Classic COVID-19 symptoms not always apparent in elderly residents
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 01, 2020
Fever may be blunted or absent entirely, and respiratory symptoms may also be masked or exacerbated by co-occurring disease.
Dementia diagnosis on inpatient Medicare claims linked to lower mortality and ICU stays
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 22, 2021
Undocumented dementia in nursing home residents who are transferred to acute care is linked to adverse outcomes, a new study finds. The good news is that acute care clinicians may now be recognizing dementia...
Older adults’ care preferences honored, but inequities apparent, analysts find
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 16, 2023
More adults are saying that their healthcare preferences are considered by their providers, a 9.5% increase from 2014 to 2020. But the data also highlight inequities, investigators say.
One in five COVID-19 tests fail to detect virus
By
Alicia Lasek
May 27, 2020
One in five COVID-19 PCR tests deliver false negative results — and sometimes the failure rate is far worse, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.
Damage to inner ear helps explain increased falls risk in Alzheimer’s
Mar 11, 2022
Study participants who had vestibular impairment — or damage to the inner ear’s balance system — were 50% more likely to fall than their peers who had normal function, researchers found.
Only half of medical residents consistently complete SNF discharge summaries for patients, survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 18, 2021
Medical residents don’t appear to know as much about transitioning patients to post-acute care as they say they do, a new survey finds. With discharges to post-acute care expected to spike, closing this...
CMS must refine data on antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes, OIG says
By
Alicia Lasek
May 07, 2021
The Minimum Data Set should not be CMS’ sole source for determining the number of nursing home residents using antipsychotic drugs, according to a new report from HHS’ Office of the Inspector General.
Dementia risk rises with younger age of type 2 diabetes onset: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 30, 2021
The odds of dementia in later life are greater the younger an adult is when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, investigators say. But prediabetes and late-life diabetes diagnoses are not linked to subsequent...
Despite PPE, healthcare workers face greater risk of positive COVID-19 test
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 04, 2020
Frontline providers with access to “adequate” personal protective equipment are three times more likely to test positive for the coronavirus than the general public. The rate rises to fivefold among...
Prediabetes at midlife tied to later fracture risk
By
Alicia Lasek
May 23, 2023
Clinicians may wish to consider treating prediabetes in women as an early, modifiable risk factor for fracture, investigators say.