Browse Primary Care/Hospitalist Articles by Topic

Ticagrelor vs. Aspirin: Post-TIA and Stroke

The first 90 days after a transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke is a high-risk period for recurrence of cardiovascular thrombotic events. Even with aspirin treatment, recurrences occur in as many as 10-15% of patients.

Heart Failure with Recovered Ejection Fraction: A Distinct Phenotype

SYNOPSIS: Patients suffering from systolic heart failure who subsequently improve their ejection fraction experience a more favorable clinical course compared to those presenting with persistently reduced ejection fraction or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Noninvasive Ventilation Delivered Via Helmet May Decrease Intubation Rates

SYNOPSIS: In this single-center, randomized, clinical trial, among patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome, the use of helmet noninvasive ventilation was associated with a reduction in intubation rates, ICU length of stay, and hospital and 90-day mortality.

Influence of Sacubitril/Valsartan on 30-day Readmission After Heart Failure

SYNOPSIS: Compared with enalapril, treatment with sacubitril/valsartan is more effective in reducing 30-day readmissions for any cause following discharge from congestive heart failure hospitalization.

Growing Threat of Pyelonephritis Caused by Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli

SYNOPSIS: In patients with acute pyelonephritis due Escherichia coli presenting to one of 10 emergency departments, the prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance ranged from 6.3% to 19.9%, and the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production was 2.6% to 12.2%. Of those patients with resistant organisms, more than 50% received inactive empiric antibiotics.

Safely Centralized Telemetry Off-site in a Multi-hospital System

SYNOPSIS: The hospitals in this study outsourced their cardiac telemetry to an off-site central monitoring center without an increase in adverse events.

Updating the Guidance On Women’s Preventive Services

A coalition of national health professional organizations, as well as women’s health consumer and patient advocates, are updating the federal Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines. If the recommendations are adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration, it will help ensure that women receive a comprehensive set of preventive services without having to pay a copayment, co-insurance, or deductible.

Federal Agencies Issue More Family Planning Rules

Federal agencies are continuing to issue regulations and guidance with a sense of urgency, and, in several cases, the implications for family planning care may be profound.

Research Eyes Hormonal Contraceptive Use And Impact on Vitamin D Levels

Women risk having their vitamin D levels fall when they stop using birth control pills or other contraceptives containing estrogen, new research indicates. This finding has clinical implications when counseling women who are planning to conceive and identifying women who may be at risk of deficiency.

WHO Updates STI Treatment Guidance Due to Growing Antibiotic Resistance

The World Health Organization has issued new guidelines for the treatment of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in response to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. According to the international health organization, each year, 131 million people are infected with chlamydia, 78 million are infected with gonorrhea, and 5.6 million are infected with syphilis.