Browse Primary Care/Hospitalist Articles by Topic

The Safety and Efficacy of Common Herbal and Dietary Supplements in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Part 1

With an increasing number of diabetes cases, clinicians also are encountering more patients who are turning to complementary and alternative medicine to help control their glucose levels. In a 2015 National Consumer Survey on the Medication Experience and Pharmacist Roles, 35% of 26,157 respondents in the study reported the use of at least one herbal medicine. In all, 3,050 respondents had diabetes, and 41.2% of the respondents reported the use of a dietary supplement.3 The data revealed that respondents with diabetes were associated with higher herbal medicine use when compared to respondents without chronic diseases (41% vs. 34%, P < 0.001). The results also showed that herbal medicine use increased as age increased among the respondents.

New Data on Pediatric Clinical Ethics Consults

Pediatric cases involve, at a minimum, three stakeholders: The patient, the parents, and the healthcare team. This decision-making triad can lead to a multitude of ethical quandaries.

Drospirenone and Estetrol Tablets (Nextstellis)

Nextstellis can be prescribed to women of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy.

Vitamin D and COVID-19

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19, but causality is unknown.

Dairy, Bone Health, and Menopause

An analysis of data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation cohort did not reveal a significant association between daily dairy intake frequency, femoral and spine bone mineral density loss, and non-traumatic fracture risk among women transitioning to menopause.

Giving the Cold Shoulder to Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation

In two randomized trials published simultaneously, cryoballoon ablation proved superior to drug therapy for prevention of arrhythmia recurrence in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Study: STIs Can Affect State Medicaid Budgets

Screening and treatment of STIs can cost states tens of millions of dollars in Medicaid budgets, but public health activities to prevent STIs can help reduce these costs, according to a new study.

Intervention Reduces Positive STI Tests and Increases Condom Use

A culturally tailored intervention for a particularly vulnerable group of Black women has reduced the odds of testing positive for a sexually transmitted infection and increased condom use in vaginal or anal intercourse, the authors of a recent study found.

Fewer Tests, Possible Increases in Sexually Transmitted Infections During Pandemic

Public health officials still do not know the full effect of the pandemic on the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted STI testing. It is unknown if people engaged in risky behavior during various regional and national shutdowns.

Study: Abortions Do Not Lead to Mental Health Problems

The authors of a new paper noted the reasons why women decide to undergo an abortion include many mental health risk factors, such as poverty, lack of social supports, domestic violence, rape, incest, pre-existing mental illness, and lack of education. But post-abortion, women’s mental health status does not deteriorate, although stress levels might increase if they experience barriers in obtaining the abortion.