Inhaled Steroids May Increase Pneumonia Risk in People with Asthma
Use of inhaled corticosteroids was linked with an increased risk of pneumonia in a study of individuals with asthma. In the study of 152,412 asthma patients (of whom 1928 had a pneumonia event during follow-up), current use of inhaled corticosteroids was associated with an 83%…
Survey finds patients uncertain about how to best manage their cholesterol
People who have high cholesterol may understand they need to manage their condition, but many aren’t sure how to do that, nor do they feel confident they can, according to a new survey from the American Heart Association.
The evidence base for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): what can we believe?
The ‘facts’ that most women and clinicians consider in making the decision to use, or not use, HRT are frequently wrong or incorrectly applied says Professor Robert D Langer in a paper entitled The evidence base for HRT: what can we believe?, which will be…
NSAIDs associated with increased risk of cardiac arrest
Researchers advise avoiding diclofenac and limiting ibuprofen to 1200 mg per day
Fish oil supplements may help prevent death after a heart attack but lack evidence of cardiovascular benefit for the general population
Omega-3 fish oil supplements prescribed by a healthcare provider may help prevent death from heart disease in patients who recently had a heart attack and may prevent death and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure, but there is a lack of scientific research to support…
Only 1 in 5 patients seeking specialist for resistant HBP take meds as prescribed
Only one in five patients seeking specialty care for resistant hypertension are taking all their prescribed medications, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.“Another twenty percent are not taking any of their blood pressure medications,” said Peter Blankestijn, M.D., Ph.D., senior…
Statin side effects are strongest predictor of failure to meet cholesterol targets
Statin side effects are the strongest predictor of failure to meet low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol targets, according to research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.Other predictors were statin non-adherence and use of weaker statins.
Very Low Levels of Bad Cholesterol Well-Tolerated in Heart Disease Patients
Heart disease patients taking PCSK9 inhibitors to achieve very low levels of cholesterol do not experience an increase in adverse events, including memory impairment or nervous system disorders, but may have an increased risk of cataracts, according to a study today in the Journal of…
People with dementia need more support to manage their medication
Study reveals patients often struggle to manage their drug regimeCommunity pharmacists could be used more to support patients and carersSome carers find the responsibility of their role stressful
Benzodiazepines and related drugs increase stroke risk among persons with Alzheimer’s disease
The use of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-like drugs was associated with a 20 per cent increased risk of stroke among persons with Alzheimer’s disease, shows a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland. Benzodiazepines were associated with a similar risk of stroke as benzodiazepine-like drugs.
Regular Aspirin Use May Reduce Risk for Pancreatic Cancer
Regular use of aspirin by people living in Shanghai, China, was associated with decreased risk for developing pancreatic cancer, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.Data from the new study and meta-analysis of…
Reducing the Duration of Antibiotics Does More Harm than Good When Treating Ear Infections in Young Children
In a landmark trial conducted at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, researchers have demonstrated that when treating children between 9 and 23 months of age with antibiotics for ear infections, a shortened course has worse clinical…