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RA Compliance Undermines Treatment Success
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston prospectively studied 107 RA patients with regard to oral medication (DMARDs, steroids) adherence. They report that adherence was low, ranging from 58-71% overall.
Read ArticleAS vs. SpA Responses with Combination Treatment
Patients in a large Swedish registry with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) who started a TNF inhibitor were followed for comedication use and TNF inhibitor survival.
Read ArticleComorbidities Abound in Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a highly prevalent disorder with different studies and populations showing a prevalence of 2.1% to 6.4% in the general population. A retrospective review from Olmstead county revealed that among 1
Read ArticleThe Prevalence of Ankylosing Spondylitis
A retrospective study of the national register in Sweden identified a total of 11,030 cases with an ankylosing spondylitis (AS) diagnosis (as of 2009) were identified in the National Patient Register, giving a point prevalence of 0.18% in 2009. Men had a higher prevalence of ankylo
Read ArticleCommunication is the Best Medicine
Patients rate communication as one of the most important factors in choosing and sticking with a physician. The end product in at least 2/3 of visits is the prescription, yet prescription adherence is substandard in half of our patients. The key is communication.
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House Bill Threatens CME Exemption from Sunshine Act Reporting
Current Sunshine Act disclosures do not apply to CME certified educational activities for either the participants or the presenters. CMS has debated and waffled on whether companies would be required to report payments to doctors who speak at, or attend, CME seminars.
Read ArticleIs There a Standout When Comparing Novel Therapies?
Randomized clinical trials are needed to show efficacy and safety, and are needed to back up the claims and indications for a particular drug. The issue of treatment choice has become challenging, especially when choosing to start or augment therapy.
Read ArticleTime for a New War on Drugs (Their Prices, That Is)
DRESS Trial Shows TNFi Dose Reduction is Possible - Without Major Flares
Can TNF inhibitor therapy be withdrawn in RA patients who are in remission? The DRESS trial reports the results of randomized trial of 180 RA patients taking either etanercept or adalimumab. Patients were randomly assigned to either usual care (no dose reduction) or a stepwise increase
Read ArticleA different point of view on RA
Professor Fergus Shanahan, a consultant gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at University College Cork, has an issue with the label “auto-immune” disease being applied to conditions such as RA, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, asthma and type 1 diabetes.
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New CPT Chronic Disease Management Code 99490
The new Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will allow for reimbursement for chronic care management services (CCM).
Read ArticlePoisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics - NY State
Between 1999 and 2013 opiate-related deaths nearly quadrupled, with the death rate rising from 1.4 to 5.1 deaths per 100,000. These alarming statistics have lead to greater regulation and oversight to opiate use.
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