MEDICAL NEWS BRIEFS #13

Insurance Coverage Snags When Trying to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

   Pharmacies have seen delays in delivery of Pfizer and Moderna despite the companies saying they have shipped millions of doses of updated vaccine. There is no shortage of vaccine, just a delay in availability. Patients are finding their insurance requires prior authorization or denies coverage, completely, and as a result charges up to $200 per dose.

CDC Recommends RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Women At 32-36 weeks Gestation

   In the Fall and Winter, RSV cases spike up. Newborns are at risk of acquiring the infection. Thus, pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks should receive RSV vaccine. Six months of maternal immunity is passed on to the infant protecting them at a critical time. The vaccine should be given between September and January. 

During COVID-19 Pandemic the Incidence of Type I and Type II Diabetes Increased Among Children and Adolescents

More Time Spent Being Sedentary Was Linked To Higher Incidence of Dementia in Older Adults

Vaping Increases Asthma Risk in Teens Who have Never Smoked Cigarettes

Timely Physical Therapy Was Linked to Reduction in Risk For Falls in Patients Presenting With Dizziness

Lowering LDL-C With Statin Therapy Shown to Benefit Primary Prevention in Patients Over 70 Years of Age

   A study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that primary prevention benefits of statin therapy were similar for patients both under 70 and over 70 years of age. Each slight reduction in LDL-C was associated with a “lower risk of major vascular events in older…and younger individuals alike…after 2.5 years of follow-up, starting 1 year after the start of lipid-lowering therapy with statins alone or with other agents.”

Studies Offer Insights Into Biology Behind Long COVID

   A study published in Nature says scientists have found “clear differences in the blood of people with long COVID…clues into what could be causing the elusive condition.” A second study using MRI scanning found evidence of damage to the lungs, brain and kidneys in 1 out of 3 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. These studies may help us understand long COVID.

New Therapies for Diabetes Better for A1C and Weight Loss

   Drugs for diabetes recently introduced on the market, are reported to be more effective at lowering A1C, and causing weight loss, than others used commonly. 

Weekly Insulin Therapy Guided by App Improves Glycemic Control

   As reported in The Annals of Internal Medicine, icodec, a once-weekly basal insulin, when given to Type 2 Diabetics, achieved better compliance and lower Hemoglobin A1C levels than daily basal insulin, glargine. 

Report Finds Nearly 18 Million U.S. Adults Struggle With Long COVID

   According to CDC data, 6.9% of U.S. adults, or 18 million people, have experienced long COVID in the past year, and 3.4% were currently symptomatic with long COVID at the time of the survey. Researchers at The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified 12 symptoms that most identify those with long COVID. Some of those symptoms were fatigue, chronic cough, brain fog, chest pain, and heart palpitations. 

Patients With Cystic Fibrosis in US Tend to Live a Decade Longer Than They Did 20 Years Ago, Deaths Have Halved. Report in Scientific Reports

4 In 10 Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Were Diagnosed After Age 30

   Data from 947 adults with Type 1 Diabetes (out of 1.3 million adults) showed 4 in 10 were diagnosed after age 30, a much older age than in past evaluations. Annals of Internal Medicine

Certain Types of Health Care Workers Face Higher Risk of Suicide

   JAMA reports that registered nurses, health care support workers, and health technicians face an increased risk of suicide. The rate is 14 per 100,000 person-years compared to 13 per 100,000 person-years for non health care workers. The physician suicide rate is 13 per 100,000 person-years.

Weight Loss Drugs Generated 9 Million Prescriptions in Last Quarter of 2022

   Practitioners wrote 9 million prescriptions for Ozempic and drugs just like it, in late 2022. Really indicated for treatment of diabetes, these drugs have the additional benefit of weight loss, which is why they are so widely prescribed. Unfortunately, if Rx’d for weight loss they are often not covered by insurance.

Survey Finds Nearly Half of US Adults Plan To Get Newly Recommended COVID-19 Vaccine

   23% of adults said they “definitely would” get it, 23% said they “probably will” get it, 19% say “probably not,” and 33% say they would “definitely not” get it. 

Climbing More Than Five Flights of Stairs Daily May Reduce Risk of Heart Disease

   Folks who did this were 20% less likely to develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease over 12 years. Published in Arteriosclerosis

Exposure to Air Pollution May Increase Risk of Stoke Within Five Days

   Exposure to nitrogen dioxide for 5 days increased stroke risk by 30%. For carbon monoxide the risk was 26% higher, sulfur dioxide 15% higher, and Ozone exposure was 5% higher. Findings were published in Neurology.

References: AAFP Family Medicine Today: Some Americans Face Insurance Coverage Snags 

     When trying to get COVID-19 vaccine 2023 Sept 25.

     CDC recommends RSV vaccine for pregnant women to protect infants 2023 Sept 25.

     Primary prevention benefits of lowering LDL-C were similar between statin users under and

     over age 70 2023 Sept 26.

     Studies offer insights into biology behind long COVID 2023 Sept 26

     New Therapies for better for A1C and Weight loss. 2023 Sept 26.

     Weekly Insulin Therapy Guided by App Improves Glycemic control in Type Ii Diabetes

     2023 Sept. 26.

     Weekly insulin therapy achieved better glycemic control in Type 2 diabetics 2023 Sept 26

     Report finds nearly 18 million U.S. adults have struggled with long COVID 2023 Sept 27

     4 in 10 Adults with Type 1 Diabetes were diagnosed after age 30 2023 Sept 27

     Certain types of health care workers face higher risk of suicide 2923 Sept 27

     Clinicians wrote 9 M prescriptions for weight loss drugs in final 3 months of 2022  2023

     Sept 28

     Survey finds nearly half of US adults plan to get newly recommended COVID-19 vaccine

     2023 Sept 28

     Exposure to air pollution may increase risk of stroke within five days 2023 Sept 28.