Almost a third of recovered COVID-19 patients report symptoms lasting 6 to 12 months … States saddled with unused COVID-19 vaccines; CDC advises docs to discard doses … Typical post-acute care user...
‘They heard us’: Partner program to allow fast LTC access to federal stock of COVID-19 drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 04, 2022
The federal Long-Term Care Partner Program aims to quickly get time-sensitive COVID-19 treatments to facilities when an outbreak occurs. The first drug available via the portal will be molnupiravir, followed...
Omicron sub-variants cut potency of monoclonal antibodies, mRNA vaccines: study
Mar 04, 2022
Eli Lilly’s bebtelovimab is the only authorized monoclonal antibody that can neutralize all three dominant sub-variants, investigators say.
More U.S. adults using melatonin as sleep aid despite lack of evidence
Mar 04, 2022
Use of the supplement melatonin by U.S. adults has more than quintupled between 1999 and 2018, a new study has found.
Clinical briefs for Friday, March 4
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 04, 2022
Omicron 40% more fatal than seasonal flu, study finds … Arthritis drug reduces death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients … Pickleball injuries rising among seniors … Lawmakers quiz drugmakers on sky-high...
Long-term care facilities to receive expedited meds under National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 03, 2022
Hundreds of facilities will be able to directly order COVID-19 antiviral drugs and receive direct distributions starting this month, federal officials say.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, March 3
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 03, 2022
Senate GOP votes to strike Biden’s vaccine rule for healthcare workers … New drug candidate reduces brain inflammation, protects lab mice against dementia … Osteoarthritis burden remains high...
New data show high excess mortality from RSV, reduced threat from flu among older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 02, 2022
The first such study in 13 years finds nuanced changes in the risk that flu and respiratory syncytial virus pose to seniors, and underscores the impact of the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic on infections and deaths...
Seniors’ misconceptions about advanced cancer may reduce use of hospice services: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 02, 2022
Older adults with advanced cancer often misjudge the time they have left to live. This may increase their chances for unnecessary hospitalization and likelihood to neglect hospice care, investigators say.
One-size-fits-all blood pressure cuff approach may lead to inaccurate diagnoses
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 02, 2022
Overestimation of blood pressure due to a too-small cuff size misclassified 39% of study participants as hypertensive, investigators report.