protein, according to research published online Aug. 1 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
August Designated National Immunization Awareness Month
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In order to remind adults of the importance of immunizations throughout life, August is being recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month, according to a report from the American College of Physicians (ACP).
European Countries Implementing Cost-Sharing
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — European health systems are requiring an increase in cost-sharing measures for patients 50 years of age and older, according to research published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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[18F]-AV-1451 Shows Staging Potential in Alzheimer’s
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of [18F]-AV-1451 positron emission tomography (PET) can potentially stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a study published online July 25 in JAMA Neurology.
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Hospitalizations for Heart Failure With Preserved EF Common
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is common among patients hospitalized with acute heart failure, and patients with HFpEF are older, more often female, and frequently have comorbidities, according to a study published in the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
Locked Doors May Not Prevent Inpatient Suicide, Absconding
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients in psychiatric wards, treatment on locked wards seems not to prevent suicide, suicide attempts, or absconding, according to a study published online July 28 in The Lancet Psychiatry.
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