One in five at-risk patients reject statin therapy, large study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 28, 2023
More than 20% of patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease refuse to take recommended statin medications, and women are 50% more likely than men to opt out, finds a study involving 24,000 participants.
Study gives for-profit hospices failing grade in patient care
By
Diane Eastabrook
Feb 28, 2023
Patients receiving hospice care from for-profit providers report substantially worse care experiences than those who receive care from nonprofit hospice agencies, according to a Rand Corporation study.
Patient advocates decry CMS decision on Alzheimer’s drug coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2023
The Alzheimer’s Association and others have strongly criticized a decision by CMS to stand by its highly restrictive coverage for new dementia drugs.
Laxatives linked to increased risk for dementia
Feb 22, 2023
Regular use of osmotic laxatives or multiple laxative types may raise the odds of all-cause or vascular dementia, a new study finds. Osmotic laxatives were tied to a 64% increase in risk.
Medicare eligibility comes with increase in tooth loss, Harvard study reveals
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 10, 2023
When patients become eligible for Medicare coverage, restorative dental care immediately falls and tooth loss increases, a new study from Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital has found.
COVID-19 a bigger threat to seniors than pneumonia, real-world study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 09, 2023
COVID-19 is much more deadly than bacterial or viral pneumonia, causing double the mortality rate in older, hospitalized adults, investigators say.
Early screening curbs C. auris in ventilator-assisted facilities: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 02, 2023
Targeted screening for Candida auris at admission to ventilator-assisted units in nursing homes helps to identify colonized residents, physician researchers report.
FDA no longer requires positive COVID-19 test to prescribe Paxlovid, Lagevrio
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2023
The FDA on Wednesday made it easier for clinicians to prescribe these antiviral drugs in cases where transmission is evident and the patient is at high risk of severe illness.
Analysis: Medication adherence spotty among U.S. diabetes patients
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2023
A sizable percentage of patients with diabetes do not consistently take prescribed medications to lower cholesterol, glucose or blood pressure, investigators say.
‘Unwitting’ senior living and care providers swept up in $114 million fake nursing degree scheme
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 30, 2023
Skilled nursing facilities, an assisted living community and home health providers were among many businesses across the country duped into hiring more than 7,600 nurses with fake credentials, according...