All Posts
Opinion: A new important study supports wider use of the polypill
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:01h | UTCRichard Smith: A new important study supports wider use of the polypill – The Lancet
Original study and commentaries: Randomized trial: A polypill comprising statins, multiple blood pressure lowering drugs, and aspirin prevents cardiovascular events among patients at intermediate cardiovascular risk
Commentary on Twitter
"We seem now to have good evidence that the polypill can reduce cardiovascular events and deaths by at least a third and probably by half in those who take the polypill regularly" @Richard56 discusses a new study in @NEJM https://t.co/B2tkN4pkDP
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) November 17, 2020
Surveillance of wastewater revealed peaks of SARS-CoV-2 preceding those of hospitalized patients with COVID-19
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:53h | UTC
Systematic review: Management of primary headaches in pregnancy
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:00h | UTCManagement of Primary Headaches in Pregnancy – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Full report: Management of Primary Headaches in Pregnancy
Evidence Summary: Management of Primary Headaches in Pregnancy
CDC Report: Multiple COVID-19 outbreaks linked to a wedding reception
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:51h | UTCCommentaries: CDC: One wedding led to 177 cases of COVID-19 and 7 deaths because attendees refused to wear masks and physically distance – Business Insider AND Maine wedding outbreak offers a cautionary Covid-19 tale for the holidays – CNN AND Maine Wedding Gives Half Of The Guests Coronavirus, Outbreak Leads To 177 Covid-19 Cases And 7 Deaths – Forbes
[Press release – not published yet] Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows 94.5% protection in an interim analysis of the phase 3 COVE study
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:55h | UTCPress release: Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Meets its Primary Efficacy Endpoint in the First Interim Analysis of the Phase 3 COVE Study
See also: Moderna Announces Longer Shelf Life for its COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate at Refrigerated Temperatures
Commentaries: What Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine results mean for ending the pandemic – Vox AND Moderna follows Pfizer with exciting vaccine news – how to read these dramatic developments – The Conversation AND Moderna’s COVID Vaccine Is 95% Effective – Independent NIH-Appointed Board Assessment – Higher Storage Temperature Make It Even Better News – Health Policy Watch AND Moderna’s Vaccine News “Encouraging” But Won’t Solve Immediate Problem of Virus Surge in Europe & Americas – WHO – Health Policy Watch AND COVID vaccine excitement builds as Moderna reports third positive result – Nature AND Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine is strongly effective, early look at data show – STAT AND With strong data on two Covid-19 vaccines, we have more answers about the road ahead — and questions too – STAT AND Early data show Moderna’s COVID vaccine 94.5% effective – CIDRAP AND A Note Of Caution On Moderna’s Promising Covid-19 Vaccine News – Forbes AND Promising Interim Results from Clinical Trial of NIH-Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine – NIH News Releases AND Moderna: Covid vaccine shows nearly 95% protection – BBC AND Latest vaccine success is good news but high price may restrict access – The Guardian AND ‘Just beautiful’—Another COVID-19 vaccine, from newcomer Moderna, succeeds in large-scale trial – Science AND Moderna trial success gives world more hope in race to end pandemic – Reuters AND Expert reaction to Moderna announcement of its phase 3 vaccine interim results – Science Media Centre
CDC Report: Mental health-related emergency department visits among children aged under 18 years raised during the COVID-19 Pandemic
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:48h | UTCCommentary: ER Data Indicates the Pandemic Is Harming Children’s Mental Health – U.S. News
Commentary on Twitter
New @CDCMMWR suggests that the #COVID19 pandemic may be negatively impacting children’s mental health. The proportion of emergency room visits for mental health concerns in children & adolescents increased substantially this past Mar.-Oct. Read the report: https://t.co/9FyLoCzrza pic.twitter.com/fIXMIZg7KK
— CDC (@CDCgov) November 12, 2020
CDC Report: 9% readmitted after Covid-19 hospitalization. Risk factors were age ≥65 y, chronic medical conditions, recent hospitalization before Covid-19, and discharge to a skilled nursing facility or with home health care
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:46h | UTCCommentary: 9 percent readmitted after index COVID-19 hospitalization – MedicalXpress AND One in 11 coronavirus patients discharged from a hospital is readmitted within two months, suggesting long-lasting effects of the infection, CDC report warns – Daily Mail
Commentary on Twitter
A new @CDCMMWR finds 9% of the more than 100,000 patients discharged after being hospitalized for #COVID19 were readmitted to the same hospital within 2 months. Learn more: https://t.co/s96NXLxQUE. pic.twitter.com/ugJq9f1gHP
— CDC (@CDCgov) November 9, 2020
The Great Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020—7 Critical Lessons
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:42h | UTCThe Great Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020—7 Critical Lessons – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
1. Build Resilient Health Systems
2. Leadership and Public Trust Matter
3. Science and Public Health Matters
4. Biomedical Research and Development Matters
5. Equity Matters
6. Evidence-Based Law Matters
7. Global Institutions Matter https://t.co/czxGwyAGCn @LawrenceGostin— JAMA (@JAMA_current) November 16, 2020
Review: Prone positioning for patients with hypoxic respiratory failure related to COVID-19
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:41h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
What's the evidence for prone positioning for patients with respiratory distress related to #COVID19? A new review answers pressing questions about this common intervention: https://t.co/dh15AuUpD0 #ICU #CriticalCare pic.twitter.com/Y8TzactS70
— CMAJ (@CMAJ) November 11, 2020
Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in immunocompromised adults: A consensus statement regarding initial strategies
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:40h | UTCEditorial: Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Adults – CHEST
Systematic review: Evidence-based practices for acute respiratory failure and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:37h | UTCCommentary: Best practices for mechanical ventilation in patients with ARDS, COVID-19 – University of Michigan
Primary care guidance for persons with HIV: 2020 update by the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:36h | UTCNews Release: IDSA and HIVMA Release New Comprehensive Primary Care Guidance for People with HIV – Infectious Diseases Society of America
[Abstract Only] In a Phase 2 randomized trial, Semaglutide at high doses improved Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), but with no significant beneficial effects in liver fibrosis
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:31h | UTCA Placebo-Controlled Trial of Subcutaneous Semaglutide in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Semaglutide Shows Promise in NASH Phase 2 Study – Medscape (free registration required)
Commentary on Twitter
https://twitter.com/NEJM/status/1327238536001593346
Podcast on Wilderness Medicine: Pearls on altitude sickness, frostbite, animal bites, thermoregulation, and wound care
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:32h | UTC#242 Wilderness Medicine: Prepare for Disaster – The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast
Worldwide measles deaths climb 50% from 2016 to 2019, claiming over 207 500 lives in 2019
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:34h | UTCSee also: Action needed now to prevent further increases in measles and measles deaths in the coming years – The Lancet AND Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2019 – CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—Action needed now to prevent further increases in #measles and measles deaths in the coming years
Kim Mulholland, Katrina Kretsinger, Liya Wondwossen & Natasha Crowcroft lay out three pillars of action needed to address this concerning situation https://t.co/m6nD6yupMp pic.twitter.com/njd5PD9K3s
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) November 13, 2020
#AHA20 – Randomized trial: In patients with atrial fibrillation and a bioprosthetic mitral valve, Rivaroxaban (20 mg) was noninferior to Warfarin (INR 2-3) for death, MACE, or major bleeding at 12 months
16 Nov, 2020 | 02:01h | UTCRivaroxaban in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and a Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: Rivaroxaban may be as effective as warfarin for bioprosthetic mitral valves, AF – American Heart Association
Commentaries: Rivaroxaban an Option for Patients with Bioprosthetic Mitral Valves and A-fib – TCTMD AND Rivaroxaban for Valvular Heart Disease and Atrial Fibrillation – RIVER – American College of Cardiology AND Rivaroxaban Noninferior to Warfarin for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Bioprosthetic Mitral Valves – NEJM Journal Watch
Commentary on Twitter
In a trial comparing rivaroxaban with dose-adjusted warfarin, rivaroxaban was noninferior to warfarin with respect to the mean time until the primary outcome of death, major cardiovascular events, or major bleeding at 12 months. #AHA20
— NEJM (@NEJM) November 14, 2020
#AHA20 – Randomized trial: A polypill comprising statins, multiple blood pressure lowering drugs, and aspirin prevents cardiovascular events among patients at intermediate cardiovascular risk
16 Nov, 2020 | 02:03h | UTCPolypill with or without Aspirin in Persons without Cardiovascular Disease – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News release: New study confirms combo pill alone and with aspirin lowers heart disease risk – American Heart Association
Commentaries: Polypill along with aspirin cuts heart attacks and strokes by up to 40%: International study – McMaster University AND Big study supports cheap combo pill to lower heart risks – Associated Press AND TIPS-3: International Study Looks at Benefits of Polypill and Polypill Plus Aspirin in Reducing CVD Risk – American College of Cardiology
Commentary on Twitter
Public health vs precision medicine. Thinking through a one size fits all drug prevention approach. "Combined Rx w/polypill+aspirin led to lower incidence of CV events than placebo among participants w/o CV disease who were at intermediate CV risk.” #AHA20https://t.co/TsbvPtA1Pl pic.twitter.com/Ylq3AKThII
— Harlan Krumholz (@hmkyale) November 14, 2020
#AHA20 – Randomized trial: In patients with refractory hypercholesterolemia, the use of Evinacumab significantly reduced the LDL levels. Larger studies with patient-relevant outcomes are needed.
16 Nov, 2020 | 01:59h | UTCEvinacumab in Patients with Refractory Hypercholesterolemia – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary on Twitter
In patients with hypercholesterolemia that is refractory to statin and PCSK9 inhibitor therapy, the use of evinacumab reduced plasma lipid levels by 50%. #AHA20
— NEJM (@NEJM) November 15, 2020
Sleep problems in dementia: Despite many drugs being widely prescribed, systematic review finds lack of evidence and no randomized controlled trials to guide decisions about drug treatment
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:29h | UTCPharmacotherapies for sleep disturbances in dementia – Cochrane Library
#AHA20 – A small phase 2 randomized trial showed significantly improved survival with an early ECMO-facilitated resuscitation for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and refractory ventricular fibrillation
16 Nov, 2020 | 01:56h | UTCCommentaries: Early ECMO-Facilitated Resuscitation for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – NEJM Journal Watch AND Advanced REperfusion STrategies for refractory cardiac arrest – ARREST – American College of Cardiology AND Cardiac arrest treatment that uses life support machine boosts survival – NIH News Releases
Commentary on Twitter
Latebreaker at #AHA20 @AHAMeetings—Advanced reperfusion strategies for patients with out-of-hospital #cardiacarrest and refractory ventricular fibrillation (ARREST): a phase 2, single centre, open-label, randomised controlled trialhttps://t.co/1TjdlD6G8h pic.twitter.com/zQoRcxF1jO
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) November 14, 2020
#AHA20 – Randomized trial: In patients with systolic heart failure, Cardiac Myosin activation with Omecamtiv Mecarbil led to modest reduction in heart failure events
16 Nov, 2020 | 02:00h | UTCCardiac Myosin Activation with Omecamtiv Mecarbil in Systolic Heart Failure – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Modest Gains With Omecamtiv Mecarbil in Chronic HFrEF: GALACTIC-HF – TCTMD AND Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure – GALACTIC-HF – American College of Cardiology
Commentary on Twitter
Among patients with heart failure & a reduced ejection fraction, those who received the cardiac myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil had a lower incidences of heart-failure events or cardiovascular death at a median of 22 months than those who received placebo. #AHA20
— NEJM (@NEJM) November 13, 2020
#AHA20 – Randomized trial: In elective percutaneous coronary intervention Clopidogrel led to similar outcomes compared with Ticagrelor with less minor bleeding
16 Nov, 2020 | 01:55h | UTCNews release: Ticagrelor was not superior to clopidogrel to reduce heart attack risk during angioplasty – American Heart Association
Commentaries: Clopidogrel Should Remain Antiplatelet of Choice in Elective PCI: ALPHEUS – TCTMD AND Ticagrelor Not Superior to Clopidogrel for Elective PCI – NEJM Journal Watch
Commentary on Twitter
NEW Research—Clopidogrel vs ticagrelor or prasugrel in patients aged 70 years or older with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (POPular AGE): the randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial https://t.co/joepKHbgtu pic.twitter.com/gEyPl2HE80
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) April 30, 2020
#AHA20 – In patients who had discontinued statins because of side effects, a N-of-1 trial of a statin, placebo, or no treatment found that side effects often attributed to statins were the same for those taking a placebo
16 Nov, 2020 | 01:57h | UTCCommentary: ‘Nocebo effect’ cause of most statin side-effects, study suggests – The Guardian
Original study: N-of-1 Trial of a Statin, Placebo, or No Treatment to Assess Side Effects – New England Journal of Medicine ($ – no abstract available)
Commentary on Twitter
Patients who had discontinued statins because of side effects received four bottles of a statin, four bottles of placebo, and four empty bottles. Each used for 1 month, in random sequence. The symptom burden with placebo was 90% of the symptom burden with the statin. #AHA20
— NEJM (@NEJM) November 15, 2020
#AHA20 – Randomized trial: High-dose Omega-3 fatty acids did not reduce the risk of cardiac events in patients at high cardiovascular risk
16 Nov, 2020 | 01:51h | UTCEditorial 2: Do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Benefit Health?
Commentary on Twitter
In this RCT, omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) did not reduce major adverse CV events vs corn oil in statin-treated patients at high CV risk
(Compare w Vascepa in REDUCE-IT) https://t.co/7BIs1Rr8YZ#STRENGTHTrial #AHA20 #SteveNissen@ProfSNicholls @Dmozaffarian @ClevelandClinic— JAMA (@JAMA_current) November 15, 2020
[Not Published Yet] #AHA20 – Randomized trial: Fish oil and vitamin D supplements not effective for preventing atrial fibrillation
16 Nov, 2020 | 01:49h | UTCCommentary: Fish Oil, Vitamin D Don’t Prevent A-fib: VITAL Rhythm – TCTMD