Archives
Head injury decision rules in children
26 Apr, 2017 | 16:06h | UTCAccuracy of PECARN, CATCH, and CHALICE head injury decision rules in children: a prospective cohort study – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Sources: External Validation of Three Decision Rules for Pediatric Head Injury – Journal Watch (free) AND Best way to diagnose head injuries in children and minimize CT scans – ScienceDaily (free) AND PECARN, CATCH, CHALICE … or None of the Above? – By Ryan P. Radecki, MD, in Emergency Medicine Literature of Note (free)
The 3 decision rules performed well with negative predictive values >99%. The PECARN clinical decision rule was more sensitive and missed only 1 patient with clinically important traumatic brain injury, but was less specific, meaning more CTs would be required. These findings indicate that CT can generally be avoided if one of the prediction rules are negative.
Recommendations on hepatitis C screening for adults
25 Apr, 2017 | 15:50h | UTCGuideline: Recommendations on hepatitis C screening for adults – Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (free)
News release: CTFPHC Releases Its First Hepatitis C Population-wide Screening Guideline (free)
See also: Summary of recommendations for clinicians and policy-makers (free) AND Clinician FAQ (free)
Commentary: Canada recommends against testing everyone for hepatitis C – Reuters Health (free) (RT @CMichaelGibson)
“Guideline recommends against screening for HCV in adults who are not at elevated risk”.
Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Primary Care
26 Apr, 2017 | 16:09h | UTCUpdated Guideline: Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Primary Care – Toward Optimized Practice (TOP) Guidelines (free)
Practical guideline for primary care providers.
Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza
25 Apr, 2017 | 15:51h | UTCGuideline: Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza – United States, 2017 – CDC – MMWR (free)
Source: New CDC guidelines on flu pandemic measures reflect 2009 lessons – CIDRAP (free)
These new guidelines focus on nonpharmaceutical measures to fight and prevent influenza pandemics.
Global kidney health 2017 and beyond
25 Apr, 2017 | 15:52h | UTCGlobal kidney health 2017 and beyond: a roadmap for closing gaps in care, research, and policy – The Lancet (free registration required)
Chronic kidney disease is increasingly recognized as a global public health problem affecting as many as 10–15% of the population worldwide. It is associated with impaired quality of life and strongly reduced life expectancy. The article identifies key activities for the next 5-10 years to address the problem.
Azithromycin doesn’t seem to increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia
26 Apr, 2017 | 16:04h | UTCCohort study: Use of azithromycin and risk of ventricular arrhythmia – Canadian Medical Association Journal (free)
Source: No Major Azithromycin Arrhythmia Risk in Huge European Cohort – Medscape (free registration required)
Contradicting a previous study (free) and a 2013 safety warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (free), this large cohort did not show an association between azithromycin and ventricular arrhythmia when compared to amoxicillin.
Relationship between hospital ward design and healthcare-associated infection rates
25 Apr, 2017 | 15:46h | UTCRelationship between hospital ward design and healthcare-associated infection rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (RT @brhospitalist and @PreetiNMalani see Tweet)
Single-patient rooms and easily accessible hand rub dispensers located near the patient’s bed are the most effective measures.
Nursery Product-Related Injuries
25 Apr, 2017 | 15:49h | UTCNursery Product-Related Injuries Treated in United States Emergency Departments – Pediatrics (free)
Source: Common Nursery Products Send Thousands of Children to Hospitals – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) (RT @CMichaelGibson)
Baby carriers, mattresses, strollers, high chairs, changing tables, bath seats and other ordinary nursery products lead to injuries and emergency room visits for 66,000 children a year in U.S.
Tue, Apr 25 – 10 Medical Stories of The Day!
25 Apr, 2017 | 00:56h | UTC
1 – World Immunization Week, 24-30 April 2017 – World Health Organization (free)
Press release: World Immunization Week 2017 (free)
See also: WHO’s work on immunization (free)
“Increasing immunization globally could save an additional 1.5 million people every year”.
2 – Global kidney health 2017 and beyond: a roadmap for closing gaps in care, research, and policy – The Lancet (free registration required)
Chronic kidney disease is increasingly recognized as a global public health problem affecting as many as 10–15% of the population worldwide. It is associated with impaired quality of life and strongly reduced life expectancy. The article identifies key activities for the next 5-10 years to address the problem.
3 – Guideline: Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza – United States, 2017 – CDC – MMWR (free)
Source: New CDC guidelines on flu pandemic measures reflect 2009 lessons – CIDRAP (free)
These new guidelines focus on nonpharmaceutical measures to fight and prevent influenza pandemics.
4 – Guideline: Recommendations on hepatitis C screening for adults – Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (free)
News release: CTFPHC Releases Its First Hepatitis C Population-wide Screening Guideline (free)
See also: Summary of recommendations for clinicians and policy-makers (free) AND Clinician FAQ (free)
Commentary: Canada recommends against testing everyone for hepatitis C – Reuters Health (free) (RT @CMichaelGibson)
“Guideline recommends against screening for HCV in adults who are not at elevated risk”.
5 – Nursery Product-Related Injuries Treated in United States Emergency Departments – Pediatrics (free)
Source: Common Nursery Products Send Thousands of Children to Hospitals – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) (RT @CMichaelGibson)
Baby carriers, mattresses, strollers, high chairs, changing tables, bath seats and other ordinary nursery products lead to injuries and emergency room visits for 66,000 children a year in U.S.
6 – Spend a Dollar on Drug Treatment, and Save More on Crime Reduction – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
7 – Committee Opinion: Hormone Therapy in Primary Ovarian Insufficiency – American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (free)
Source: Group Offers Guidance on Treating Primary Ovarian Insufficiency with Hormone Therapy – Physician’s First Watch (free)
8 – Empyema Guidelines Published – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Original article ($ for full-text): The American Association for Thoracic Surgery consensus guidelines for the management of empyema
9 – Richard Lehman’s weekly review of medical journals, 24 April 2017 – The BMJ Blogs (free)
10 – Relationship between hospital ward design and healthcare-associated infection rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (RT @brhospitalist and @PreetiNMalani see Tweet)
Single-patient rooms and easily accessible hand rub dispensers located near the patient’s bed are the most effective measures.
Hormone Therapy in Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
25 Apr, 2017 | 15:47h | UTCCommittee Opinion: Hormone Therapy in Primary Ovarian Insufficiency – American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (free)
Source: Group Offers Guidance on Treating Primary Ovarian Insufficiency with Hormone Therapy – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Spend a Dollar on Drug Treatment, and Save More on Crime Reduction
25 Apr, 2017 | 15:48h | UTCSpend a Dollar on Drug Treatment, and Save More on Crime Reduction – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
Caring for High-Need, High-Cost Patients
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:30h | UTCPerspective: Focusing on High-Cost Patients — The Key to Addressing High Costs? – NEJM Catalyst (free) (RT @brhospitalist)
Related commentaries: Caring for High-Need, High-Cost Patients — An Urgent Priority – New England Journal of Medicine (free) AND Richard Smith: The challenge of high need, high cost patients – The BMJ Blogs (free)
Playbook: Better Care for People with Complex Needs – Institute for Healthcare Improvement (free)
Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:33h | UTCProspective cohort study: Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia – Stroke (free PDF)
Editorial: Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages in Relation to Stroke and Dementia: Are Soft Drinks Hard on the Brain? – Stroke(free PDF)
Commentaries on the study: Diet soda and stroke & dementia news coverage: 3 key points weren’t always reported – HealthNewsReview (free – See Tweet) AND Stroke and dementia risk linked to artificial sweeteners, study suggests – The Guardian (free) AND A diet soda a day might affect dementia risk, study suggests – American Heart Association News (free)
This study has drawn a lot of attention from the media, but no firm conclusions can be made due to the observational nature of the study.
Statistical significance vs. clinical significance
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:26h | UTCShort review: Statistical significance vs. clinical significance – Students 4 Best Evidence Blog (free) (RT @CochraneUK see Tweet)
Related review: Reporting the findings: Absolute vs relative risk – HealthNewsReview (free) (See Tweet)
Effect of Weight Reduction on Hemoglobin A1c
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:27h | UTCSystematic review: Effect of Weight Reduction on Hemoglobin A1c in weight loss trials of Type 2 Diabetes Patients – Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
“Each 1kg reduction in weight loss trials associated with 0.1% reduction in HbA1c” (RT @kamleshkhunti see Tweet)
Global hepatitis report, 2017 – World Health Organization
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:31h | UTCReport: Global hepatitis report, 2017 – World Health Organization (free)
Press release: New hepatitis data highlight need for urgent global response (free)
Related resources: WHO’s work on Hepatitis (free) AND Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis, 2016-2021 (free)
The World Health Organization has released the first ever Global Hepatitis Report, with estimates on Hepatitis B and C burden, incidence and mortality. According to the report, deaths from viral hepatitis are increasing, with 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a number comparable to deaths caused by tuberculosis and HIV.
Standardized Criteria for Palliative Care Consultation
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:25h | UTCProspective, before-after cohort study: Standardized Criteria for Palliative Care Consultation on a Solid Tumor Oncology Service Reduces Downstream Health Care Use – Journal of Oncology Practice (free)
Editorial: Making the Right Thing Easier to Do: Standardized Integration of Oncology and Palliative Care – Journal of Oncology Practice (free)
Related Guideline: Integration of Palliative Care Into Standard Oncology Care: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update (free)
Commentaries on the study: Standardized Palliative Care Consults Cut Cancer Readmissions – Also, less chemotherapy after discharge – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Standardized Cancer Palliative Care Consults Linked to Stronger Home-Based Support – AJMC (free)
Patients with at least one of the following 4 criteria: 1) advanced solid tumor; 2) prior hospitalization within 30 days; 3) hospitalization > 7 days; or 4) active symptoms – received automatic palliative care consultation. The rates of 30-day readmissions dropped from 35% to 18% and chemotherapy after discharge dropped from 44% to 18%.
Patterns of global health financing and potential future spending on health
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:28h | UTCTwo new articles in The Lancet address important issues in global health economics.
Invited commentary: Patterns of global health financing and potential future spending on health – The Lancet (free)
Commentary on the studies: What Country Spends the Most (And Least) On Health Care Per Person? – NPR Goats and Soda (free)
The efficacy of bedside chest ultrasound
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:23h | UTCReview: The efficacy of bedside chest ultrasound: from accuracy to outcomes – European Respiratory Review (free)
New warnings about the use of codeine and tramadol
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:32h | UTCFDA Safety Alert: Codeine and Tramadol Medicines: Drug Safety Communication – Restricting Use in Children, Recommending Against Use in Breastfeeding Women (free)
FDA Statement: New warnings about the use of codeine and tramadol in children & nursing mothers (free)
Commentaries on the statement: FDA: Codeine Now Contraindicated for Pain and Cough in Kids – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Codeine cough syrup should not be given to kids, FDA warns – STAT News (free)
These drugs should not be used at all for children younger than 12 years, and their use should also be limited in some older children.
Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality
21 Apr, 2017 | 15:19h | UTCEditorial: Active commuting is beneficial for health (free)
See also: Cycling to work can cut cancer and heart disease, says study – BBC News (free) AND Cycling to work: major new study suggests health benefits are staggering – The Conversation (free)
Mon, Apr 24 – 10 Medical Stories of The Day!
24 Apr, 2017 | 00:47h | UTC
1 – Report: Global hepatitis report, 2017 – World Health Organization (free)
Press release: New hepatitis data highlight need for urgent global response (free)
Related resources: WHO’s work on Hepatitis (free) AND Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis, 2016-2021 (free)
The World Health Organization has released the first ever Global Hepatitis Report, with estimates on Hepatitis B and C burden, incidence and mortality. According to the report, deaths from viral hepatitis are increasing, with 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a number comparable to deaths caused by tuberculosis and HIV.
2 – FDA Safety Alert: Codeine and Tramadol Medicines: Drug Safety Communication – Restricting Use in Children, Recommending Against Use in Breastfeeding Women (free)
FDA Statement: New warnings about the use of codeine and tramadol in children & nursing mothers (free)
Commentaries on the statement: FDA: Codeine Now Contraindicated for Pain and Cough in Kids – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Codeine cough syrup should not be given to kids, FDA warns – STAT News (free)
These drugs should not be used at all for children younger than 12 years, and their use should also be limited in some older children.
3 – Prospective cohort study: Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia – Stroke (free PDF)
Editorial: Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages in Relation to Stroke and Dementia: Are Soft Drinks Hard on the Brain? – Stroke (free PDF)
Commentaries on the study: Diet soda and stroke & dementia news coverage: 3 key points weren’t always reported – HealthNewsReview (free – See Tweet) AND Stroke and dementia risk linked to artificial sweeteners, study suggests – The Guardian (free) AND A diet soda a day might affect dementia risk, study suggests – American Heart Association News (free)
This study has drawn a lot of attention from the media, but no firm conclusions can be made due to the observational nature of the study.
4 – Perspective: Focusing on High-Cost Patients — The Key to Addressing High Costs? – NEJM Catalyst (free) (RT @brhospitalist)
Related commentaries: Caring for High-Need, High-Cost Patients — An Urgent Priority – New England Journal of Medicine (free) AND Richard Smith: The challenge of high need, high cost patients – The BMJ Blogs (free)
Playbook: Better Care for People with Complex Needs – Institute for Healthcare Improvement (free)
5 – Two new articles in The Lancet address important issues in global health economics.
Invited commentary: Patterns of global health financing and potential future spending on health – The Lancet (free)
Commentary on the studies: What Country Spends the Most (And Least) On Health Care Per Person? – NPR Goats and Soda (free)
6 – Systematic review: Effect of Weight Reduction on Hemoglobin A1c in weight loss trials of Type 2 Diabetes Patients – Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
“Each 1kg reduction in weight loss trials associated with 0.1% reduction in HbA1c” (RT @kamleshkhunti see Tweet)
7 – Short review: Statistical significance vs. clinical significance – Students 4 Best Evidence Blog (free) (RT @CochraneUK see Tweet)
Related review: Reporting the findings: Absolute vs relative risk – HealthNewsReview (free) (See Tweet)
8 – Prospective, before-after cohort study: Standardized Criteria for Palliative Care Consultation on a Solid Tumor Oncology Service Reduces Downstream Health Care Use – Journal of Oncology Practice (free)
Editorial: Making the Right Thing Easier to Do: Standardized Integration of Oncology and Palliative Care – Journal of Oncology Practice (free)
Related Guideline: Integration of Palliative Care Into Standard Oncology Care: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update (free)
Commentaries on the study: Standardized Palliative Care Consults Cut Cancer Readmissions – Also, less chemotherapy after discharge – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Standardized Cancer Palliative Care Consults Linked to Stronger Home-Based Support – AJMC (free)
Patients with at least one of the following 4 criteria: 1) advanced solid tumor; 2) prior hospitalization within 30 days; 3) hospitalization > 7 days; or 4) active symptoms – received automatic palliative care consultation. The rates of 30-day readmissions dropped from 35% to 18% and chemotherapy after discharge dropped from 44% to 18%.
9 – Survey and commentaries: Why Physician Burnout Is Endemic, and How Health Care Must Respond – NEJM Catalyst (free)
Increased in clerical burden seems to be one of the leading causes, heavily influenced by expanded and more comprehensive use of electronic health records. More on the burden of administrative tasks in healthcare in our April 21 issue, see #5.
10 – Review: The efficacy of bedside chest ultrasound: from accuracy to outcomes – European Respiratory Review (free)
A case for global investment in the capabilities of adolescents
21 Apr, 2017 | 15:20h | UTCSee also: Securing investments to realise the social and economic rights of adolescents (free) Our Future – Invest in Adolescent Health Now(free) AND Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing (all articles are free)
“Investing in adolescent health & education could bring 10-fold economic benefit” (RT @TheLancet see Tweet)
Why Physician Burnout Is Endemic, and How Health Care Must Respond
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:24h | UTCSurvey and commentaries: Why Physician Burnout Is Endemic, and How Health Care Must Respond – NEJM Catalyst (free)
Increased in clerical burden seems to be one of the leading causes, heavily influenced by expanded and more comprehensive use of electronic health records. More on the burden of administrative tasks in healthcare in our April 21 issue, see #5.
Too many studies have hidden conflicts of interest. A new tool makes it easier to see them
21 Apr, 2017 | 15:17h | UTCToo many studies have hidden conflicts of interest. A new tool makes it easier to see them – VOX (free)
“Great news: PubMed is finally publishing info about funding sources/conflicts of interest on its abstracts” (RT @paimadhu and @juliaoftorontosee Tweet)