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Two doses of RZV recommended for adults 19 years and older who are immunocompromised due to disease or therapy

No Significant Increase Seen in Fetal Mortality Rates From 2019 to 2020

Rates for three largest race and Hispanic-origin groups did not significantly change; increase in rates reported in one state, decline reported in two states

Significant Health Benefits Seen With Meeting ATS Air Quality Standard

Compared with meeting EPA standards alone, this would prevent 11,850 more deaths, 25,400 more morbidities

Breast Cancer Survivors Face Higher Risk for Hypertension, Diabetes

Risk for hypertension even higher for those receiving left-sided radiation therapy, endocrine therapy

Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Gained Weight During First Year of Pandemic

Significant predictors of pandemic weight gain were psychological distress, prepandemic weight, and children at home

Long-Term Outcomes Described for Survivors of Childhood ALL

Life challenges more negatively impacted in younger, female, relapsed patients; socializing more positively impacted in older patients

Biden Plans to Send 400 Million N95 Masks to Americans for Free

Move follows updated mask guidance issued by the CDC late last week

COVID-19 Restrictions Eased in England

As of Jan. 27, COVID-19 passes will no longer be needed to enter large-scale events, use of face masks in public schools will no longer be required

Cardiac Outcomes Good for Children With COVID-19-Related MIS-C

All deformation parameters on echocardiogram recovered within first week, including LV global longitudinal strain, peak left atrial strain

White House Launches Website for Free Home COVID-19 Tests a Day Ahead of Schedule

Early launch due to 'beta testing'; website currently working at 'limited capacity' ahead of official Wednesday debut

Too Soon to Tell if Omicron Will End Pandemic: Fauci

There are suggestions that omicron could result in COVID-19 transitioning from a pandemic to an endemic situation

COVAX Program Has Now Sent 1 Billion Vaccines to Poorer Nations

Thirty-six of the organization's 194 member countries have still only vaccinated 10 percent of their populations

Factors ID'd for Eventual Surgery in Patients With Appendicitis

Presence of an appendicolith increases risk for undergoing appendectomy after starting antibiotic therapy for acute appendicitis

Long-Term Medication Usage After Bariatric Surgeries Compared

Patterns of medication use for obesity-related comorbidities slightly more favorable following gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Friday, January 14, 2022

Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture Up From 2010 to 2019

However, most costs are paid out of pocket

Amid U.S. Blood Shortage, New Pressure to Ease Donor Rules for Gay Men

Easing the rules would result in a 2 to 4 percent increase -- 345,400 to 615,300 more pints of blood -- in the nation's annual blood supply

Senate Committee Backs Califf Nomination to Head FDA

Among those who voted against Califf's nomination were Democrats who expressed concerns about his links to pharmaceutical companies

Supreme Court Blocks Biden's Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers

Mandate was a crucial component of the White House plan to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic

WHO Living Guideline Updated for Drug Treatment of COVID-19

JAK inhibitor baricitinib strongly recommended for the treatment of severe or critical COVID-19

Comprehensive Approach Advised for Managing CV Risk in T2DM

In addition to managing all cardiovascular risk factors, providers must consider social determinants of health

Fosfomycin Not Noninferior to Comparators for Bacteremic UTI

Fosfomycin not noninferior to ceftriaxone or meropenem for bacteremic urinary tract infection due to multidrug-resistant E. coli in adults

Statin Use May Be Safely Continued During Pregnancy

Higher risk seen for low birth weight and preterm birth with statins, but no tie to congenital anomalies

White House May Soon Offer 'High-Quality' Masks to Americans

One option being discussed is to distribute the masks at community sites

Incidence of Advanced Lung Cancer Continues to Decline in the U.S.

During 2014 to 2018, incidence continued to increase slowly for female breast cancer, remained stable for prostate cancer

Rural, Urban Disparities Seen for Quality of Home Health Care

Rural home health care agencies perform better on process measures; urban agencies perform better on outcome measures

Donepezil Tied to Risk for Overactive Bladder

Risk for overactive bladder varies across individual cholinesterase inhibitor drugs

Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing Dropped During Pandemic

Decrease in antibiotic prescriptions in pediatric primary care driven by reduced volume of visits for respiratory tract infections

Nearly 600,000 U.S. Children Had COVID-19 Last Week

Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 8.5 million U.S. children have tested positive for COVID-19

U.S. May Soon See Sharp Drop in Omicron Cases, Experts Say

One model suggests number of daily reported cases in the U.S. will top out at 1.2 million by Jan. 19 and then fall sharply

BinaxNOW Test Catches COVID-19 Infection in Many People, Study Shows

Earlier preliminary studies had raised questions about whether rapid antigen tests might be less sensitive to omicron than other variants

White House to Give Schools 10 Million Free COVID-19 Tests Every Month

First shipments are expected later this month

Myopia Progression May Continue in Young Adults Into Late 20s

Myopia incidence from age 20 to 28 years was 14 percent

U.S. COVID-19 Hospitalizations Pass Last Winter's Peak

Surge in cases has overwhelmed hospitals nationwide, and about one-quarter face critical staffing shortages

U.S. Insurers Must Cover Eight COVID-19 At-Home Tests a Month: White House

Under the plan, people who provide insurance information at certain pharmacies will be able to get the tests with no out-of-pocket costs

Red Cross Says U.S. Blood Supply at Dangerously Low Level

People who have received COVID-19 vaccines can donate blood and platelets as long as they are symptom-free

Americans Should Avoid Travel to Canada: CDC

Agency has placed Canada under a Level 4 travel health notice, which is the highest category

Two Doses of BNT162b2 Vaccine Protect Against MIS-C

Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have estimated effectiveness of 91 percent against MIS-C in children aged 12 to 18 years

Intrathecal Morphine + Oral Gabapentin Aids Pain Management

Combination improved pain management for teens undergoing spinal fusion for scoliosis

Young Adults With Cancer Facing Psychological Distress During Pandemic

High psychological distress tied to lower quality of life, social isolation, impaired cancer care

ADA Updates Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes for 2022

Updates include recommendation to screen for prediabetes and diabetes in all people starting at age 35 years

FDA Warns Against Using At-Home COVID-19 Test Swabs in the Throat

Throat swabs are common in some countries, but most self-tests in the United States require nasal samples

Amid COVID-19 Test Shortages, Price Gouging Is on the Rise

Attorney General offices around the country have reported receiving complaints or hearing stories of price gouging

Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Migraine Headache Attacks

Vitamin D supplementation had no obvious effect on attack duration or headache severity

Trauma Rates High After Operative Vaginal Delivery in Canada

Rates of maternal trauma higher after forceps than vacuum delivery; rates vary by region

COVID-19 Vaccination Linked to Small Change in Menstrual Cycle Length

Difference in change in cycle length between vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts less than one day in adjusted models

Sleep-Disordered Breathing Tied to Insulin Resistance in Pregnancy

In pregnant women with BMI ≥27 kg/m², respiratory event index and oxygen desaturation index linked to HOMA-IR

Severe COVID-19 Outcomes Rare After Primary Vaccination

Risk higher for people who were aged 65 years or older, immunosuppressed, or had at least one of six underlying conditions

Interventions to Promote Physical Activity May Benefit Asthma Patients

Programs to increase physical activity may improve quality of life, but no effect seen on asthma control or asthma medication usage

Psychological Distress More Likely in Young Adult Cancer Survivors

AYA cancer survivors with versus without psychological distress have additional medical expenses, office visits, use of meds

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Friday, January 7, 2022

White House Finalizes Plan to Send Americans Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests

Administration plans to launch a website where people can request the rapid tests

FDA Shortens Time to Booster After Moderna Vaccine to Five Months

Similar time window for boosters is already in place for people who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

Moderna CEO Says Fourth COVID-19 Dose May Be Needed Next Fall

Governments, including the United Kingdom and South Korea, are already ordering the doses in preparation, Bancel said

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Biden's Vaccine Mandate for Big Business

Court also hearing arguments on separate vaccine mandate for most heath care workers

Adverse Birth Outcomes Tied to ART Unlikely Due to Treatment

Difference in frequency of adverse outcomes small and statistically insignificant for siblings conceived naturally, through ART

Vaccination Seems Less Protective Against Transmission of Delta Variant

Reduction in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with COVID-19 vaccination smaller for delta variant versus alpha variant

Incarceration Tied to Lower Life Expectancy in Blacks

Disparities in incarceration may partially explain the lower life expectancy of Blacks, authors say

Parenting Program to Prevent Obesity in Firstborn May Help a Sibling

The effects of a responsive parenting intervention for preventing overweight in firstborn may extend to the next child

Cochlear Implants Can Benefit Deaf Children With Autism

Improvement seen in language skills and social engagement

Members of Biden Transition Team Call for New COVID-19 Plan

Six former advisers published opinion articles Thursday in JAMA detailing what needs to be done now to put a plan in place

Some At-Home Tests May Miss Omicron in Early Stages of Infection

Study focused on 30 people infected with COVID-19 at five workplaces that experienced likely outbreaks of the omicron variant last month

United Kingdom Eases COVID-19 Testing Rules for International Visitors

Change will be welcome news to people who refrained from traveling for fear they would get stranded in a foreign country

CDC Backs FDA Approval of Boosters for Those Aged 12 to 17 Years

In arriving at its decision, the CDC advisory panel pointed to rising COVID-19 hospitalizations among the young

COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy Not Linked to Preterm Birth, SGA

Risk not increased when results stratified by vaccination in second or third trimester, mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose

Combustion-Related Nitrogen Dioxide Contributes to Pediatric Asthma

An estimated 1.85 million new pediatric asthma cases attributable to nitrogen dioxide globally in 2019

Most of World's Urban Population Live in Areas With High PMâ‚‚.â‚…

About 86 percent of urban dwellers live in areas that exceed WHO guidelines for annual PM_2.5, contributing to >1.8 million deaths

Heterogeneity Identified in Global Kidney Nutrition Care

Dietitians and nephrologists only communicated sometimes on kidney nutrition care in 60 percent or more of countries

Kroger, Walmart Hike Prices on At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Both stores were selling the kits at cost or at a discount but now have raised the prices

Biden Urges Calm During Omicron Surge

Biden also announced that his administration is doubling its order of new Pfizer antiviral pill

Hypertension-Related Maternal Mortality Up for Chronic HTN

Maternal mortality rate related to chronic hypertension increased by 9.2 percent annually in the United States from 1979 to 2018

Hearing Loss, Dual Sensory Loss Tied to Higher Mortality

More severe hearing loss or dual sensory loss tied to excess all-cause and cardiovascular mortality

Serious Adverse Effects From COVID-19 Vaccines Reported Rarely

Full vaccination dose, younger age, female sex, and previously having had COVID-19 linked to greater odds of adverse effects

In Utero Hormone Levels May Affect Migraine Risk in Adulthood

Sex differences in migraine prevalence may not be entirely accounted for by genetic factors

Physicians Lack Knowledge About Responsibilities Under ADA

71.2 percent of the physicians answered incorrectly about who determined reasonable accommodations for patients with disability

CDC Backs Boosters for High-Risk Children Ages 5 to 11 Years

Agency also endorses shorter time between shots

U.S. Hospitals Seeing Record Numbers of Young COVID-19 Patients

At least nine states have reported record numbers of COVID-19-related pediatric hospitalizations

Multistage Screening in Early Intervention Setting IDs Autism

Screening associated with significant increase in ASD diagnoses in children, including in Spanish-speaking families

Birth During COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Infant Neurodevelopment

However, in utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection is not associated with significant differences in ASQ-3 domains at 6 months

E-Cigarettes Tied to Quitting Among Smokers Not Trying to Quit

Findings seen for both discontinuation overall and discontinuing daily smoking

Maternal Hormonal Contraception, CNS Tumors Not Linked in Children

No significant association seen for recent or previous maternal hormonal contraception use with CNS tumors in children younger than 20 years

Timing of COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy Examined

Maternal anti-spike IgG levels detectable at delivery regardless of timing of vaccination; levels highest with early third-trimester vaccination

Israel Will Give Fourth COVID-19 Shot to People Older Than 60, Health Workers

About 60 percent of Israel's 9.4 million people are fully vaccinated with either a recent second dose or booster dose

Negative COVID-19 Test May Be Required After Isolation Among Asymptomatic

CDC is considering adding extra safeguard after getting some 'pushback' on its Dec. 27 guidance that shortened isolation times

Packaged Salads Tied to E. Coli Outbreak in Six States

The 13 people known to be infected include four who were hospitalized; no deaths reported so far

FDA Approves Pfizer Booster Shots for Children Ages 12 to 15

Agency also reduced the period people must wait between their second dose and booster shot from six to five months

COVID-19 Omicron Wave in South Africa Characterized

Fewer hospitalizations, reduced severity of illness, lower mortality seen in fourth wave compared with previous waves of COVID-19

Many U.S. Adults Report Pandemic-Related Sleep Disturbances

Top reported sleep disturbances include more trouble falling or staying asleep, poor sleep quality, disturbing dreams

BNT162b2 Still Effective, but Less So, Against Omicron

Vaccine effectiveness 70 percent compared with 93 percent against hospitalization for COVID-19 during delta predominance

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Adverse Events Rare After BNT162b2 Vaccine in 5- to 11-Year-Olds

Data show 4,249 reports of adverse events after about 8.7 million doses of vaccine were administered; 97.6 percent not serious

BNT162b2 Vaccine Effectiveness 92 Percent for Teens Ages 12 to 17

Estimated vaccine effectiveness of full Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination 92 percent for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Illness, Viral Coinfection Common in Children With COVID-19 Hospitalization

Only one of 272 vaccine-eligible pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was fully vaccinated

FDA May Allow Pfizer Boosters for 12- to 15-Year-Olds by Monday

Agency also expected to reduce the amount of time adolescents and adults must wait between their second dose of vaccine and booster

Global Burden of Cancer Increasing

From 2010 to 2019, largest percentage increase in numbers of cases and deaths occurred in low and middle-low SDI quintiles

Impact of Inadequate Gestational Weight Gain Explored

For overweight, obese women, lower bound of optimal gestational weight gain ranges are higher than existing recommendations

Dolutegravir-Based ART Superior for Children, Teens With HIV

Rate of serious adverse events similar for participants receiving dolutegravir, standard care as first-, second-line treatment for HIV-1 infection

Most COVID-19-Related EUAs Not Supported by High-Quality Evidence

Most EUAs were for diagnostic products; most supported by comparisons with previously authorized assays, analytical in vitro studies

Health Care Workers Had Acceptable Preparedness During First COVID-19 Wave

However, female health care workers had lower preparedness and awareness scores than male counterparts

Primary Care Clinicians Tailor Colorectal Cancer Screening to Patients

One in four primary care clinicians select a stool-based test as their preferred screening option

FDA Says Rapid At-Home COVID-19 Tests Not as Sensitive to Omicron

Agency says that antigen tests 'do detect the omicron variant, but may have reduced sensitivity'

CDC Lowers Estimate of Omicron Prevalence in the United States

Predictions likely to become more accurate as researchers learn more about omicron

Omicron Might Help Shield Against Delta, New Research Suggests

As omicron appears to produce less severe illness than delta, its overall effect might end up having a positive side

Weight Loss Via Surgery Linked to Improved COVID-19 Outcomes

Adults who underwent weight loss surgery between 2004 and 2017 had a reduced risk for severe outcomes

Vaccinated Kidney Transplant Recipients Vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 Variants

After two-dose vaccination, only 64 and 67 percent of kidney transplant recipients showed neutralization against B.1.351 (β) and B.1.617.2 (δ)

High-Altitude Exercise May Up Hypoglycemia Risk With Type 1 Diabetes

Greater decline in blood glucose seen during and after exercise performed under acute hypoxia versus normoxia conditions

As Omicron Spreads, Child Hospitalizations Climb 30 Percent in Past Week

By Dec. 28, country had an average of 260 pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations each day

Lower Socioeconomic Status Linked to Incidence of Orofacial Clefts

Receiving assistance under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children associated with cleft palate only

Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection Risk Higher With Immune Dysfunction

Risk for breakthrough infection higher for those with immunocompromising conditions, such as HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, solid organ transplant

Unclear Labeling Tied to Sesame Food Allergy

Less than half of packaged food products tied to clinical reactions did not declare sesame on the label

CDC Reduces Recommended Isolation Time for People With COVID-19

Agency also released updated emergency guidance for health care facilities, decreasing isolation time after infection with COVID-19

Decline Seen in Total Opioid MME Per Capita in Last Decade

Greatest decline in MME volume per capita seen among persons aged 46 to 55 years and in metropolitan counties

COVID-19-Related Alcohol Consumption Will Increase Liver Disease

One-year increase in alcohol consumption to result in 8,000 additional liver disease-related deaths

Omicron Cases Pass U.S. Peak Seen With Delta

However, numbers of hospitalizations have not yet reached those higher levels

NVX-CoV2373 Vaccine Protects Against COVID-19

Study conducted in the U.S. and Mexico shows vaccine 90 percent effective overall, 100 percent effective against moderate-to-severe disease

Factors for Nativity-Related Disparities in Preeclampsia May Vary by Race

After adjustment for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors, nativity-related disparities persisted in non-Hispanic Black women

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Holidays Complicate Diabetes Management, Patients Report

Half of U.S. adults with diabetes say managing diabetes is more difficult during the holidays versus other times of the year

FDA Gives OK to Merck Antiviral At-Home COVID-19 Pill

Molnupiravir cut the risk for hospitalization and death in high-risk patients by 30 percent

FDA Approves New Drug to Help Control Severe Asthma

Tezspire is unique in that it only targets thymic stromal lymphopoietin, the molecule involved in airway inflammation

Three Days of Remdesivir Cuts Risk for Severe COVID-19 in Outpatients

Three-day course of treatment results in reduced risk for hospitalization or death compared with placebo

Oropharyngeal Cancer Incidence, Mortality Up Among U.S. Men

Geographic differences seen, with notable rises in the Midwest and Southeast

FDA Approves Pfizer Pill as First At-Home COVID-19 Treatment

Recent trial showed Paxlovid cut the odds for hospitalization and death by nearly 90 percent in high-risk people

Fresh Express Salad Mixes Tied to Multistate Listeria Outbreak

Outbreak has caused 10 illnesses, one hospitalization, and one death

13 Million Adults Delaying or Skipping Meds Due to Costs

Drug unaffordability is an issue regardless of insurance status and across private, public payers