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Medscape
15-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Multiple Naloxone Administrations Rise in EDs
TOPLINE: The proportion of emergency department (ED) patients requiring multiple naloxone administrations increased from 10.1% in 2016 to 17.4% in 2022 in the MarketScan database and from 3.0% in 2016 to 7.3% in 2022 in the National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) database, indicating an increasing trend. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective claims-based cohort study using data from the Merative MarketScan and NEDS databases in the United States between 2016 and 2022. The MarketScan data included 335,846 patients with ED claims for opioid overdose (mean age, 41 years), of whom 27,742 (mean age, 39 years) received naloxone during at least one ED encounter. The NEDS data encompassed 2,087,492 ED visits for opioid overdose (mean age, 46 years), with naloxone administered during 50,791 (mean age, 41 years) of these visits. The primary outcome in MarketScan was the percentage of patients who received multiple naloxone administrations during their first ED visit. The primary outcome in NEDS was the percentage of ED visits with multiple naloxone administrations, among ED visits in which naloxone was administered at least once. TAKEAWAY: Among patients from the MarketScan database who received naloxone, 14.7% received multiple administrations, increasing from 10.1% in 2016 to 17.4% in 2022 ꟷ a 72.8% increase (P < .01 for trend). Among NEDS ED visits during which naloxone was administered, multiple administrations were recorded during 6.3% of these visits, which increased by 146.7%, from 3.0% in 2016 to 7.3% in 2021 (P < .01 for trend). The likelihood of receiving multiple naloxone administrations in the ED increased by 10% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.09-1.12) in MarketScan and 13% (aOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.11-1.16) in NEDS each year. The proportion of patients from MarketScan who received naloxone at their first ED visit increased by 60.5%, from 5.8% in 2016 to 9.3% in 2022, and NEDS ED visits with naloxone administration increased by 49.9%, from 1.9% to 2.9%. IN PRACTICE: "Increases in fatal and nonfatal opioid toxicities involving fentanyl have been accompanied by increased use of naloxone in the ED. While a single naloxone administration appears to address the needs of most ED patients, a small but growing percentage of ED patients require multiple naloxone administrations," the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Rachael Rzasa Lynn, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado. It was published online on May 8, 2025, in The Journal of Emergency Medicine. LIMITATIONS: Claims data did not include complete information on prehospital naloxone administration or the precise timing of administrations within the ED, making it difficult to distinguish between multiple administrations due to insufficient initial dosing and those due to extended opioid toxicity. Additionally, claims data lacked information on naloxone dose strengths or routes of administration or continuous intravenous infusion details. Additionally, the cross-sectional dataset may not have been fully representative of EDs across the United States. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by Purdue Pharma. One author reported being a former employee of Genesis Research, which was paid by Purdue. Another author reported being an employee of Purdue. Some authors declared receiving grants or having other ties with various sources. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Axios
07-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
Local report highlights "acute suicidality"
A recent paper from Healthier Colorado, a nonprofit advocating for health care policy, sheds light on " acute suicidality," a condition with a growing body of research. Why it matters: Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in Colorado, while the number of kids and teens who die by suicide in the state more than doubled between 2010 and 2020, per state data. State of play: Acute suicidality can occur when a person has a sudden onset of symptoms without the typical warning signs or indicators of someone who may be considering suicide, according to the report released last month. It includes people who attempt suicide shortly after contemplating it for the first time — sometimes within hours or minutes. Yes, but: Some medical researchers are hesitant to adopt acute suicidality as a diagnosis, citing the need for additional studies, University of Colorado School of Medicine clinical psychologist Ian Stanley tells us. Stanley, who specializes in suicide prevention, says experts have determined chronic and acute risks associated with suicide. But more research is needed to clarify the distinction between those risks before arriving at a diagnosis, he says. Context: Suicide is typically, but not exclusively, linked to long-term mental health disorders. It's often associated with major depressive, bipolar or substance use disorders, report co-author and senior policy director at Healthier Colorado Christina Walker tells us. Zoom in: The paper commemorates Maddy Lignell, who died by suicide in May 2021. Family of the 26-year-old, who grew up in Boulder, say he didn't have a preexisting mental health condition. His parents believe his death was connected to acute suicidality, since it occurred just after he started sharing work-related worries. What's next: The paper recommends a suicide-specific diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the handbook used by medical professionals for diagnosing mental health disorders. The paper identifies two potential formal diagnoses: acute suicidality affective disturbances (ASAD) and suicide-crisis syndrome (SCS). It also calls for partnering with clinicians to create new or improved screening and intervention tools. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Ayuda disponible en español.
Boston Globe
14-02-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
CDC to lose one-tenth of workforce under Trump administration probationary job cuts
HHS officials did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Advertisement With a $9.2 billion core budget, the CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats. Before the cuts, the agency had about 13,000 employees, including more than 2,000 staff work in other countries. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Historically CDC has been seen as a global leader on disease control and a reliable source of health information, boasting some of the top experts in the world. The staff is heavy with scientists — 60% have master's degrees or doctorates. Most of the workforce does not belong to a union. It's not only new employees who are subject to probation. Probationary periods also are applied to veteran staffers who, for example, were recently promoted to a new job in management. Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said many of the probationary-status CDC employees are filling vital roles. 'It's essentially assuming that they are not in a job that is crucial for the success of keeping everyone safe — just because they've been there for less than a year or less than six moths,' said Barocas, speaking Friday morning during an Infectious Diseases Society of America call with reporters. 'That sort of slash-and-burn approach is what will cause continued disruptions in our understanding of diseases' and disease outbreaks, he said.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alcohol-related liver transplants on the rise among young adults, doctor says
A growing number of young Americans are drinking their way onto the organ transplant list — particularly women. Alcohol is the top cause of liver disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dr. James Burton, a liver transplant expert in Colorado, said this is a new and alarming shift. A decade ago, it was mostly men in their 50s and 60s who needed liver transplants, he noted. Wine Sales Slipping In Us As More Americans Leave Alcohol Behind "We started seeing not only more women, but [more] younger women in their 20s and 30s," Burton, a professor of medicine and gastroenterology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, told Fox News. "I had never seen young women need liver transplants at that age — and that is not unique to us. That is a problem across America," the doctor added. Read On The Fox News App Some patients in need of alcohol-related liver transplants are as young as their early 20s and started drinking alcohol in their teenage years, Burton said. Alcohol-related liver disease leads to nearly 50% of all liver transplant surgeries, he noted. Leukemia Patient Receives First-ever Bone Marrow Transplant From Deceased Organ Donor "There are people who maybe don't drink every day, but they drink heavily on the weekends — and maybe have eight to 10 drinks. That's equally bad," Burton said. Things took a turn during Covid-19 lockdowns, he noted, when more people drank excessively at home. Plus, women process alcohol differently than men, Burton cautioned. Emma Lillibridge, 31, said she never thought she would become a liver transplant recipient. The Colorado woman went to the hospital with an illness and was shocked to discover the extent of her health issues, she told Fox News. Amid Cancer Concerns, Could More Drinkers Turn To No- And Low-alcohol Drinks? Doctors told Lillibridge that she would need surgery, as heavy alcohol consumption during her 20s had led to the failing health of her liver, she noted. "I had no idea what I was walking into. I went into the hospital thinking I had pneumonia and left with a new liver five weeks later," Lillibridge said. "In a brewery, I worked behind the scenes too, like in the actual brew house, brewing beer. So I was surrounded by a ton of men who were just chugging beer 24/7," Lillibridge said. "So it wasn't uncommon for me during a shift, people walking up saying, 'Do a beer shot with me.'" Your Problems With Alcohol Might Be Far More Than A Hangover By the time Lillibridge was 30, she was told she needed a transplant to save her life. She is now sharing her story to help save others. "I really think that people don't recognize how normalized heavy drinking has become in our culture, so they don't see that they have a problem until they really take a look," she added. Lillibridge received her liver transplant surgery in October 2023. She told Fox News that she is now sober, healthy and back on her feet. She has started a new job and plans to get married article source: Alcohol-related liver transplants on the rise among young adults, doctor says
Daily News Egypt
28-01-2025
- Health
- Daily News Egypt
Study on cannabis, brain function reveals impact on working memory
A groundbreaking new study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open explores the effects of both recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function, specifically during cognitive tasks that assess working memory. This study is the largest of its kind, involving over 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 36 and utilizing advanced brain imaging technology. The researchers discovered that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users showed reduced brain activity during a working memory task, while 68% of recent users exhibited a similar decline. Working memory—the ability to retain and manipulate information—is crucial for tasks like following instructions or solving problems, such as doing mental math. 'This study underscores the growing need to understand the effects of cannabis use on cognitive health as its use becomes more widespread globally,' said Joshua Gowin, PhD, assistant professor of radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the study's first author. 'By studying these effects, we aim to provide a well-rounded understanding of both the benefits and risks of cannabis use, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.' The study classified cannabis users into three groups: heavy users (those who've consumed cannabis more than 1,000 times in their lifetime), moderate users (10 to 999 times), and non-users (fewer than 10 times). Participants underwent brain imaging (MRI) and completed seven cognitive tasks assessing working memory, reward, emotion, language, motor skills, relational assessment, and theory of mind. The results revealed that cannabis use had a statistically significant effect on brain function during working memory tasks, meaning the findings were highly unlikely to be due to chance. The other cognitive tasks showed some potential effects, but these were not statistically significant. 'We took great care in ensuring the robustness of our findings,' Gowin noted. 'By applying the highest standards and rigorous statistical corrections, we minimized the risk of false positives. The working memory task stood out as the only one showing a clear and statistically significant effect from cannabis use.' The study found that heavy cannabis use appeared to reduce brain activity in specific regions associated with crucial cognitive functions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and anterior insula. These areas are involved in decision-making, memory, attention, and emotional processing. Gowin also pointed out that the research suggests abstaining from cannabis before engaging in cognitive tasks could help improve performance. 'People need to assess their relationship with cannabis carefully,' he said. 'While sudden cessation could disrupt cognition, especially for heavy users, taking breaks from cannabis may benefit cognitive function.' He added: 'This study raises many important questions, and we need larger, long-term studies to understand whether cannabis use directly alters brain function, how long these effects persist, and how different age groups may be affected.' As cannabis use continues to rise, research like this provides valuable insights into its potential cognitive effects and highlights the importance of ongoing studies to inform public health and decision-making.
