In 2021, Medicare is celebrating its 55th year of providing health insurance to Americans. The program was first signed into law in 1965 and began offering coverage in 1966. That first year, 19 million Americans enrolled in Medicare for their healthcare coverage. As of 2019, more than 61 million Americans were enrolled in the program. President Biden is broadening the …
Delirium is an acute reversible change in mental status characterized by fluctuations in awareness and attention, which often result in complications such as rehospitalization and delayed discharge from SNFs. Although delirium is modifiable and potentially preventable, it is common in patients with heart failure and associated with poor outcomes. In a recent study, patients with heart failure discharged to SNFs …
A recent study published in Arthritis Care and Research, investigators found a similar prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in patients with psoriatic arthritis compared to the general population. Patients with psoriatic arthritis who are more likely to undergo osteoporosis screening are those with traditional risk factors including age and menopause, as well as those with features suggestive of higher disease …
In 2021, Medicare is celebrating its 55th year of providing health insurance to Americans. The program was first signed into law in 1965 and began offering coverage in 1966. That first year, 19 million Americans enrolled in Medicare for their healthcare coverage. As of 2019, more than 61 million Americans were enrolled in the program. President Biden is broadening the …
During the pandemic, delirium emerged as a well-recognized complication of COVID-19, with particular importance due to its high prevalence and mortality, significance as a presenting sign that is easily missed, and preventable nature. Delirium, also referred to as “acute brain failure,” is a common presenting symptom of any severe illness in older adults. Given this, it is not surprising that …
Vaccine distribution nationwide continues to ramp up, with nearly 2-million shots being given daily. President Biden has now said that every adult could be vaccinated by the end of May. A big promise that brings with it hope, a light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. That said, the question remains; when will COVID vaccination be as simple as …
In a recent press release, Merck (NYSE: MRK), announced preliminary results of viral RNA (molnupiravir), an investigational oral antiviral agent, from a Phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy to eliminate SARS-CoV-2. The study showed a reduction in time (days) to negativity of infectious virus isolation in nasopharyngeal swabs from participants with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 …
For patients who are allergic to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may be eligible to receive the Johnson & Johns/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, CDC staff said. While the CDC emphasized that the mRNA vaccines are not interchangeable with Johnson & Johnson’s viral vector vaccine, as the safety and efficacy of a mixed product series have yet to be evaluated, patients may receive the …
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), reported in 24% to 57% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 61% to 78% of intensive care unit admissions in patients with COVID-19. Compared with patients without COVID-19, those with COVID-19 develop more severe AKI, have greater dialysis requirements, and experience less in-hospital kidney recovery, which may increase …
Experts predicted that the 2019/20 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere would be a bad one. And then it wasn’t. The COVID-19 pandemic hit, international travel ground to a halt, physical distancing and mask wearing became more common, and the flu went away. Part of the sudden decrease might be the result of health authorities in some areas focusing all …
