New U.S. poll shows high incidence of arthritis, reliance on medication for pain
Sep 13, 2022
A notable proportion of seniors rely on prescription drugs to manage their arthritis pain, but haven’t discussed the health risks with their clinicians, researchers report.
Amid waning COVID-19 threat, CDC Director Walensky resigns
By
Alicia Lasek
May 07, 2023
As the threat of COVID-19 fades, a key figure in the Biden Administration’s pandemic fight is stepping down.
U.S. hospices lack standard for benzodiazepines, antipsychotics use: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 28, 2023
Investigators have found significant variation in what is considered clinically appropriate use of these drugs for the U.S. hospice population.
Post-acute stroke initiative to invest $1.5M across facilities in three Mountain states
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 31, 2022
A new initiative that includes skilled nursing facilities aims to improve post-acute stroke care starting in Montana, Nebraska and North Dakota.
Widespread use of statin-aspirin polypill would slash cardiovascular disease, experts contend
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 14, 2022
The use of inexpensive combination pills could prevent cardiovascular disease on a wide scale, according to a commentary in The Lancet.
Use of common hospice drugs varies widely by state, highlighting limited guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 16, 2022
Antipsychotics prescribing rates, for example, ranged from 62% for hospice beneficiaries in Oregon to 15% in Oklahoma, investigators say. Five states topped the prescriptions list.
Functional limitations more than double over 20 years among U.S. cancer survivors
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2023
More lives are being saved from cancer, but the findings underscore the need for greater access to high quality survivorship care, investigators say.
Nursing facilities, nursing assistants lead COVID incidence, state study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 15, 2022
Nursing facilities lead COVID-19 infections in healthcare, and nursing assistants top incidence in occupational subgroups, finds a detailed new data analysis.
Vitamin D3 does not reduce fracture risk in healthy older adults: study
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 29, 2022
Results from a large clinical trial do not support the use of vitamin D supplements to reduce fractures in generally healthy men and women, investigators say.
Unbrushed teeth may be a leading cause of pneumonia in bedridden patients
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 19, 2022
Many cases of non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia are caused by bacteria in the mouth, and could be avoided with attention to toothbrushing, experts say.