Home Pulmonology August 2020 Briefing – Pulmonology

August 2020 Briefing – Pulmonology

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

AI Model Using Chest X-Ray May Predict 12-Year Lung Cancer Risk

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A deep learning model based on chest radiograph (CXR) images and data from the electronic medical record (EMR) has better discrimination for smokers at high risk for incident lung cancer than Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) eligibility, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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FDA Could Green-Light COVID-19 Vaccines Before Clinical Trials Completed

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Emergency use authorization (EUA) or approval for a COVID-19 vaccine before phase 3 clinical trials are complete could be considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to the agency’s commissioner, Stephen Hahn, M.D.

CNN Article

Community-Level Factors Explain Some Racial Disparities in COVID-19

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Community-level factors explain some, but not all, racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 rates in Massachusetts, according to a report published online Aug. 27 in Health Affairs.

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Lung-Specific Risk Factors Linked to Hip Fracture in Smokers

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The addition of lung-specific risk factors into fracture risk assessment tools may more accurately predict hip fracture risk in smokers, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

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Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 24 to 28, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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Model Says COVID-19 Deaths Could Surpass 317,000 by December

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A widely cited model for COVID-19 deaths in the United States predicts a total of 317,000 deaths by December.

CNN Article

Low Rates of Severe Disease, Death Reported for Children With COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Severe disease and death appear to be rare among children and young people hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, according to an observational study in the United Kingdom published online Aug. 27 in The BMJ.

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Mortality, Intubation Rates Lower With Anticoagulation in COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, anticoagulation (AC) is associated with reduced mortality and intubation, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Early Use of Empiric Antibacterial Therapy Common in COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Early empiric antibacterial therapy use is high in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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COVID-19 Infection May Initially Present as Acute Pancreatitis

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Acute pancreatitis may be a gastrointestinal manifestation of COVID-19, according to research published online Aug. 26 in Gastroenterology.

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Respiratory Disease May Increase Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Respiratory diseases increase the risk for rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

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Maine Summer Camps Identified, Isolated COVID-19 Cases

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Three COVID-19-positive people with no symptoms were successfully identified and isolated at four overnight camps in Maine, according to research published in the Aug. 26 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Worse Outcomes in COVID-19

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a lethal outcome for patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in Diabetes Care.

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Changes to CDC COVID-19 Testing Guidelines Trigger Concern

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experts are alarmed about revised U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines advising that people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 do not need to be tested, even if they have recently been exposed to the new coronavirus.

The New York Times Article

U.S. Nursing Home Staff Must Be Tested Regularly for COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nursing home staff will have to be tested regularly for COVID-19, and facilities that fail to do so will face fines, the Trump administration said Tuesday.

AP News Article

Exposure to Burning Wood Linked to Abnormal Cardiac Parameters

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Occupational exposures to burning wood, pesticides, and metals is associated with abnormal parameters of left and right ventricular systolic function, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Preterm Delivery Ups Risk for Premature Mortality in Mothers

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Preterm delivery is associated with an increased risk for premature mortality in women, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in The BMJ.

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Increase in Hospital Bed Use Tied to COVID-19 Deaths in Seven Days

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU bed use as a percentage of a state’s hospital bed capacity is significantly associated with an increase in overall COVID-19 deaths during the next seven days, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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Nurse Understaffing Common in Hospitals Prior to COVID-19

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many hospital nurses in Illinois and New York were burned out and working in understaffed conditions immediately prior to the first wave of COVID-19 patients, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in BMJ Quality & Safety.

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Vitamin D Supplement No Benefit in Pediatric Persistent Asthma

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D3 supplementation does not prolong the time to severe asthma exacerbation among children with persistent asthma and low vitamin D levels, according to a study published in the Aug. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic Children Identified

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The pooled prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV02) in asymptomatic children is 0.65 percent and is significantly associated with the incidence of COVID-19 in the general population, according to a research letter published online Aug. 25 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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WHO: Plasma Therapy for COVID-19 Still Experimental

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The use of blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors to treat patients hospitalized with the disease is still considered experimental, the World Health Organization said the day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it would allow emergency use of the therapy.

AP News Article

Return to Hospital Infrequent After COVID-19 Admission

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Return to hospital after discharge for inpatients with COVID-19 is infrequent, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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Heart Events Observed for ~12 Percent of Adults Hospitalized With Flu

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among adults hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, 11.7 percent have an acute cardiovascular event, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Widespread Mask Use Could Save 70,000 U.S. Lives by Dec. 1

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There could be another 134,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States by Dec. 1 if no new prevention measures are introduced, and the number of deaths could be much higher if rules are relaxed, researchers report. However, they also said that 70,000 lives could be saved if more people wore masks, CNN reported.

CNN Article

World’s First Confirmed Case of COVID-19 Reinfection Reported in Hong Kong

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The world’s first confirmed case of reinfection with the new coronavirus has been reported in Hong Kong.

The New York Times Article

Pop Concert Held to Learn More About COVID-19 Spread

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — About 1,500 people attended a pop concert in Germany to help researchers learn how the new coronavirus spreads in such situations.

AP News Article

FDA Approves Wider Use of Plasma as COVID-19 Treatment

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sunday cleared the way for more hospitalized COVID-19 patients to be treated with the blood plasma of COVID-19 survivors.

The New York Times Article
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Clinical Impact of Remdesivir in Moderate COVID-19 Unclear

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with moderate COVID-19 receiving a five-day course of remdesivir have a statistically significant difference in clinical status compared with usual care, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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School-Located Influenza Vaccine Intervention Beneficial

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A school-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) intervention is associated with a reduction in the incidence of influenza hospitalization, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in PLOS Medicine.

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Black-White Disparity in Lung Cancer Incidence Eliminated

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The historically higher lung cancer incidence in young Black people compared with White people has disappeared and reversed in men and women, respectively, in the United States, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.

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Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 17 to 21, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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White House Blocks FDA’s Power to Regulate Lab Tests

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Trump administration has blocked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from regulating a wide swath of laboratory tests, including ones for COVID-19.

Washington Post Article

Extract From Deadly Plant Touted as COVID-19 Cure

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experts have slammed claims by a major Trump donor that an extract from a deadly plant is a cure for COVID-19.

The New York Times Article

ACIP Issues Recommendations for 2020 to 2021 Flu Vaccination

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations have been updated to include the influenza vaccination for the 2020 to 2021 season; the recommendations were published in the Aug. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Exposure to Air Pollution Tied to New Asthma in Children

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Fine particulate matter contributes to the development of asthma and persistent wheezing in children, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in The BMJ.

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Incidence of COVID-19 Up for American Indians, Alaska Natives

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The overall incidence of COVID-19 is increased among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons in the United States, according to research published in the Aug. 19 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Advisory Panel Rejects Nearly All Proposals for Fetal Tissue Research

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A Trump administration advisory board to evaluate scientific research involving fetal tissue says 13 of 14 proposals should be rejected.

The New York Times Article

SARS-CoV-2 Nasopharyngeal Load Higher in Children Than Adults

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have the highest nasopharyngeal viral load in the first two days of symptoms, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in The Journal of Pediatrics.

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Disparities Seen in COVID-19 Hospitalizations in Racial/Ethnic Subgroups

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There are considerable disparities in the prevalence of COVID-19 across racial/ethnic subgroups in the United States, according to a research letter published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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FDA Emergency Approval on Hold for Blood Plasma to Treat COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency approval of blood plasma as a COVID-19 treatment was put on hold last week after senior federal health officials said data supporting the therapy were too weak.

The New York Times Article

Poll: More Older Adults Using Telehealth During Pandemic

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More older adults have used telehealth to consult with a health care provider during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with that seen in the previous year, according to a report published online Aug. 17 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.

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Disparities Seen in COVID-19 Hot Spots for Racial, Ethnic Minority Groups

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Disparities in COVID-19 cases are seen in one or more underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in almost all hot spots in the United States, according to research published in the Aug. 14 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Honey Beats Usual Care for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), honey seems superior to usual care, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Aug. 18 in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

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COVID-19 Spread Among Students Prompts UNC to Return to Online Teaching

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a potential harbinger of what could unfold on college campuses across the United States this fall, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said Monday it will revert back to online teaching after testing showed a rapid spread of COVID-19 among students.

The New York Times Article

Neck Gaiters ‘Worse Than Nothing’ in Preventing COVID-19 Spread

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Thin, stretchy neck gaiters are “worse than nothing” when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19, according to researchers.

CBS News Article
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COVID-19 Impact on Homeless People in U.S. Not as Bad as Feared

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless people in the United States has not been as severe as feared, data show.

AP News Article

CV Risk Factors, Comorbidity Tied to COVID-19 CV Complications

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, preexisting cardiovascular comorbidities or risk factors (RFs) are associated with cardiovascular complications, which contribute to mortality, according to a meta-analysis published online Aug. 14 in PLOS ONE.

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Hospital Visitation, Communication Policies Evolving Due to COVID-19

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patient visitation policies and clinician communication methods in hospitals have undergone a major overhaul, according to a letter to the editor published online July 20 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 10 to 14, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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COVID-19 Deaths in Nursing Homes Climbing Again

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The novel coronavirus is surging once more in U.S. nursing homes, where it killed tens of thousands at the start of the pandemic.

Washington Post Article

Excess Mortality During Peak of 1918 Flu Similar to COVID-19 in NYC

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Excess mortality during the peak of the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic was comparable to that seen early in the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in New York City, according to a research letter published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Network Open.

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Convalescent Plasma Efficacious for Severe COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Transfusion of convalescent plasma is efficacious in patients with severe COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in The American Journal of Pathology.

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Positivity Rates of SARS-CoV-2 Low for Children in England

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children in England had low positivity rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the first COVID-19 pandemic peak and also had a low case-fatality rate, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

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Return-to-School Recommendations Issued for Organ Transplant Recipients

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, the decision of whether to return to school should be a shared decision between families, transplant professionals, and educators, according to an expert opinion article published online Aug. 4 in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

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Abnormal Liver Tests Common in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 frequently have abnormal liver tests, which may be associated with poorer clinical outcomes, according to research published online July 29 in Hepatology.

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FDA Warns of Hand Sanitizers Tainted With 1-Propanol

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning people not to use hand sanitizers made by Harmonic Nature S de RL de MI in Mexico.

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U.S. COVID-19 Death Tally Hits New High for Summer

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — America logged its highest single-day COVID-19 death total of the summer on Wednesday, as the toll from an earlier surge in cases in Sun Belt states continued to mount.

The New York Times Article

In-Person Clinic Visits at VA Down by Half Early in Pandemic

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a 56 percent decline in in-person visits across Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient facilities, which is only partly offset by more than a twofold increase in the number of telephone and video visits, according to a research letter published online Aug. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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CDC Updates Info on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As of July 29, there have been a total of 570 U.S. cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), according to research published in the Aug. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Many Community Outbreaks of COVID-19 Traced to Restaurants, Bars

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — New data show that many of the community outbreaks of COVID-19 that have cropped up in the United States this summer have originated in restaurants and bars.

The New York Times Article

U.S. Government to Buy 100 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine From Moderna

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Trump administration has agreed to pay $1.5 billion for 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna once it is approved, CNN reported Wednesday.

CNN Article

Sharp Drop in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Mortality Seen in Recent Years

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mortality from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the United States fell sharply from 2013 to 2016, while survival improved substantially, according to a study published in the Aug. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Burnout Less Likely for Doctors in Minority Race/Ethnic Groups

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compared with non-Hispanic White physicians, physicians in minority racial/ethnic groups are less likely to report burnout, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in JAMA Network Open.

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Environmental Factors Tied to Childhood Obesity

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Childhood obesity is associated with multiple environmental factors, including exposure to smoking and air pollution, according to a study recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

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CDC: Pediatric Hospitalizations for COVID-19 Increasing

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — While rates of hospitalization for children with COVID-19 remain low, they have been increasing, according to research published in the Aug. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Preventable Hospitalizations Up Among Those With Dementia

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The number of potentially preventable hospitalizations among older adults with dementia is increasing, according to a study published online July 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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SARS-CoV-2 Rates Up for Minority, Disadvantaged Children

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are increased among minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged children, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in Pediatrics.

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FDA Head Says Any Approved COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Safe

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Stephen Hahn, M.D., the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Monday that the agency will not compromise safety when approving a COVID-19 vaccine, CNN reported.

CNN Article

Gilead Seeks FDA Approval for Remdesivir

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Gilead Sciences has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval for its COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir. The antiviral drug will take the brand name Veklury, the company said.

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Guidance Helps Doctors Optimize Telemedicine for Seniors

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an Ideas and Opinions article published online Aug. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, guidance is provided for physicians to optimize telemedicine, which can be challenging for older patients.

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E-Cigarette Use Linked to Increased Odds of COVID-19

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes are associated with increased likelihood of COVID-19 diagnosis, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

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Persistent Opioid Use Seen in ~10 Percent of Patients After Cardiac Surgery

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Persistent opioid use is a common concern after cardiac surgery, according to a study published online June 17 in JAMA Cardiology.

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Russia Approves COVID-19 Vaccine Before Trials Completed

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Before completing clinical trials to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective, the Russian government has gone ahead and approved a vaccine against the new coronavirus, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

The New York Times Article

Respiratory-Related ED Visits Up in Days Before Thunderstorms

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Emergency department visits for acute respiratory illness among Medicare beneficiaries significantly increase in the days before major thunderstorms, according to a research letter published online Aug. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Legionella Bacteria Forces CDC Office Closures

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed employees that office space it rents in the Atlanta area would be closed after Legionella, the bacteria that causes legionnaires disease, was found in the buildings, The New York Times reported. Fortunately, no employees have been sickened.

The New York Times Article

Expanding Medicaid in Holdout States Could Insure 3.9 Million

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Expanding Medicaid to all states could reduce the number of uninsured by 28 percent based on pre-COVID-19 data, according to a report released by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults Likely to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Two-thirds of U.S. adults say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the results of a survey released Aug. 6 by the COVID-19 Consortium for Understanding the Public’s Policy Preferences Across States.

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Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 3 to 7, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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300,000 American Deaths Projected by December Without More Face Mask Use

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the U.S. COVID-19 case count neared 5 million on Thursday, a new model predicted that nearly 300,000 Americans could die of COVID-19 by December if more people do not wear masks or practice better social distancing.

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Life Expectancy 78.60 Years for U.S. Population for 2009-2011

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy for 2009 to 2011 was 78.60 years for the total U.S. population, with the highest life expectancy for Hispanic women, according to the Aug. 7 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Detected in 13.7 Percent of NYC HCPs

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among health care providers in the New York City area, 13.7 percent have severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, a rate similar to adults randomly tested in New York state, according to a research letter published online Aug. 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Moderna Charging Much More for COVID-19 Vaccine Than Others

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Moderna is charging $37 a dose for its experimental vaccine, which is far more than what other companies say they plan to charge for their vaccines, CBS News reported Wednesday. Because two doses of the vaccine are needed to immunize people from COVID-19, total costs could be $74 per person.

CBS News Article

Johnson & Johnson Makes $1 Billion Vaccine Deal

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. government will pay Johnson & Johnson $1 billion for 100 million doses of its vaccine if it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Washington Post Article

Scientists Call for Broader Use of Faster COVID-19 Tests

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across America, scientists on Wednesday called for widespread adoption of simpler, less accurate tests, as long as they are given often and quickly.

The New York Times Article

ICU Beds Lacking in Low-Income Neighborhoods Across the U.S.

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There are greater shortages of intensive care unit (ICU) beds for critically ill patients in low-income neighborhoods compared with high-income neighborhoods, according to a report published in the August issue of Health Affairs.

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CDC: More American Indian, Alaska Natives in Fair, Poor Health

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) adults are more likely to be in fair or poor health than all U.S. adults, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

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Early Use of IL-6 Inhibitors May Improve COVID-19 Outcomes

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with severe COVID-19, administration of an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor (IL6ri) earlier in the disease course is associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online July 25 in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

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Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Encouraging Results

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Maryland-based Novavax said Tuesday that preliminary trials of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine were promising.

The New York Times Article

Seven States Join Pact to Speed COVID-19 Testing

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the daily U.S. COVID-19 death toll averaged more than 1,000 for the ninth straight day on Tuesday, governors from seven states banded together to shorten turnaround time for COVID-19 test results.

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COVID-19 Case Fatality Rate 29 Percent in Multiple Myeloma Patients

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with multiple myeloma and COVID-19, the case fatality rate is 29 percent among hospitalized patients, with increased odds of adverse outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities, according to a study published online July 30 in Blood Cancer Discovery.

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Health Plans Not Implementing Prior Authorization Reforms

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physicians say prior authorization (PA) continues to interfere with patient care and can lead to adverse clinical consequences, according to the results of a survey released by the American Medical Association.

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ATS Issues Guide for Diagnosing Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a clinical practice guideline from the American Thoracic Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax, published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, a systematic approach is presented for the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP).

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Bisphenol A Linked to More Asthma Symptoms in Young Boys

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to make certain plastics and resins, may cause more severe asthma symptoms in children, according to a study published online July 28 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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Number of Newly ID’d U.S. Patients With Cancer Dropped During COVID-19

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was a significant decline in newly identified U.S. patients with six common types of cancer, according to a research letter published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

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President Says Medicare Should Expand Telehealth Services

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday that will broaden the role of telehealth for Medicare patients, the Associated Press reported.

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Most Studies Still Fail to Analyze Data by Sex

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The effect of gender is still largely ignored in scientific studies, according to a study published online June 9 in eLife.

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Trump’s Plan Limits Free Nursing Home COVID-19 Tests

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The plan to give every nursing home a fast COVID-19 testing machine has a catch, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The catch is that under the Trump administration plan, the government will not give kits to check staff and residents more than a couple of times.

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AI-Enabled ECG Can Identify Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea, an artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) can identify left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD; defined as left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35 percent) with high accuracy, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.

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Burnout High Among Nonphysician Frontline Health Care Workers

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than 40 percent of nurses on the front lines during the pandemic may be experiencing burnout, according to a research letter published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

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β2-Agonists Improve Nonaerobic Athletic Performance

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Sprint and strength performance are improved in nonasthmatic athletes by using β2-agonists, according to a review published online Aug. 3 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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Program Cuts Outpatient Antibiotic Rx for Peds Respiratory Infections

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A distance learning program is effective for reducing outpatient prescribing for pediatric acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) visits, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in Pediatrics.

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Cost-Related Rx Nonadherence Highest in Young U.S. Women

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cost-related prescription nonadherence is highest among younger U.S. women compared with individuals living in 10 other high-income countries, according to a report published in the August issue of Health Affairs.

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Short Video May Lower Parent Interest in Antibiotics for Child

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A 90-second animated video can reduce parents’ interest in receiving antibiotics for their child’s respiratory infection, according to a study published online June 15 in The Journal of Pediatrics.

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Mortality Risk Increased With Pulmonary Vascular Resistance of ≥2.2

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC), the risks for mortality and heart failure are increased with a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 2.2 Wood units or more, according to a study published online July 27 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

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Obesity Ups Risk for Intubation, Death With COVID-19 in Adults <65

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is associated with an increased risk for intubation or death among hospitalized adults with COVID-19, with the association observed in adults younger than 65 years but not in older adults, according to a study published online July 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Risk for Acute Cerebrovascular Events Low in COVID-19 Patients

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the risk for acute cerebrovascular events is low, according to a study published online July 20 in Stroke.

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38 Percent of Older Adults in U.S. Not Ready for Video Doctor Visits

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 38 percent of all older adults in the United States are not ready for video visits with physicians, according to a research letter published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Risk for Positive COVID-19 Test Up for Health Care Workers

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Frontline health care workers have an increased risk for reporting a positive test for COVID-19, according to a study published online July 31 in The Lancet Public Health.

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