New VA program to target 30K veterans for improved cholesterol care
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 28, 2023
U.S. veterans with cardiovascular disease and stubborn high cholesterol are the focus of a new program that aims to lower their risk of recurrent heart attack or stroke.
WHO adapts COVID vaccine guidance, keeps focus on at-risk older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 29, 2023
The updated vaccine guidance is a response to the omicron era and high levels of population immunity, according to the WHO’s vaccine advisors.
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, March 29
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 29, 2023
Added scrutiny forces state to triple SNF citation amounts … Foodborne E. coli may be causing many urinary tract infections … Routine pre-op medical consults don’t improve surgery outcomes … Claims…
Intrinsic capacity assessments promote healthy aging: study
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Mar 29, 2023
Focusing on older adults’ mental and physical capacities could be more effective than disease management in promoting healthy aging, investigators contend.
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.
Catheter-linked UTIs more likely to resist antibiotics, large study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 28, 2023
The results emphasize the need for urine sampling and culturing before treating catheter-associated UTIs, and the importance of considering therapeutic alternatives, investigators say.
FDA aims to expand the use of salt substitutes in processed foods
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 28, 2023
The FDA wants to allow manufacturers of regulated, everyday foods to replace salt with “safe and suitable” substitutes.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, March 28
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 28, 2023
CMS tightens guidance for nursing home dialysis providers … CDC: TB cases rose in 2022, but haven’t hit prepandemic levels … FDA panel backs accelerated approval for Biogen’s ALS drug … Low…
Analysis: Poorer states suffered more from COVID-19
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 27, 2023
The pandemic did not affect all U.S. states equally, according to the results of a newly published observational analysis in The Lancet.
Depression is linked to accelerated aging
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 27, 2023
Older adults with late-in-life depression are actually aging faster than their chronological peers, according to researchers at the University of Connecticut Center on Aging.
Electronic ‘nudges’ boost flu vaccine uptake in older adults
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 27, 2023
Electronically delivered letter reminders emphasizing the potential benefits of receiving the influenza vaccine increased vaccination uptake among older adults in Denmark, according to a study in The Lancet.
Clinical briefs for Monday, March 27
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 27, 2023
FDA declines to approve AbbVie’s Parkinson’s disease therapy for now … Research reveals potential mechanism for how coffee may reduce diabetes risk … Adding hope to therapeutic mix can empower…
Senators blast HHS’ restrictive coverage for Alzheimer’s drugs
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 24, 2023
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra came under fire Wednesday during a Senate Finance Committee meeting regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ restrictive national…
FDA mulling COVID-19 boosters for elderly, immunocompromised
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 24, 2023
The Food and Drug Administration reportedly is considering a new round of COVID-19 booster shots for individuals who are at high risk of severe disease, including those aged 65 or more years or those who…
Study: Training program cuts antibiotic use in elderly with UTIs
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 24, 2023
A multifactorial training program for health professionals is capable of halving the use of antibiotics against urinary tract infections (UTIs) while maintaining patient safety, according to a study published…
Clinical briefs for Friday, March 24
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 24, 2023
Focused ultrasound can improve Parkinson’s symptoms for up to 1 year … A higher dose of magnesium each day keeps dementia at bay … Living near fracking tied to increase in hospitalizations in…
GAO panel details infection control measures to keep, discard in nursing homes
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 23, 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic sharpened the focus on infection prevention and control efforts in nursing homes. Now, a panel convened by the Government Accountability Office has identified 14 infection prevention…
Resistance training helps reduce falls risk: study
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 23, 2023
Eight weeks of participation in a structured resistance, aerobic and flexibility exercise program improved clinically relevant indicators of falls risk in previously sedentary older adults. It also led…
Mechanotherapy shows success in healing aged muscles, study finds
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 23, 2023
The combination of mechanotherapy — the use of mechanical forces to stimulate tissue healing — and anti-inflammatory treatment can help heal damage in aged muscles, according to a new study.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, March 23
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 23, 2023
Rural nursing home residents reap benefits from mental healthcare through video … NIH: Prior COVID-19 infection dampens response to vaccination … Skirting cholesterol targets raises CV events by 44…
