Study: Cheapest Topical Steroid Substitution Can Save Nearly $67M in OOP Spending
September 10th 2017Topical steroids typically prescribed are generic drugs, but the increase in the cost of generics means that out-of-pocket Medicare spending for topical steroids has risen. A new study found substituting the cheapest topical steroid could result in substantial savings.
Inattentiveness Affects Later Academic Performance of Children With ADHD
September 10th 2017Children with or without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who demonstrate inattentiveness during childhood are associated with a worse academic performance up to 10 years later in life, according to research.
Study Finds Oral Contraceptives Decrease Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
September 9th 2017The use of oral contraceptives decreases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new study. However, the researchers did not find a link between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of ACPA-positive or ACPA-negative RA.
Adding Evolocumab to Standard ASCVD Treatment Exceeds Cost-Effectiveness Threshold
September 7th 2017The addition of evolocumab to the standard background therapy for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) would exceed the typically accepted range of cost-effectiveness, according to a new study.
New Research Provides Insight on the Gut Microbiome's Role in Fighting Off Infection
September 6th 2017Overuse of antibiotics not only leads to resistance, but may reduce variety of microbes in the gut and affect the immune system’s ability to fight off disease. Research into the role of the gut’s microbiome in infection found that antibiotic use made neutrophils less effective at fighting infections, and may lead to potential treatments or vaccinations.
Study Does Not Find Sufficient Evidence of Medicinal Cannabis Use for Chronic Pain
August 25th 2017Medicinal cannabis has become increasingly accepted in the United States and is commonly used for pain management. Despite its growing popularity as a treatment, there is little evidence available about the harms and benefits of cannabis utilization.
Gender Differences in the Brain Explain Why Men Have Higher Rates of ADHD
August 24th 2017The brains of women are significantly more active than the brains of men, according to the largest functional brain imaging study to date conducted by Amen Clinics. This explains why there are higher rates of some conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in men compared with women, who have higher rates of depression.
Probiotics Do Not Have a Significant Impact on Preventing Eczema, Asthma in Infants
August 23rd 2017Probiotics are often believed to stimulate healthy immune function, but a new study did not find significant evidence that a supplement of lactobacillus prevents eczema, which is a common precursor to asthma.
Global COPD Mortality Increased 11% From 1990 to 2015
August 22nd 2017The overwhelmingly high number of deaths related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma-the 2 most common chronic respiratory diseases in the world-call for affordable interventions that have the ability to prevent or treat the severe chronic respiratory burden.
Study Finds the ACA Decreased Socioeconomic Disparities in Healthcare Access
August 20th 2017Among wealthy countries, the United States maintains the most substantial socioeconomic disparities in access to healthcare; however, these disparities were reduced when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented, according to a new study in Health Affairs.
Understanding Patient Preferences Can Promote Adherence in MS Patients, Study Says
August 18th 2017Patient preferences for multiple sclerosis therapies are important to take into account and are increasingly so as alternatives to traditional injection therapies are developed to address adherence issues.
ICER: ADF Opioids Not Effective in Reducing Population Opioid Abuse
August 17th 2017The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released a Final Evidence Report that found an absence of sufficient evidence to confirm the efficacy of abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) of opioids in decreasing the opioid abuse levels of the greater population.
HITECH Act Resulted in Significant Gains in EHR Adoption in Hospitals
August 15th 2017The results following the implementation of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 suggest its potential to be a model for other countries to follow when introducing new, valuable technologies.
COPD Is Overdiagnosed in Hospitalized Patients, Study Finds
August 14th 2017Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is typically diagnosed through a patient history exam and a physical exam; however, because symptoms of COPD-dyspnea, cough, and wheeze-are common symptoms for many other diseases, many patients are misdiagnosed due to the lack of necessary testing performed to confirm the presence of the disease.
Adolescents and Young Adults With ADHD at Greater Risk of Motor Vehicle Crashes
August 13th 2017Adolescents and young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a greater risk of being involved in motor vehicle crashes, according to a study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Infant Mortality and Life Expectancy in Appalachia Versus the Rest of the US
August 12th 2017Appalachia-the region from Mississippi to New York-faces historic health, social, and economic disparities compared with the rest of the United States. Infant mortality and life expectancy rates in this region are expected to remain substantially worse until there are changes in the certain inequalities, including education, poverty, housing, and labor market opportunities, according to researchers.
Atopic Dermatitis Creates a Significant Burden on the Quality of Life of Adult Patients
August 11th 2017Atopic dermatitis (AD) presents a significant humanistic burden on the quality of life among adult patients. Due to its public health impact and negative symptoms, the development for new and more effective treatments are necessary.
Results of Phase 2 Study Investigating Luspatercept in MDS
August 9th 2017The results of a phase 2 study that explored the effects of luspatercept in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) were presented at the 22nd Congress of the European Hematology Association by Acceleron Pharma Inc. The company is developing the drug with Celgene.