Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for May 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- Introducing the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPC), a health care delivery model developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), improves primary care delivery but does not reduce Medicare spending enough to cover care management fees, according to a study published online May 23 in Health Affairs.
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- The data on popular supplements show no consistent cardiovascular benefit, according to a study published in the June 5 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- A set of commonly available variables may be useful in predicting the five-year risk of height loss ≥1 inch in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online May 7 in Menopause.
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- For older adults, exercise is associated with improved cognition, with exercising for at least 52 hours over a six month period for about an hour each session associated with improved cognitive skills, according to a review published online May 30 in Neurology: Clinical Practice.
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- The widespread shortages of injectable opioids and small-volume parenteral (SVP) solutions are jeopardizing patient care and placing a strain on hospital operations, according to a report published by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening should begin at age 45 for people at average risk, according to updated guidelines from the American Cancer Society published online May 30 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- About half of older adults report having set up a patient portal, according to survey results from the National Poll on Healthy Aging.
WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- Individuals with hypertension have a higher annual adjusted incremental expenditure of $1,920, according to a study published online May 30 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- All patients with painful bone metastasis should be referred for palliative radiotherapy to relieve the pain, regardless of age, according to a study published online May 23 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- Women face unique health challenges across their lifetimes, and policies should be implemented to improve their health outcomes, according to a position paper published online May 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- In 2015, 35.5 percent of adult stroke survivors used outpatient rehabilitation, up from 31.2 percent in 2013, according to research published in the May 25 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
TUESDAY, May 29, 2018 -- Among older adults with a minor decline on a screening test for cognitive ability, an additional three-minute test of associative memory can improve identification of patients at increased risk of developing dementia over the next several years, according to a study published in the May/June issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
TUESDAY, May 29, 2018 -- There are considerable gaps in follow-up care for patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who have been discharged from the hospital, according to a study published online May 25 in JAMA Network Open.
TUESDAY, May 29, 2018 -- Clinicians caring for older adults with hypertension should be mindful of the specific blood pressure (BP) goals proven to reduce cardiovascular disease events, while adopting the new 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) hypertension guideline, according to an article published online May 20 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
TUESDAY, May 29, 2018 -- Insomnia is common in older community-dwelling adults, but usually mild, according to a study published online May 21 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
FRIDAY, May 25, 2018 -- The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guideline is associated with an increase in the proportion of adults recommended for antihypertensive treatment compared with the 2014 guideline, according to a study published online May 23 in JAMA Cardiology.
FRIDAY, May 25, 2018 -- Outbreaks associated with treated recreational water with confirmed infectious etiology are usually caused by Cryptosporidium, Legionella, or Pseudomonas, according to research published in the May 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
FRIDAY, May 25, 2018 -- Successful continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) use for obstructive sleep apnea may be associated with improved sexual quality of life (QOL), according to a study published online May 24 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 -- Patients served by the beleaguered Veterans Affairs health system may have wider access to private care, thanks to a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate. President Donald Trump is known to support the bill, which now awaits his signature.
THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 -- Greater perceived social isolation is associated with an increased risk of death and health care use among patients with heart failure, according to a study published online May 23 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 -- There is considerable global variation in personal health care access and quality, according to a study published online May 23 in The Lancet.
WEDNESDAY, May 23, 2018 -- Twelve county-level factors, including social and economic, clinical care, and physical environment, explain the majority of variation in resident well-being in the United States, according to a study published online May 23 in PLOS ONE.
TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 -- Overall, 9.1 percent of individuals in the United States were uninsured in 2017, which was not significantly different from the level in 2016, according to a report published online May 22 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Centers for Health Statistics.
TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 -- Fewer men are being screened for, diagnosed with, and treated for prostate cancer, according to a study published online May 21 in Cancer.
TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 -- Physical activity modifies the association between the body mass index (BMI) genetic risk score (GRS) and BMI, according to a study published online May 16 in Menopause.
MONDAY, May 21, 2018 -- Patterns of potential opioid misuse are positively associated with subsequent opioid overdose, according to a study published online May 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
MONDAY, May 21, 2018 -- Recipients of the herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su), consisting of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E (gE) and AS01B Adjuvant System, develop robust immune responses, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
MONDAY, May 21, 2018 -- The risk of dementia is increased for adults in the lowest versus the highest wealth quintile, according to a study published online May 16 in JAMA Psychiatry.
MONDAY, May 21, 2018 -- Increasing patients' physical activity is an effective strategy to lower future risk of heart failure, according to a study published in the May issue of Circulation.
MONDAY, May 21, 2018 -- Semaglutide is safe and effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, according to a review published online May 13 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
FRIDAY, May 18, 2018 -- Stigmatizing language used in medical records to describe patients can influence medical students and residents in terms of their attitudes towards the patient and their clinical decision-making, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
THURSDAY, May 17, 2018 -- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is independently associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, especially heart failure, after hospital discharge, according to a study published online May 17 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
THURSDAY, May 17, 2018 -- Diabetes-attributable nursing home costs are substantial, but vary greatly across the nation, according to a study published online May 14 in Diabetes Care.
THURSDAY, May 17, 2018 -- One to two servings of seafood per week is recommended for cardiovascular benefits, according to an American Heart Association science advisory published online May 17 in Circulation.
THURSDAY, May 17, 2018 -- An aerobic and strength exercise program does not slow cognitive impairment among people with mild-to-moderate dementia, according to a study published online May 16 in The BMJ.
WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 -- A nonprofit manufacturer could help keep generic drug prices down and maintain their supply, according to a perspective piece published in the May 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 -- A high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common among older adults but is seldom investigated, though when it is investigated, it is almost always confirmed, according to a study published online May 9 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 -- Best practices have been developed for using electronic health records (EHRs) to enhance patient-centered care, according to an article published online in Medical Economics.
MONDAY, May 14, 2018 -- Good relationships, social engagement, better every day functioning, good physical and mental health, and high-quality care are linked to better quality of life (QoL) for patients with dementia, according to a review published online May 8 in Psychological Medicine.
MONDAY, May 14, 2018 -- Anxiety levels are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in the lumbar spine and femoral neck among postmenopausal women, according to a study published online May 7 in Menopause.
MONDAY, May 14, 2018 -- From 2007 to 2016, the rate of deaths from falls among older adults increased by an average of 3.0 percent per year, according to research published in the May 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
FRIDAY, May 11, 2018 -- Resistance exercise training (RET) is associated with reduced depressive symptoms among adults, according to a meta-analysis published online May 9 in JAMA Psychiatry.
FRIDAY, May 11, 2018 -- For patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis, taking a bisphosphonate (BP) drug holiday is associated with increased risk of fracture for patients with lower femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) or T scores, according to a recent study published in Endocrine Practice.
FRIDAY, May 11, 2018 -- Patients with heart failure frequently have malnutrition, which is associated with increased mortality, according to a study published online May 9 in JACC: Heart Failure.
THURSDAY, May 10, 2018 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched legal action to stop two stem cell clinics from providing unapproved treatments that have caused serious, long-term harm to some patients.
WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 -- Survivors of lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have increased use of health care services versus a normative population, according to a study published online April 26 in Cancer.
WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 -- For older adults with chronic pain, psychological interventions have small benefits, including reducing pain and catastrophizing beliefs, according to a review published online May 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 -- Coaching to increase water intake does not significantly slow the decline in kidney function among adults with chronic kidney disease, according to a study published in the May 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 -- For nursing home (NH) residents with dementia and hip fracture, surgical hip fracture repair is associated with lower mortality, according to a study published online May 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the decision to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer should be an individual one for men aged 55 to 69 years. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement, published in the May 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 -- Regulatory requirements are likely to be an important aspect of physician dissatisfaction with electronic health records (EHRs) that is driving burnout, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online May 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 -- Approaches to addressing the potential complications of owning firearms for persons with dementia (PWD) are presented in an article published online May 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
MONDAY, May 7, 2018 -- The cancer burden among persons living with HIV (PLWH) is projected to shift by 2030, according to a study published online May 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
MONDAY, May 7, 2018 -- Hypertensive patients may lower their stroke risk with folic acid supplements, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 -- As the number of older people in the United States continues to increase, pharmacists and health care professionals need to recognize and address the health care challenges associated with age, including frailty, according to an article published in Drug Topics.
FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 -- Many organizations are not meeting the trial registration and results reporting requirements clarified by "The Final Rule," which had a compliance date of April 18, 2017, according to a study published online May 1 in BMC Medicine.
FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 -- Varying pain descriptors may be useful when evaluating patients with different stages of low back pain (LBP), according to a study published online April 30 in PAIN Practice.
FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 -- Physical therapy promotes the recovery of arm function and neuroplasticity in all chronic stroke patients, according to a study published online April 25 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 -- Five major strategies exist for reducing acute care for patients with cancer, according to a review published online April 17 in the Journal of Oncology Practice.
THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 -- Sleep duration is associated with health-related quality of life among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online May 3 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 -- Those with systemic inflammation during midlife are more likely to have age-related frailty, according to a recent study published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A.
THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 -- Most older adults agree that sex is an important part of a romantic relationship at any age, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging.
WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2018 -- For adults, frequent sauna bathing is associated with reduced risk of future stroke, according to a study published online May 2 in Neurology.
WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2018 -- For persons with dementia, a prototype intelligent system, the DRESS prototype, can provide automated dressing support by identifying incorrect dressing scenarios, according to a study published in the April-June issue of JMIR Medical Informatics.
WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2018 -- For hospitalized adults with serious illness, receiving a palliative care consultation (PCC) is associated with a reduction in hospital costs, according to a review published online April 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
TUESDAY, May 1, 2018 -- Physicians are generally comfortable with deprescribing for elderly patients, although there are several barriers to deprescribing, according to a study published online April 22 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
TUESDAY, May 1, 2018 -- Physicians should be aware of the correct protocol for, as well as the laws involved in, firing employees, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
TUESDAY, May 1, 2018 -- Early general medicine readmissions are more likely than late readmissions to be preventable with hospital-based interventions, according to a study published online May 1 in the Annals of Internal of Medicine.