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Excessive Alcohol-Related Deaths in US Adults
Alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. A JAMA cross-sectional study suggests that between 2015 and 2019, an estimated 1 in 8 total deaths among U.S. adults ages 20 to 64 were attributable to excessive alcohol use, including 1 in 5 deaths among adults ages 20 to 49.
Read ArticleEMA Crack Down on JAK Inhibitors
The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA's) safety committee (PRAC) has issued a recommendation that the use of oral JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib and filgotinib) be limited to certain at-risk patients unless no other suitable treatment alternatives are available.
Read ArticleIncreasing Prevalence of RA, PsA and AS in the UK
Electronic health record (EHR) database analysis from the United Kingdom suggests an increasing number of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritits (SpA) patients in England.
Read ArticleIncreasing Risk of Lupus Nephritis
Population based study from Minnesota shows that the incidence of lupus nephritis (LN) in the US has increased in the last four decades and that LN patients have poorer outcomes with high rates of ESRD and mortality rates six times that of the general population.
Read ArticleACR Award Winners (10.21.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Highlighted discussion of implantable stimulators, urine proteomics and gut-immune responses to Prevotella in RA.
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RheumNow Podcast – “That’s Not My Name” (10.7.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush goes off on "Untitling" (not using proper names/titles) in the clinic, in addition to reports on rheumatologist salaries, new drugs in phase 1-3 development and the range of COVID-19 MSK symptoms -- all from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticlePhysician Burnout Rising
The NY Times has reported results of a study showing that nearly two-thirds of doctors are experiencing at least one symptom of burnout, with a marked increase since the onset of the pandemic. These findings suggest that burnout rates amongst US doctors have risen to alarming levels.
Read ArticleWomen Doctors More Likely to Be Called By First Name in Patient Messages
Female physicians were more likely to be called by their first names in electronic medical record (EMR) patient portal messaging, researchers found.
Read ArticleTransitioning JIA to Adult Care is Problematic
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may start in adolescence and extend into adulthood.
Read ArticleCauses of Death in Lupus
The California Lupus Surveillance Project has longitudinally followed included systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases and shown that overall, the leading cause of death was cardiovascular disease (CVD), followed by rheumatic disease and hematologic/oncologic conditions.
Read ArticleOpioid Crisis Costs USA $1.5 Trillion
Reuters has reported the results of a Congressional report showing the economic toll of the opioid addiction and overdose crisis on the United States reached nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone and is likely to grow.
Read ArticleRheumatology Leaders and Patient Advocates Convene on Capitol Hill
ACR members along with rheumatology patients gathered on Capitol Hill and urged federal lawmakers to support the HELP Copays Act, Safe Step Act, and Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.
Read ArticleACR's State-by-State Report Cards for Rheumatic Disease
New report examines access, affordability, and activity and lifestyle factors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, evaluating how easy it is to live with a rheumatic disease in your state. No state scored an "A" or "F", and only two states improved their 2018 grades.
Read Article70% of Older Adults Report Joint Pain
Dr. Beth Wallace and colleagues at the University of Michigan surveyed a national sample of older adults (50–80 yrs) and found that 70% currently report experiencing joint pain and 60% reported being told by a health care professional that they have arthritis.
Read ArticleDoctor Appointment Wait TImes are Up
Forbes reports that a recent Merritt Hawkins survey shows that patients are waiting an average of 26 days for a scheduled appointment with a doctor.
Read ArticleACR Questions Medicare Proposed Cuts to Critical Services Reimbursement by Cognitive Specialists
In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program proposed rule, the American College of Rheumatology applauded proposals that would provide more flexibility and improve care coordination, while raising concerns about proposed cuts to reimbursement for critical services provided by rheumatologists and other cognitive specialists.
Read ArticleGlobal Trends Informing the Future of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Finkh et al report on the prevalence and interesting trends in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including its higher prevalence in industrialized countries and declining disease severity over time.
Read ArticleGoofy But True
Dr. Jack Cush discusses declining survival rates in the USA, FDA approvals of new COVID subvariant boosters and other odd and possibly true new research reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleNICE Guidelines on Gout Diagnosis and Management
NICE (UK) has systematically reviewed current medical evidence and delivered a set of recommendations with consideration of cost effectiveness.
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