Latest news with #DepartmentofFamilyMedicine
Medscape
28-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
HIV Medication Adherence Critical for Viral Suppression
A recent study found that antiretroviral therapy adherence below 90% was associated with significantly lower odds of viral suppression among women living with HIV. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data from community-based prospective cohort study including women living with HIV across British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec between 2013 and 2018. Overall, 1187 participants (median age, 42 years) who reported antiretroviral therapy use and specified their regimen were included in the analysis. Participants completed questionnaire surveys at three timepoints, at 18 months interval between 2013 and 2018. Analysis focused on the relationship between adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression using data from the study period between 2017 and 2018. TAKEAWAY: The use of integrase strand transfer inhibitors increased from 13.6% in 2013 to 30.6% in 2018, whereas the utilization of other antiretroviral classes showed declining trends. Among participants, 78.2% reported undetectable viral loads, and viral suppression was achieved by 89.6% of those on regimens consisting of a backbone plus a third agent. Less than 70% adherence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.27) and 80%-89% adherence (aOR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.86) were associated with lower odds of viral suppression compared with ≥ 95% adherence. Researchers found no significant difference in the odds of viral suppression between 90%-94% adherence and ≥ 95% adherence. IN PRACTICE: 'With the chronic nature of HIV and the risk of resistance, supporting patients in overcoming the challenges that accompany long-term medication adherence through cotailored approaches should remain a priority when providing care to women living with HIV,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Alexandra de Pokomandy, Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was published online on May 2, 2025, in HIV Medicine . LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by a small sample size in groups with lower adherence, which may have reduced the statistical power to detect significant differences. All measures were self-reported, introducing social desirability bias and recall bias. The study also lacked information on the status of mental health treatment and the duration of viral suppression. DISCLOSURES: The study received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian HIV Trials Network, the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, and the Ontario Academic Health Science Centers Alternative Funding Plans Innovation. Two authors reported having financial ties with several pharmaceutical companies.
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
Do kids really gain more weight when their moms work longer hours?
Study says long working hours for moms linked to higher risk of abdominal obesity in children, but what about dads? Children whose mothers work long hours are more than twice as likely to develop abdominal obesity, according to a recent South Korean study examining the link between maternal working hours and metabolic health risks in adolescents. The study, conducted by Park Hoon-ki's team from the Department of Family Medicine at Hanyang University Hospital, analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2020, involving 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10 to 18. Researchers investigated the presence of metabolic syndrome in these youths, which is diagnosed when abdominal obesity is present along with at least two other conditions, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, or high triglyceride levels. People with metabolic syndrome have an increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. The team classified mothers' weekly working hours into five groups: not employed, 1-19 hours, 20-39 hours, 40-52 hours and over 53 hours. They then compared the prevalence of metabolic syndrome risk factors in children across these categories. Under current labor laws in South Korea, working hours must not exceed 40 hours a week. This can be extended to 52 hours when including overtime, which may not exceed 12 hours a week. The findings showed that children whose mothers worked more than 53 hours a week had 2.27 times higher odds of abdominal obesity than those whose mothers were not employed. Although the overall risk for metabolic syndrome increased by 1.93 times, this result did not reach statistical significance, the report said. A gender-based breakdown revealed a sharper disparity among girls: daughters of mothers working over 53 hours a week were 6.07 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to girls whose mothers did not work. The researchers suggest that longer maternal working hours may reduce the time available for healthy meal preparation and physical activity guidance, both critical factors in preventing childhood obesity and related health problems. Previous international studies have also noted a correlation between increased maternal work hours and higher body mass index in children. 'While we confirmed a significant association between mothers' extended working hours and increased risk of metabolic syndrome in children, especially daughters, further long-term studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship,' Dr. Park noted. The Korea Herald asked whether the findings were unrelated to fathers working late hours, but the researchers had not responded by press time
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
Do kids really gain more weight when their moms work longer hours?
Study says long working hours for moms linked to higher risk of abdominal obesity in children, but what about dads? Children whose mothers work long hours are more than twice as likely to develop abdominal obesity, according to a recent South Korean study examining the link between maternal working hours and metabolic health risks in adolescents. The study, conducted by Park Hoon-ki's team from the Department of Family Medicine at Hanyang University Hospital, analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2020, involving 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10 to 18. Researchers investigated the presence of metabolic syndrome in these youths, which is diagnosed when abdominal obesity is present along with at least two other conditions, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, or high triglyceride levels. People with metabolic syndrome have an increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. The team classified mothers' weekly working hours into five groups: not employed, 1-19 hours, 20-39 hours, 40-52 hours and over 53 hours. They then compared the prevalence of metabolic syndrome risk factors in children across these categories. Under current labor laws in South Korea, working hours must not exceed 40 hours a week. This can be extended to 52 hours when including overtime, which may not exceed 12 hours a week. The findings showed that children whose mothers worked more than 53 hours a week had 2.27 times higher odds of abdominal obesity than those whose mothers were not employed. Although the overall risk for metabolic syndrome increased by 1.93 times, this result did not reach statistical significance, the report said. A gender-based breakdown revealed a sharper disparity among girls: daughters of mothers working over 53 hours a week were 6.07 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to girls whose mothers did not work. The researchers suggest that longer maternal working hours may reduce the time available for healthy meal preparation and physical activity guidance, both critical factors in preventing childhood obesity and related health problems. Previous international studies have also noted a correlation between increased maternal work hours and higher body mass index in children. 'While we confirmed a significant association between mothers' extended working hours and increased risk of metabolic syndrome in children, especially daughters, further long-term studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship,' Dr. Park noted. The Korea Herald asked whether the findings were unrelated to fathers working late hours, but the researchers had not responded by press time jychoi@
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Co-pays, deductibles targeted by health care reform bill
BOSTON (SHNS) – Doctors last week prescribed an insurance reform designed to save primary care practices and ensure patients get timely care. Insurers, though, say another mandate is the last thing Massachusetts needs when health care costs are already a big problem and are asking lawmakers to seek a second opinion. Massachusetts has consistently struggled to rein in high and growing health care costs. The great expense of care and a dearth of primary care providers means that many people put off preventative care. That often means they eventually end up in more serious and more expensive situations that also further stress a strained hospital system. Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa's bill (H 1309) heard by the Financial Services Committee would require that so-called evaluation and management services be included as part of an insurer's basic benefits package, making those services exempt from patient deductibles, according to a bill summary. The Northampton Democrat said it meant that 'several critical conditions' would be included 'without co-pay or deductible, so that constituents can go in and get the health care that they need and not end up consistently in emergency rooms.' Doctors whom Sabadosa introduced to testify Tuesday said high deductibles play a big part in keeping many people away from primary care that can decrease the cost of care over the long run. 'Every time there's a cost-saving measure that doesn't think about how it affects primary care, it ultimately costs the health care system more,' Dr. Kate Atkinson told the committee. Doctors also said high deductibles end up hampering the very primary care practices that are already stressed by other factors. 'What people don't understand is that many patients actually do not pay their bills and their deductibles, and in so doing, that shifts the cost to medical practices as well,' Dr. Wayne Altman, who has a practice in Arlington and is chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Tufts Medical School, said, describing deductibles as a massive administrative burden for doctor's offices. 'When people have primary care practices, what they really want to do is take care of their patients. They don't want to bill patients for deductibles. We just want to take care of our patients. And this gets in the way.' Atkinson was clearly frustrated as she told lawmakers that she recently laid off 11 employees from her Western Mass. family medicine practice and is no longer offering Saturday hours. The Mass. Medical Society trustee said the legislation Sabadosa filed 'came from' the organization and that this year was the seventh time she's testified on the issue. 'It is really frustrating to come year after year and testify, and nothing has changed for primary care doctors in this state, nothing,' she said. 'In all of the past decade that I've been testifying, it's become harder and harder to keep my practice afloat, I'm on the edge of bankruptcy, and measures like this are minor measures for the insurance company, but would be a big effort to keep patients healthier and to keep my practice going, and not just mine.' Lora Pellegrini, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, said insurers are worried that Sabadosa's bill and others the committee heard last week would drive up health care premiums for small businesses and individuals at a time when affordability is an urgent health care challenge for the state. 'Each of these bills would impose new requirements solely on the fully-insured market—made up primarily of small businesses and individuals—exacerbating affordability challenges without reducing overall system costs,' Pellegrini said. Pellegrini said that federal law, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, is such that the additional costs would not be required to be covered by self-insured companies, which account for almost 60% of the insurance market. Federal regulations also prohibit eliminating cost-sharing for many services through high-deductible health plans, the choice of nearly 43% of commercially-insured Bay Staters, she said. MAHP said plans already cover medically necessary outpatient care consistent with state and federal laws, and that eliminating cost-sharing entirely 'would significantly drive up premiums.' The group urged lawmakers to defer action on the idea until the Center for Health Information and Analysis could complete a full cost impact analysis. 'Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads on health care affordability. With premiums continuing to rise, adding new mandates that increase costs for working families and small businesses takes us in the wrong direction,' the insurers' group leader said. 'MAHP urges the Legislature to protect affordability and oppose House Bill 1309, Senate Bill 764, House Bill 1227, and Senate Bill 809.' The other legislation that Pellegrini and MAHP opposed last week (H 1227 / S 809) would require the Group Insurance Commission, MassHealth and commercial health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker testing, which can be used to personalize treatment for cancer. 'With biomarker testing, this allows care providers and doctors to pinpoint exactly what kind of treatment is going to be the most effective for a patient going through this battle. It can eliminate treatments that are devastating, from causing a patient to suffer through that. And it can lead to better outcomes, better quality of life, and it can give us that precious gifts of time,' bill sponsor Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne said. 'And we're also seeing that this can have huge implications on other diseases beyond cancer, such as Alzheimer's.' MAHP said that CHIA has estimated the biomarker testing mandate could increase health care costs by up to $35 million annually, with a five-year total expenditure surpassing $168 million. The group said the bill would impose the coverage 'without sufficient standards for clinical efficacy or value.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Korea Herald
09-03-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
1 in 6 Korean youths obese, with half at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure: study
About 1 in 6 South Korean students are obese and nearly half of those have at least one risk factor for a metabolic disorder, a study showed Sunday. According to the Health Insurance Research Institute under the National Health Insurance Service, the obesity rate among elementary, middle and high school students was 16.7 percent, while the figure for preschool children aged 1-6 years old stood at 8.3 percent, as of 2023. Overweight children and students made up 17.7 percent and 27.3 percent, respectively, in the same year. In Korea, individuals with a body mass index between 23 and 24.9 are defined as overweight, while 25 and above are seen as obese. The research team analyzed raw data, including health screenings for infants and student health checkups, from an estimated 2,033,033 younger children and 5,209,029 teenagers nationwide in the cited year. The same institute further analyzed the obese students' blood test results and found that nearly half had at least one risk factor for metabolic disorders. Some 20.2 percent of the obese students were in the prediabetes stage, while 1.1 percent were in the diabetic stage. Additionally, 16.4 percent were in the prehypertension stage, while 6.5 percent were suspected to have high blood pressure. Local experts warned about the complications linked to obesity, calling for a proactive approach to the health of younger generations. "Obese kids are at a higher risk for a range of complications like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. And lately, we're seeing these issues pop up more often in teens, even before they become adults," said professor Ryu In-hyuk of the pediatrics department at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. "When it comes to obesity in kids and teens, medications shouldn't be the first choice, even if there are complications. Rather than focusing on rapid weight loss, the key is to improve eating and lifestyle habits in a healthy way." A separate study that came out this month highlighted that obesity has negative effects on the mental health of young people. A research team led by professor Park Kyung-hee from the Department of Family Medicine at Hallym University analyzed the link between food addiction and behavioral issues and found that 44 out of 224 obese children and adolescents, who were at high risk for food addiction, struggled with low self-esteem and poor family functioning, including limited emotional support and communication within their families. Park added, "Obese children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral issues are more likely to develop food addiction tendencies, so it's important to understand, assess and intervene carefully in these cases."
