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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 | UTC

Cohort 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 | UTC

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.

Nursery Product-Related Injuries

25 Apr, 2017 | 15:49h | UTC

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.

Hormone Therapy in Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

25 Apr, 2017 | 15:47h | UTC

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)

Spend a Dollar on Drug Treatment, and Save More on Crime Reduction

25 Apr, 2017 | 15:48h | UTC

Spend 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 | UTC

Perspective: Focusing on High-Cost Patients — The Key to Addressing High Costs? – NEJM Catalyst (free) (RT @brhospitalist)

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 | UTC

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.

Statistical significance vs. clinical significance

24 Apr, 2017 | 15:26h | UTC

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)

Effect of Weight Reduction on Hemoglobin A1c

24 Apr, 2017 | 15:27h | UTC

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)

Global hepatitis report, 2017 – World Health Organization

24 Apr, 2017 | 15:31h | UTC

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.

Standardized Criteria for Palliative Care Consultation

24 Apr, 2017 | 15:25h | UTC

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)

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 | UTC

Two new articles in The Lancet address important issues in global health economics.

Article 1: Evolution and patterns of global health financing 1995–2014: development assistance for health, and government, prepaid private, and out-of-pocket health spending in 184 countries – The Lancet (free)

Article 2: Future and potential spending on health 2015–40: development assistance for health, and government, prepaid private, and out-of-pocket health spending in 184 countries – The Lancet (free)

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 | UTC

Review: 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 | UTC

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.

Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality

21 Apr, 2017 | 15:19h | UTC

Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study – The BMJ (free)

Editorial: Active commuting is beneficial for health (free)

A case for global investment in the capabilities of adolescents

21 Apr, 2017 | 15:20h | UTC

Report: Building the foundations for sustainable development: a case for global investment in the capabilities of adolescents – The Lancet(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 | UTC

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.

Too many studies have hidden conflicts of interest. A new tool makes it easier to see them

21 Apr, 2017 | 15:17h | UTC

Too 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)

Physicians Split Time Evenly Between Seeing Patients And Desktop Medicine

21 Apr, 2017 | 15:18h | UTC

Electronic Health Record Logs Indicate That Physicians Split Time Evenly Between Seeing Patients And Desktop Medicine – Health Affairs (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Source: By the Numbers: Docs’ Logged-On Time Increases – MedPage Today (free registration required)

“Electronic health records systems now account for about half of the average doctor’s day”

Frequency of Evidence-Based Screening for Retinopathy in Type 1 Diabetes

21 Apr, 2017 | 15:22h | UTC

Frequency of Evidence-Based Screening for Retinopathy in Type 1 Diabetes – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

In patients who have had type 1 diabetes for 5 years, annual retinal examinations are currently recommended. Based on their findings, the authors suggest an individualized screening schedule, with less frequent screening for patients at low risk and more frequent screening for patients at higher risk, leading to decreased cost without delaying the diagnosis of clinically significant disease.

Syncope and Its Impact on Occupational Accidents and Employment

20 Apr, 2017 | 14:29h | UTC

Syncope and Its Impact on Occupational Accidents and Employment: A Danish Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study – Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes (free)

News release: Fainting spells may increase risk of workplace accidents, job loss – American Heart Association News (free)

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