Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

UK self-tests overstate accuracy and pose usability risks

Analysis of UK self-tests reveals critical flaws in accuracy claims, highlighting risks and the need for enhanced regulatory standards for consumer safety.

28 Jul 2025

Study reveals a strong link between early childhood adversities and depression in older Canadians

A new study of 3,500 Canadians aged 55 and older revealed a strong association between early childhood adversities and depression.

28 Jul 2025

Trump voters wanted relief from medical bills. For millions, the bills are about to get bigger.

President Donald Trump rode to reelection last fall on voter concerns about prices. But as his administration pares back federal rules and programs designed to protect patients from the high cost of health care, Trump risks pushing more Americans into debt, further straining family budgets already stressed by medical bills.

28 Jul 2025

Persistent intense grief linked to higher healthcare use and mortality

Grief after the loss of a loved one is a natural response – an inevitable part of living and loving. But in a minority of the bereaved, grief is so overwhelming that it can lead to physical and mental illnes, even if they don't necessarily qualify for a diagnosis with the mental health condition 'prolonged grief disorder'.

28 Jul 2025

Addressing diagnostic delays in dementia for better patient outcomes

People with dementia are diagnosed an average of 3.5 years after symptoms are first noticed, or even longer (4.1 years) for those with early-onset dementia, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

28 Jul 2025

New study links surrogacy to higher risk of mental illness

People who are gestational carriers (or "surrogates") appear more likely to be diagnosed with a new mental illness during and after pregnancy, according to new research from ICES, McGill University, and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.

28 Jul 2025

Research uncovers ME/CFS's systemic impact for targeted therapies

Millions suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a debilitating condition often overlooked due to the lack of diagnostic tools, may be closer to personalized care, according to new research that shows how the disease disrupts interactions between the microbiome, immune system, and metabolism.

26 Jul 2025

Study reveals stigmatizing responses in LLMs for addiction-related queries

As artificial intelligence is rapidly developing and becoming a growing presence in healthcare communication, a new study addresses a concern that large language models (LLMs) can reinforce harmful stereotypes by using stigmatizing language.

26 Jul 2025

Congenital syphilis remains a threat to healthy births despite screening

Congenital syphilis remains a critical issue in remote Australia, with healthcare barriers undermining effective STI screening and increasing pregnancy risks.

25 Jul 2025

Addressing avoidable hospitalizations in terminally ill nursing home residents

Hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits can be distressing and costly for nursing home residents – especially those who are severely impaired or terminally ill. Despite their vulnerability, these individuals are frequently transferred to hospitals, even though up to 40% of such transfers over the past 25 years are considered potentially avoidable by health care professionals.

25 Jul 2025

Commonly used type 2 diabetes medication linked to higher rate of heart-related conditions

New research from investigators at Mass General Brigham suggests that a commonly used type 2 diabetes medication is linked to a higher rate of heart-related conditions compared to medications that hit other targets.

24 Jul 2025

Older adults with serious illness face greater burdens after elective surgery

Older adults who have serious illness before undergoing elective surgery had hospital stays twice as long as similarly aged counterparts; were twice as likely to return to the hospital or the emergency department; and had almost double the yearly costs of health care, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

24 Jul 2025

Low-dose olanzapine reduces chemo-induced nausea with fewer side effects

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are among the most distressing side effects of anti-cancer treatment, particularly for those receiving highly emetogenic regimens such as anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide combinations.

24 Jul 2025

New gravity-based method improves platelet-rich plasma extraction

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a fraction of blood plasma; its concentration of platelets is of great value in regenerative medicine as they are essential in accelerating healing and repairing tissue.

24 Jul 2025

New study reveals high lifetime exposure to hepatitis B and C in Ukraine

A study just published on Eurosurveillance has found evidence of substantial lifetime exposure to hepatitis B and C viruses in Ukraine in a 2021 nationwide, representative sample of the population, with findings also suggesting significant ongoing circulation of these viruses.

24 Jul 2025

Most UK high street self-tests fall short on accuracy and safety warnings

Many self-tests available on the UK high street are unfit-for-purpose and need much greater regulation to ensure they are safe and reliable, conclude two studies published by The BMJ today.

24 Jul 2025

New website empowers women to navigate menopause with confidence

Menopause remains one of the most under-discussed stages of life, even though more than 1 million women in the United States experience this natural biological transition each year.

24 Jul 2025

Open-source AI tool matches commercial systems in medical scan reporting

A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus shows that free, open-source artificial intelligence (AI) tools can help doctors report medical scans just as well as more expensive commercial systems without putting patient privacy at risk.

24 Jul 2025

AGS releases new guide for safer medication alternatives in older adults

Today the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) announced the release of the Alternative Treatments to Selected Medications in the 2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria (DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19500), an updated clinical resource designed to help healthcare professionals identify safer, more appropriate treatment options for older adults.

24 Jul 2025

Study reveals pandemic life made brains age faster, even without catching COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated biological brain aging in older adults by an average of 5.5 months over less than three years, regardless of infection status. Social disruption, age, male sex, and socioeconomic disadvantage heightened vulnerability, while only infected individuals showed measurable declines in executive function.

23 Jul 2025