Browse Primary Care/Hospitalist Articles by Topic

Costs and Consequences of Chronic Pain Among U.S. Adults

Annually, chronic pain accounts for an estimated $560 billion in direct medical costs, lost productivity, and disability programs. Identifying populations at risk is the first step for developing targeted interventions for pain management.

Risk of Infective Endocarditis Revisited

In a comparison of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) and either bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) or mitral valve prolapse (MVP) vs. other IE patients at high or low-to-moderate risk of IE, BAV and MVP patients were more likely to exhibit viridans group streptococci infections of suspected odontogenic origin and cardiac complications at similar rates to high-risk patients.

Effect of Diet on Hippocampal Volume in a Population at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

MRI of the brain in community-dwelling people (average age, 60 years) revealed that a long-term, high-quality diet was associated with larger hippocampal volumes after an average interval of 11 years.

Acupuncture as Adjunct Therapy for Infertility in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for treating infertility in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome receiving clomiphene citrate or placebo offered no benefit over sham acupuncture.

Acupuncture for Pain Control in the Emergency Department

In this study, researchers treated pain in the emergency department with acupuncture alone, acupuncture with conventional medication, or medication alone. They found acute efficacy was similar, although not optimal, for all modalities.

Chocolate for Primary Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation

In a large, population-based, prospective cohort study of Danish people aged 50-64 years, researchers found that chocolate intake was inversely related to incidental rates of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Homeopathic Remedies and Dietary Supplements in 2018: Weighing Benefits and Risks

More than half of Americans are using supplements or over-the-counter medications. Practitioners need to understand how their patients are using supplements and be able to provide accurate, factual advice on dietary supplements and homeopathic preparations. This article will evaluate each category for benefits and risks and provide details on how to research each product for available information. In addition, the article will assess various recommendations, including examples in weight loss, energy enhancement, and performance products.

Baloxavir Marboxil Tablets (Xofluza)

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the FDA has approved a new antiviral drug for the treatment of influenza.

Does CPAP Improve the Sex Lives of People With Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Among men using CPAP, prior noncontrolled case series have suggested an improvement in sexual function, albeit primarily among subjects who reported prior sexual difficulties. Although hormonal effects have been implicated in obstructive sleep apnea, no one has confirmed that low testosterone is a consequence of sleep-disordered breathing or that testosterone can rise with the use of CPAP. However, factors that clearly can improve with CPAP, such as weight gain and poor sleep quality, have shown a definite relationship to testosterone levels.

LDL Cholesterol: How Low Do We Go?

A meta-analysis of 29 cholesterol-lowering outcome studies with baseline average low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels ≤ 70 mg/dL showed consistent major adverse cardiovascular event risk reductions down to average LDL levels of 21 mg/dL without any increase in adverse events.