Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Practical clinical tool reliable and valid in measuring severity of dementia symptoms

A new study shows that a practical clinical tool developed by researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University School of Medicine to measure severity of dementia symptoms is reliable and valid. The Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor is simple, user-friendly and sensitive to change in symptoms.

15 Jun 2012

Researchers encourage PCPs to screen for OSA in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Researchers in New Jersey are encouraging primary care physicians to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with Type 2 diabetes. They found that in a small sample of clinic patients, the risk for sleep apnea was high among diabetics compared with non-diabetics, and that sleep apnea appeared to be associated with carbohydrate craving.

13 Jun 2012

Hospitalization rates in NYC for patients with CA-MRSA more than tripled between 1997-2006

Hospitalization rates in New York City for patients with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), a potentially deadly bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotic treatment, more than tripled between 1997 and 2006, according to a report published in the July issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

13 Jun 2012

Children with ASD pay more for health care: Study

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) require an array of specialized health care services. With these services come higher costs for parents and insurance providers. University of Missouri researchers compared costs and types of services for children with ASD to costs and services for children with other conditions like asthma or diabetes.

12 Jun 2012

Thiazolidinedione drugs linked with increased risk of DME in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Treatment with glucose-lowering thiazolidinedione drugs in patients with Type 2 diabetes appears to be associated with an increased risk of diabetic macular edema (a complication that may affect vision) at 1-year and 10-year follow-up evaluations, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

12 Jun 2012

Lack of sleep a hypertension warning sign

Individuals who sleep for 5 hours or less each night are at increased risk for developing hypertension, suggest study findings.

11 Jun 2012

Seeking more primary care physicians

As policymakers and medical experts scramble to find ways to increase the number of primary care physicians, issues related to payment and health care value draw attention.

11 Jun 2012

Majority of African-American patients with hypertension suffer from hidden heart disease

A Wayne State University School of Medicine study has found that an overwhelming majority of African-American patients with hypertension also suffered hidden heart disease caused by high blood pressure even though they displayed no symptoms.

11 Jun 2012

Research roundup: Savings from electronic health records?

Does Health Information Exchange Reduce Unnecessary Neuroimaging and Improve Quality of Headache Care in the Emergency Department?

8 Jun 2012

LBDA launches nationwide October awareness movement

Today the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) launched its nationwide October awareness movement, "A Month To Remember." LBDA invites volunteers to join the movement by "Standing Strong with LBDA" to build awareness for Lewy body dementia in their communities.

8 Jun 2012

The Leapfrog Group honors UCSD with ‘A’ Hospital Safety Score

On June 6, 2012, UC San Diego Health System was honored with an "A" Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. U.S. hospitals were assigned an A, B, C, D, or F based on safety performance.

7 Jun 2012

Roundup: Calif. cigarette tax hike too close to call; Mass. insurance mandate not as contentious; Sept. 11 health fund cancer coverage ruling delayed

Tobacco companies poured nearly $47 million into defeating Proposition 29, a $1-a-pack tax hike on cigarettes, but the measure was narrowly leading in early returns Tuesday despite the hard-fought campaign. The tax increase would raise $810 million a year for cancer research and smoking cessation programs, and it would give California -- which currently has a lower tobacco tax than 32 other states -- the 16th-highest cigarette tax in the nation. … The vote would be a huge win for the public health groups that sponsored the measure, including the American Cancer Society.

6 Jun 2012

Novel guidelines manage youth maladaptive aggression

Recommendations for the engagement, assessment, treatment, and management of maladaptive aggression in youth have been developed by US experts to improve treatment planning and selection.

6 Jun 2012

CMS raises questions about N.H. Medicaid reimbursement rates

The federal agency requests state data and analysis about cuts in payments to hospitals in recent years.

6 Jun 2012

New evidence to support a range of healthy behaviors

Five new studies provide evidence to support simple steps we can take to prevent illness and improve our overall health. In the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine, researchers report on fish consumption to reduce the risk of colon cancer; the effectiveness ofhypnotherapy and acupuncture for smoking cessation; regular teeth cleaning to improve cardiovascular health; the effectiveness of primary care physicians in weight loss programs; and the use of low-dose aspirin to reduce cancer risk.

5 Jun 2012

HNC patients may be at increased risk for post-treatment side effects

New data from an Internet-based study show that patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) may be at risk for significant late effects after their treatment, but they're unlikely to discuss these and other survivorship care issues with their doctors.

2 Jun 2012

Lilly, Kowa announce results from PREVAIL U.S. study

Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company today announced results of the PREVAIL U.S. study (Pitavastatin compaREd with praVAstatin In Lowering LDL-C in the U.S.) which evaluated the efficacy of LIVALO (pitavastatin) 4 mg compared with pravastatin 40 mg in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the primary endpoint, as well as effects on other lipid parameters and lipoprotein particles in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia.

2 Jun 2012

CCG support advice ‘lacking’

Most CCGs want more information about the choice of commissioning support services available to them and how best to access them, according to a report commissioned by the Clinical Commissioning Coalition.

31 May 2012

New guidelines for management of childhood aggression

Mayo Clinic researchers, in collaboration with other research institutions and youth mental health experts, are publishing new guidelines for primary care providers and mental health specialists to manage the common but often complex problem of childhood aggression. The goals include improving diagnosis and care and avoiding inappropriate use of medication.

31 May 2012