Elderly Often Untested for Sleep Apnea

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Geriatric patients are at a higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), yet they are seldom diiagnosed or evaluated for OSA.

A recent study shows that 56% of people 65 years and older have a high risk of OSA, but that only 8% were tested for OSA.

Will Aspirin Cotherapy Undermine Celecoxib’s Safety Effects?

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The PRECISION study took 11 years and 24,081 patients (90% OA; 10% RA).

NSAIDs and Acetaminophen Preferred Over Opioids for Dental Pain

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A systematic review in the Journal of the American Dental Association evaluated the safety and efficacy of analgesics and foundp opioids less effective than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone or in combination with acetaminophen when treating dental pain.

MMWR: Cannabis Use in the Colorado Workers

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MMWR reports that eight states, including Colorado, have legalized recreational marijuana for use by adults and that a study of use in Colorado has shown that nearly 15% of Colorado adult workers have used marijuana in the past 30 days.

ACR Projects Significant Manpower Shortages for 2030

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Arthritis & Rheumatology has published the results of the 2015 Workforce Study of Rheumatology Specialists, and estimates a current shortage (demand > supply) of 700 (12.9%) full-time rheumatologists and that this deficit will worsen (102%) to 4133 FTE by 2030.

Lancet Tackles the Global Challenge of Low Back Pain

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Lancet has several reports on low back pain (LBP) as a major problem worldwide, largely because of the aging population.

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Cannabis Laws Lessen the Opioid Crisis

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Three reports from JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrate favorable trends with less opioid use when cannabis became legal.

Obesity Surgery Tames Knee OA Pain

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Laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB) surgery was associated with significant decreases in knee pain from osteoarthritis (OA), with the greatest improvements seen among those whose body mass index (BMI) had the greatest decreases and among younger patients, researchers reported.

Tai Chi Eases Fibromyalgia Pain

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The mind-body practice of tai chi was as effective or better than currently recommended aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia, a randomized controlled trial demonstrated.

Shoe Inserts Disappoint with Plantar Heel Pain

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A report from the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that commonly used drug store shoe inserts or customized orthotics are often ineffective in managing plantar heel pain.

Novel Approach to Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

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Geniculate artery embolization was found to dampen knee pain arising from osteoarthritis, according to interim study results presented at the 2018 annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology.

MMWR: Arthritis Prevalence Increases and Varies Widely

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MMWR reports that In 2015, the number of adults with arthritis continued to increase; with marked geographic variability in arthritis estimates with gaps in arthritis management.

The RheumNow Week in Review - 9 March 2018

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights, news and recent research published this past week on RheumNow.com. This week's report includes news on new regulatory changes, new indication for tofacitinib, the rise and deficits of opioids and the benefits of fish and bariatric surgery.

DSB – Safety Updates & Drug Shortages – March 2018

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This edition of RheumNow's Drug Safey Bulletin includes drug safety news, FDA updates, FDA safety labeling changes and reported drug shortages. 

Opioid Overdoses Jump 30% in 2017

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The CDC released new information yesterday showing that emergency department (ED) visits for opioid overdoses rose 30% in the US from July 2016 through September 2017; in addition, those with an overdose are more likely to a repeat overdose.

Opioids No Better than NSAIDs at Chronic Pain

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JAMA reports that the SPACE trial demonstrates patients with chronic back or arthritis pain respond equally to 12 months of either opioids or non-opioid (acetaminophen or NSAIDs) analgesics. 

HERO Trial - Hydroxychloroquine Fails in Hand Osteoarthritis

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UK researchers have treated 248 patients with moderate to severe hand pain and radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) and demonstrated no benefit after 12 months of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), according to a recent article in Annals of Internal Medicine.

NHANES Survey Shows OA Rising and RA Declining

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An analysis of 43,706 adults from the 1999-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) demonstrated temporal trends in the prevalence of arthritis, including a rise in osteoarthritis (OA) from 6.6% to 14.3%, while the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) decreased from 5.9%

Top 10 MMWR CDC Reports from 2017

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Here are the 10 most talked about MMWR Reports of 2017. 

The RheumNow Week in Review - 2 February 2018

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights, news and recent research published this week on RheumNow.com. This week's report includes rising epidemiologic numbers, vaccine updates for H.