Validating fears helps shift patients’ palliative care expectations: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 16, 2022
Patients and family members are better able to consider end-of-life care recommendations when their healthcare provider focuses on changing expectations rather than on changing emotions, researchers have...
Switch to race-neutral equation would affect millions of U.S. kidney patients: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 16, 2022
A highly recommended transition away from race-based measurements of kidney function resulted in new kidney disease classifications for 5.5 million patients in an analysis of 39,000, investigators say.
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, Feb. 16
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 16, 2022
Impaired nasal cavity cells may explain early loss of smell in Alzheimer’s … COVID-19 cases fall by 40% across U.S.; virus hangs on in certain areas … Senate narrowly confirms Robert Califf to lead...
FDA authorizes monoclonal antibody that tackles omicron
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 15, 2022
Bebtelovimab is greenlit for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients at high risk of severe disease. The move comes amid a federal push to increase supply of effective therapies.
CDC: Coronavirus booster protection fades after 4 months
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 15, 2022
Two new studies highlight the need to keep up with recommended vaccinations — especially for older adults.
Common physical function test may be skewed by height and age, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 15, 2022
Sit-to-stand and gait-speed test performance is significantly affected by these factors, investigators say. They’ve developed a web app to help clinicians develop their own subgroup-specific reference...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Feb. 15
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 15, 2022
Medicare telehealth waivers could get two-year extension … COVID-19 vaccines are a ‘freaking miracle’: Opinion … Antiviral pills are in stores, yet lack takers … HHS awards $55 million to boost...
CDC loosens controversial opioid prescribing guidelines for chronic pain
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 14, 2022
Draft revisions no longer include specific dosage ceilings. This and other changes address controversial elements of the older guidance and highlight clinicians’ roles in opioid prescribing decisions.
High-intensity rehab improves function in nursing-home eligible PACE participants
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 14, 2022
Participants experienced long-lasting functional improvements shown to reduce the risk of falls and help maintain independence, investigators say.
Loneliness closely linked to 10-year dementia risk
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 14, 2022
Loneliness triples the odds of dementia in those for whom risk would otherwise be relatively low based on age and genetics, researchers say.