Clinical Psychiatry News

TOPLINE:

Spouses of patients with cancer face a significantly higher risk for suicide attempts and deaths, especially within the first year after their spouse is diagnosed with cancer, according to an analysis based in Denmark.

METHODOLOGY:

• A growing body of evidence has revealed higher levels of psychological distress and an increased risk for psychiatric disorders among spouses of patients with cancer, but less is known about suicidal behaviors among spouses.
• In a recent analysis, researchers assessed the risk for suicide attempts and suicide deaths among the spouses of patients with cancer in a nationwide cohort based in Denmark.
• Researchers collected registry-based data from 1986 to 2016, comparing suicide attempts and deaths between individuals with a spouse diagnosed with cancer and those without. Suicide attempts were identified through The Danish National Patient Register and The Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register, and suicide deaths were identified through The Danish Register of Causes of Death.
• A total of 409,338 spouses of patients with cancer (exposed group) were compared with 2,046,682 matched control participants (unexposed group). The participants were followed from cohort entry until a first suicide attempt, suicide death, death from other causes, emigration, or December 31, 2016, whichever came first.

TAKEAWAY:

• Spouses of patients with cancer had an increased risk for suicide attempts (hazard ratio [HR], 1.28) and suicide deaths (HR, 1.47), especially within the first year after a cancer diagnosis (HR for attempts, 1.45; HR for deaths, 2.56).
• The increased risk for suicide attempts was more pronounced among men (HR, 1.42), those with a lower household income (HR, 1.39), and those with a history of cancer themselves (HR, 1.57).
• Among those who attempted suicide, researchers observed positive associations for most, but not all, cancer types and for cancers diagnosed at regional spread or an advanced stage (HR, 1.66) or an unknown stage (HR, 1.28), as well as following the death of the spouse to cancer (HR, 1.57).
• Researchers also observed an increased risk for suicide death for most, but not all, cancer types and greater increases for cancers diagnosed at more advanced stages (HR, 1.61) or unknown stages (HR, 1.52), as well as following the spouse’s death (HR, 1.70).

IN PRACTICE:

“To our knowledge, this nationwide cohort study is the first to show that spouses of patients with cancer have an elevated risk of both suicide attempt and suicide death,” the authors concluded. “These findings suggest a need for clinical and societal awareness to prevent suicidal behaviors among spouses of patients with cancer, particularly during the first year following the cancer diagnosis.” 

In an accompanying editorial, experts noted that “the mental health impacts may well be higher in countries that have more restricted healthcare access,” given that Denmark has universal healthcare. The editorialists also noted the “pressing need to integrate spousal health more fully into cancer survivorship care. 

“Psychosocial distress should no longer be a hidden and unaddressed cause of suffering in spouses of patients with cancer,” they wrote.

SOURCE:

The study, led by Qianwei Liu, MD, PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and the accompanying editorial were published online in JAMA Oncology.

LIMITATIONS:

Residual confounding was one potential limitation, though the researchers tried to control for several important confounders. The result may not be generalizable to other countries with different healthcare systems, cultural contexts, or burdens of cancer and suicidal behaviors.

DISCLOSURES:

One coauthor reported receiving grants from Forte during the conduct of the study. Another coauthor

disclosed receiving grants from the Swedish Cancer Society. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Spouses of patients with cancer face a significantly higher risk for suicide attempts and deaths, especially within the first year after their spouse is diagnosed with cancer, according to an analysis based in Denmark.

METHODOLOGY:

• A growing body of evidence has revealed higher levels of psychological distress and an increased risk for psychiatric disorders among spouses of patients with cancer, but less is known about suicidal behaviors among spouses.
• In a recent analysis, researchers assessed the risk for suicide attempts and suicide deaths among the spouses of patients with cancer in a nationwide cohort based in Denmark.
• Researchers collected registry-based data from 1986 to 2016, comparing suicide attempts and deaths between individuals with a spouse diagnosed with cancer and those without. Suicide attempts were identified through The Danish National Patient Register and The Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register, and suicide deaths were identified through The Danish Register of Causes of Death.
• A total of 409,338 spouses of patients with cancer (exposed group) were compared with 2,046,682 matched control participants (unexposed group). The participants were followed from cohort entry until a first suicide attempt, suicide death, death from other causes, emigration, or December 31, 2016, whichever came first.

TAKEAWAY:

• Spouses of patients with cancer had an increased risk for suicide attempts (hazard ratio [HR], 1.28) and suicide deaths (HR, 1.47), especially within the first year after a cancer diagnosis (HR for attempts, 1.45; HR for deaths, 2.56).
• The increased risk for suicide attempts was more pronounced among men (HR, 1.42), those with a lower household income (HR, 1.39), and those with a history of cancer themselves (HR, 1.57).
• Among those who attempted suicide, researchers observed positive associations for most, but not all, cancer types and for cancers diagnosed at regional spread or an advanced stage (HR, 1.66) or an unknown stage (HR, 1.28), as well as following the death of the spouse to cancer (HR, 1.57).
• Researchers also observed an increased risk for suicide death for most, but not all, cancer types and greater increases for cancers diagnosed at more advanced stages (HR, 1.61) or unknown stages (HR, 1.52), as well as following the spouse’s death (HR, 1.70).

IN PRACTICE:

“To our knowledge, this nationwide cohort study is the first to show that spouses of patients with cancer have an elevated risk of both suicide attempt and suicide death,” the authors concluded. “These findings suggest a need for clinical and societal awareness to prevent suicidal behaviors among spouses of patients with cancer, particularly during the first year following the cancer diagnosis.” 

In an accompanying editorial, experts noted that “the mental health impacts may well be higher in countries that have more restricted healthcare access,” given that Denmark has universal healthcare. The editorialists also noted the “pressing need to integrate spousal health more fully into cancer survivorship care. 

“Psychosocial distress should no longer be a hidden and unaddressed cause of suffering in spouses of patients with cancer,” they wrote.

SOURCE:

The study, led by Qianwei Liu, MD, PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and the accompanying editorial were published online in JAMA Oncology.

LIMITATIONS:

Residual confounding was one potential limitation, though the researchers tried to control for several important confounders. The result may not be generalizable to other countries with different healthcare systems, cultural contexts, or burdens of cancer and suicidal behaviors.

DISCLOSURES:

One coauthor reported receiving grants from Forte during the conduct of the study. Another coauthor

disclosed receiving grants from the Swedish Cancer Society. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Spouses of patients with cancer face a significantly higher risk for suicide attempts and deaths, especially within the first year after their spouse is diagnosed with cancer, according to an analysis based in Denmark.

METHODOLOGY:

• A growing body of evidence has revealed higher levels of psychological distress and an increased risk for psychiatric disorders among spouses of patients with cancer, but less is known about suicidal behaviors among spouses.
• In a recent analysis, researchers assessed the risk for suicide attempts and suicide deaths among the spouses of patients with cancer in a nationwide cohort based in Denmark.
• Researchers collected registry-based data from 1986 to 2016, comparing suicide attempts and deaths between individuals with a spouse diagnosed with cancer and those without. Suicide attempts were identified through The Danish National Patient Register and The Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register, and suicide deaths were identified through The Danish Register of Causes of Death.
• A total of 409,338 spouses of patients with cancer (exposed group) were compared with 2,046,682 matched control participants (unexposed group). The participants were followed from cohort entry until a first suicide attempt, suicide death, death from other causes, emigration, or December 31, 2016, whichever came first.

TAKEAWAY:

• Spouses of patients with cancer had an increased risk for suicide attempts (hazard ratio [HR], 1.28) and suicide deaths (HR, 1.47), especially within the first year after a cancer diagnosis (HR for attempts, 1.45; HR for deaths, 2.56).
• The increased risk for suicide attempts was more pronounced among men (HR, 1.42), those with a lower household income (HR, 1.39), and those with a history of cancer themselves (HR, 1.57).
• Among those who attempted suicide, researchers observed positive associations for most, but not all, cancer types and for cancers diagnosed at regional spread or an advanced stage (HR, 1.66) or an unknown stage (HR, 1.28), as well as following the death of the spouse to cancer (HR, 1.57).
• Researchers also observed an increased risk for suicide death for most, but not all, cancer types and greater increases for cancers diagnosed at more advanced stages (HR, 1.61) or unknown stages (HR, 1.52), as well as following the spouse’s death (HR, 1.70).

IN PRACTICE:

“To our knowledge, this nationwide cohort study is the first to show that spouses of patients with cancer have an elevated risk of both suicide attempt and suicide death,” the authors concluded. “These findings suggest a need for clinical and societal awareness to prevent suicidal behaviors among spouses of patients with cancer, particularly during the first year following the cancer diagnosis.” 

In an accompanying editorial, experts noted that “the mental health impacts may well be higher in countries that have more restricted healthcare access,” given that Denmark has universal healthcare. The editorialists also noted the “pressing need to integrate spousal health more fully into cancer survivorship care. 

“Psychosocial distress should no longer be a hidden and unaddressed cause of suffering in spouses of patients with cancer,” they wrote.

SOURCE:

The study, led by Qianwei Liu, MD, PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and the accompanying editorial were published online in JAMA Oncology.

LIMITATIONS:

Residual confounding was one potential limitation, though the researchers tried to control for several important confounders. The result may not be generalizable to other countries with different healthcare systems, cultural contexts, or burdens of cancer and suicidal behaviors.

DISCLOSURES:

One coauthor reported receiving grants from Forte during the conduct of the study. Another coauthor

disclosed receiving grants from the Swedish Cancer Society. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Older adults with untreated hypertension have a 36% increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared with those without hypertension and a 42% increased risk for AD compared with those with treated hypertension.

METHODOLOGY:

• In this meta-analysis, researchers analyzed the data of 31,250 participants aged 60 years or older (mean age, 72.1 years; 41% men) from 14 community-based studies across 14 countries.
• Mean follow-up was 4.2 years, and blood pressure measurements, hypertension diagnosis, and antihypertensive medication use were recorded.
• Overall, 35.9% had no history of hypertension or antihypertensive medication use, 50.7% had a history of hypertension with antihypertensive medication use, and 9.4% had a history of hypertension without antihypertensive medication use.
• The main outcomes were AD and non-AD dementia.

TAKEAWAY:

• In total, 1415 participants developed AD, and 681 developed non-AD dementia.
• Participants with untreated hypertension had a 36% increased risk for AD compared with healthy controls (hazard ratio [HR], 1.36; P = .041) and a 42% increased risk for AD (HR, 1.42; P = .013) compared with those with treated hypertension.
• Compared with healthy controls, patients with treated hypertension did not show an elevated risk for AD (HR, 0.961; P = .6644).
• Patients with both treated (HR, 1.285; P = .027) and untreated (HR, 1.693; P = .003) hypertension had an increased risk for non-AD dementia compared with healthy controls. Patients with treated and untreated hypertension had a similar risk for non-AD dementia.

IN PRACTICE:

“These results suggest that treating high blood pressure as a person ages continues to be a crucial factor in reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” the lead author Matthew J. Lennon, MD, PhD, said in a press release.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Matthew J. Lennon, MD, PhD, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia. It was published online in Neurology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Varied definitions for hypertension across different locations might have led to discrepancies in diagnosis. Additionally, the study did not account for potential confounders such as stroke, transient ischemic attack, and heart disease, which may act as mediators rather than covariates. Furthermore, the study did not report mortality data, which may have affected the interpretation of dementia risk.

DISCLOSURES:

This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Some authors reported ties with several institutions and pharmaceutical companies outside this work. Full disclosures are available in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Older adults with untreated hypertension have a 36% increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared with those without hypertension and a 42% increased risk for AD compared with those with treated hypertension.

METHODOLOGY:

• In this meta-analysis, researchers analyzed the data of 31,250 participants aged 60 years or older (mean age, 72.1 years; 41% men) from 14 community-based studies across 14 countries.
• Mean follow-up was 4.2 years, and blood pressure measurements, hypertension diagnosis, and antihypertensive medication use were recorded.
• Overall, 35.9% had no history of hypertension or antihypertensive medication use, 50.7% had a history of hypertension with antihypertensive medication use, and 9.4% had a history of hypertension without antihypertensive medication use.
• The main outcomes were AD and non-AD dementia.

TAKEAWAY:

• In total, 1415 participants developed AD, and 681 developed non-AD dementia.
• Participants with untreated hypertension had a 36% increased risk for AD compared with healthy controls (hazard ratio [HR], 1.36; P = .041) and a 42% increased risk for AD (HR, 1.42; P = .013) compared with those with treated hypertension.
• Compared with healthy controls, patients with treated hypertension did not show an elevated risk for AD (HR, 0.961; P = .6644).
• Patients with both treated (HR, 1.285; P = .027) and untreated (HR, 1.693; P = .003) hypertension had an increased risk for non-AD dementia compared with healthy controls. Patients with treated and untreated hypertension had a similar risk for non-AD dementia.

IN PRACTICE:

“These results suggest that treating high blood pressure as a person ages continues to be a crucial factor in reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” the lead author Matthew J. Lennon, MD, PhD, said in a press release.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Matthew J. Lennon, MD, PhD, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia. It was published online in Neurology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Varied definitions for hypertension across different locations might have led to discrepancies in diagnosis. Additionally, the study did not account for potential confounders such as stroke, transient ischemic attack, and heart disease, which may act as mediators rather than covariates. Furthermore, the study did not report mortality data, which may have affected the interpretation of dementia risk.

DISCLOSURES:

This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Some authors reported ties with several institutions and pharmaceutical companies outside this work. Full disclosures are available in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Older adults with untreated hypertension have a 36% increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared with those without hypertension and a 42% increased risk for AD compared with those with treated hypertension.

METHODOLOGY:

• In this meta-analysis, researchers analyzed the data of 31,250 participants aged 60 years or older (mean age, 72.1 years; 41% men) from 14 community-based studies across 14 countries.
• Mean follow-up was 4.2 years, and blood pressure measurements, hypertension diagnosis, and antihypertensive medication use were recorded.
• Overall, 35.9% had no history of hypertension or antihypertensive medication use, 50.7% had a history of hypertension with antihypertensive medication use, and 9.4% had a history of hypertension without antihypertensive medication use.
• The main outcomes were AD and non-AD dementia.

TAKEAWAY:

• In total, 1415 participants developed AD, and 681 developed non-AD dementia.
• Participants with untreated hypertension had a 36% increased risk for AD compared with healthy controls (hazard ratio [HR], 1.36; P = .041) and a 42% increased risk for AD (HR, 1.42; P = .013) compared with those with treated hypertension.
• Compared with healthy controls, patients with treated hypertension did not show an elevated risk for AD (HR, 0.961; P = .6644).
• Patients with both treated (HR, 1.285; P = .027) and untreated (HR, 1.693; P = .003) hypertension had an increased risk for non-AD dementia compared with healthy controls. Patients with treated and untreated hypertension had a similar risk for non-AD dementia.

IN PRACTICE:

“These results suggest that treating high blood pressure as a person ages continues to be a crucial factor in reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” the lead author Matthew J. Lennon, MD, PhD, said in a press release.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Matthew J. Lennon, MD, PhD, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia. It was published online in Neurology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Varied definitions for hypertension across different locations might have led to discrepancies in diagnosis. Additionally, the study did not account for potential confounders such as stroke, transient ischemic attack, and heart disease, which may act as mediators rather than covariates. Furthermore, the study did not report mortality data, which may have affected the interpretation of dementia risk.

DISCLOSURES:

This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Some authors reported ties with several institutions and pharmaceutical companies outside this work. Full disclosures are available in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) via telehealth improves pain-related function and biopsychosocial outcomes in veterans with chronic pain as compared with usual care.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial of 811 veterans who had moderate to severe chronic pain and were recruited from three Veterans Affairs facilities in the United States.
• Participants were divided into three groups: Group MBI (270), self-paced MBI (271), and usual care (270), with interventions lasting 8 weeks.
• The primary outcome was pain-related function measured using a scale on interference from pain in areas like mood, walking, work, relationships, and sleep at 10 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.
• Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, participation in social roles and activities, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

TAKEAWAY:

• Pain-related function significantly improved in participants in both the MBI groups versus usual care group, with a mean difference of −0.4 (95% CI, −0.7 to −0.2) for group MBI and −0.7 (95% CI, −1.0 to −0.4) for self-paced MBI (P < .001).
• Compared with the usual care group, both the MBI groups had significantly improved secondary outcomes, including pain intensity, depression, and PTSD.
• The probability of achieving 30% improvement in pain-related function was higher for group MBI at 10 weeks and 6 months and for self-paced MBI at all three timepoints.
• No significant differences were found between the MBI groups for primary and secondary outcomes.

IN PRACTICE:

“The viability and similarity of both these approaches for delivering MBIs increase patient options for meeting their individual needs and could help accelerate and improve the implementation of nonpharmacological pain treatment in health care systems,” the study authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Diana J. Burgess, PhD, of the Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, VA Health Systems Research in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

LIMITATIONS:

The trial was not designed to compare less resource-intensive MBIs with more intensive mindfulness-based stress reduction programs or in-person MBIs. The study did not address cost-effectiveness or control for time, attention, and other contextual factors. The high nonresponse rate (81%) to initial recruitment may have affected the generalizability of the findings.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the Pain Management Collaboratory–Pragmatic Clinical Trials Demonstration. Various authors reported grants from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) via telehealth improves pain-related function and biopsychosocial outcomes in veterans with chronic pain as compared with usual care.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial of 811 veterans who had moderate to severe chronic pain and were recruited from three Veterans Affairs facilities in the United States.
• Participants were divided into three groups: Group MBI (270), self-paced MBI (271), and usual care (270), with interventions lasting 8 weeks.
• The primary outcome was pain-related function measured using a scale on interference from pain in areas like mood, walking, work, relationships, and sleep at 10 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.
• Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, participation in social roles and activities, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

TAKEAWAY:

• Pain-related function significantly improved in participants in both the MBI groups versus usual care group, with a mean difference of −0.4 (95% CI, −0.7 to −0.2) for group MBI and −0.7 (95% CI, −1.0 to −0.4) for self-paced MBI (P < .001).
• Compared with the usual care group, both the MBI groups had significantly improved secondary outcomes, including pain intensity, depression, and PTSD.
• The probability of achieving 30% improvement in pain-related function was higher for group MBI at 10 weeks and 6 months and for self-paced MBI at all three timepoints.
• No significant differences were found between the MBI groups for primary and secondary outcomes.

IN PRACTICE:

“The viability and similarity of both these approaches for delivering MBIs increase patient options for meeting their individual needs and could help accelerate and improve the implementation of nonpharmacological pain treatment in health care systems,” the study authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Diana J. Burgess, PhD, of the Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, VA Health Systems Research in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

LIMITATIONS:

The trial was not designed to compare less resource-intensive MBIs with more intensive mindfulness-based stress reduction programs or in-person MBIs. The study did not address cost-effectiveness or control for time, attention, and other contextual factors. The high nonresponse rate (81%) to initial recruitment may have affected the generalizability of the findings.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the Pain Management Collaboratory–Pragmatic Clinical Trials Demonstration. Various authors reported grants from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) via telehealth improves pain-related function and biopsychosocial outcomes in veterans with chronic pain as compared with usual care.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial of 811 veterans who had moderate to severe chronic pain and were recruited from three Veterans Affairs facilities in the United States.
• Participants were divided into three groups: Group MBI (270), self-paced MBI (271), and usual care (270), with interventions lasting 8 weeks.
• The primary outcome was pain-related function measured using a scale on interference from pain in areas like mood, walking, work, relationships, and sleep at 10 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.
• Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, participation in social roles and activities, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

TAKEAWAY:

• Pain-related function significantly improved in participants in both the MBI groups versus usual care group, with a mean difference of −0.4 (95% CI, −0.7 to −0.2) for group MBI and −0.7 (95% CI, −1.0 to −0.4) for self-paced MBI (P < .001).
• Compared with the usual care group, both the MBI groups had significantly improved secondary outcomes, including pain intensity, depression, and PTSD.
• The probability of achieving 30% improvement in pain-related function was higher for group MBI at 10 weeks and 6 months and for self-paced MBI at all three timepoints.
• No significant differences were found between the MBI groups for primary and secondary outcomes.

IN PRACTICE:

“The viability and similarity of both these approaches for delivering MBIs increase patient options for meeting their individual needs and could help accelerate and improve the implementation of nonpharmacological pain treatment in health care systems,” the study authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Diana J. Burgess, PhD, of the Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, VA Health Systems Research in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

LIMITATIONS:

The trial was not designed to compare less resource-intensive MBIs with more intensive mindfulness-based stress reduction programs or in-person MBIs. The study did not address cost-effectiveness or control for time, attention, and other contextual factors. The high nonresponse rate (81%) to initial recruitment may have affected the generalizability of the findings.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the Pain Management Collaboratory–Pragmatic Clinical Trials Demonstration. Various authors reported grants from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

New research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that COVID-19 infection can be hard on mental health. 

The UK study of more than 18 million adults showed an elevated rate of mental illness, including depression and serious mental illness, for up to a year following a bout of COVID-19, particularly in those with severe COVID who had not been vaccinated. 

Importantly, vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental health, the investigators found. 

“Our results highlight the importance COVID-19 vaccination in the general population and particularly among those with mental illnesses, who may be at higher risk of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes following COVID-19,” first author Venexia Walker, PhD, with University of Bristol, United Kingdom, said in a news release. 

The study was published online on August 21 in JAMA Psychiatry.
 

Novel Data

“Before this study, a number of papers had looked at associations of COVID diagnosis with mental ill health, and broadly speaking, they had reported associations of different magnitudes,” study author Jonathan A. C. Sterne, PhD, with University of Bristol, noted in a journal podcast. 

“Some studies were restricted to patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and some not and the duration of follow-up varied. And importantly, the nature of COVID-19 changed profoundly as vaccination became available and there was little data on the impact of vaccination on associations of COVID-19 with subsequent mental ill health,” Dr. Sterne said. 

The UK study was conducted in three cohorts — a cohort of about 18.6 million people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 before a vaccine was available, a cohort of about 14 million adults who were vaccinated, and a cohort of about 3.2 million people who were unvaccinated.

The researchers compared rates of various mental illnesses after COVID-19 with rates before or without COVID-19 and by vaccination status.

Across all cohorts, rates of most mental illnesses examined were “markedly elevated” during the first month following a COVID-19 diagnosis compared with rates before or without COVID-19.

For example, the adjusted hazard ratios for depression (the most common illness) and serious mental illness in the month after COVID-19 were 1.93 and 1.49, respectively, in the prevaccination cohort and 1.79 and 1.45, respectively, in the unvaccinated cohort compared with 1.16 and 0.91 in the vaccinated cohort.

This elevation in the rate of mental illnesses was mainly seen after severe COVID-19 that led to hospitalization and remained higher for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated adults.

For severe COVID-19 with hospitalization, the adjusted hazard ratio for depression in the month following admission was 16.3 in the prevaccine cohort, 15.6 in the unvaccinated cohort, and 12.9 in the vaccinated cohort.

The adjusted hazard ratios for serious mental illness in the month after COVID hospitalization was 9.71 in the prevaccine cohort, 8.75 with no vaccination, and 6.52 with vaccination. 

“Incidences of other mental illnesses were broadly similar to those of depression and serious mental illness, both overall and for COVID-19 with and without hospitalization,” the authors report in their paper.

Consistent with prior research, subgroup analyzes found the association of COVID-19 and mental illness was stronger among older adults and men, with no marked differences by ethnic group.

“We should be concerned about continuing consequences in people who experienced severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and they may include a continuing higher incidence of mental ill health, such as depression and serious mental illness,” Dr. Sterne said in the podcast. 

In terms of ongoing booster vaccinations, “people who are advised that they are under vaccinated or recommended for further COVID-19 vaccination, should take those invitations seriously, because by preventing severe COVID-19, which is what vaccination does, you can prevent consequences such as mental illness,” Dr. Sterne added. 

The study was supported by the COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study, which is funded by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research. The authors had no relevant conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

New research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that COVID-19 infection can be hard on mental health. 

The UK study of more than 18 million adults showed an elevated rate of mental illness, including depression and serious mental illness, for up to a year following a bout of COVID-19, particularly in those with severe COVID who had not been vaccinated. 

Importantly, vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental health, the investigators found. 

“Our results highlight the importance COVID-19 vaccination in the general population and particularly among those with mental illnesses, who may be at higher risk of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes following COVID-19,” first author Venexia Walker, PhD, with University of Bristol, United Kingdom, said in a news release. 

The study was published online on August 21 in JAMA Psychiatry.
 

Novel Data

“Before this study, a number of papers had looked at associations of COVID diagnosis with mental ill health, and broadly speaking, they had reported associations of different magnitudes,” study author Jonathan A. C. Sterne, PhD, with University of Bristol, noted in a journal podcast. 

“Some studies were restricted to patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and some not and the duration of follow-up varied. And importantly, the nature of COVID-19 changed profoundly as vaccination became available and there was little data on the impact of vaccination on associations of COVID-19 with subsequent mental ill health,” Dr. Sterne said. 

The UK study was conducted in three cohorts — a cohort of about 18.6 million people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 before a vaccine was available, a cohort of about 14 million adults who were vaccinated, and a cohort of about 3.2 million people who were unvaccinated.

The researchers compared rates of various mental illnesses after COVID-19 with rates before or without COVID-19 and by vaccination status.

Across all cohorts, rates of most mental illnesses examined were “markedly elevated” during the first month following a COVID-19 diagnosis compared with rates before or without COVID-19.

For example, the adjusted hazard ratios for depression (the most common illness) and serious mental illness in the month after COVID-19 were 1.93 and 1.49, respectively, in the prevaccination cohort and 1.79 and 1.45, respectively, in the unvaccinated cohort compared with 1.16 and 0.91 in the vaccinated cohort.

This elevation in the rate of mental illnesses was mainly seen after severe COVID-19 that led to hospitalization and remained higher for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated adults.

For severe COVID-19 with hospitalization, the adjusted hazard ratio for depression in the month following admission was 16.3 in the prevaccine cohort, 15.6 in the unvaccinated cohort, and 12.9 in the vaccinated cohort.

The adjusted hazard ratios for serious mental illness in the month after COVID hospitalization was 9.71 in the prevaccine cohort, 8.75 with no vaccination, and 6.52 with vaccination. 

“Incidences of other mental illnesses were broadly similar to those of depression and serious mental illness, both overall and for COVID-19 with and without hospitalization,” the authors report in their paper.

Consistent with prior research, subgroup analyzes found the association of COVID-19 and mental illness was stronger among older adults and men, with no marked differences by ethnic group.

“We should be concerned about continuing consequences in people who experienced severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and they may include a continuing higher incidence of mental ill health, such as depression and serious mental illness,” Dr. Sterne said in the podcast. 

In terms of ongoing booster vaccinations, “people who are advised that they are under vaccinated or recommended for further COVID-19 vaccination, should take those invitations seriously, because by preventing severe COVID-19, which is what vaccination does, you can prevent consequences such as mental illness,” Dr. Sterne added. 

The study was supported by the COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study, which is funded by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research. The authors had no relevant conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

New research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that COVID-19 infection can be hard on mental health. 

The UK study of more than 18 million adults showed an elevated rate of mental illness, including depression and serious mental illness, for up to a year following a bout of COVID-19, particularly in those with severe COVID who had not been vaccinated. 

Importantly, vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental health, the investigators found. 

“Our results highlight the importance COVID-19 vaccination in the general population and particularly among those with mental illnesses, who may be at higher risk of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes following COVID-19,” first author Venexia Walker, PhD, with University of Bristol, United Kingdom, said in a news release. 

The study was published online on August 21 in JAMA Psychiatry.
 

Novel Data

“Before this study, a number of papers had looked at associations of COVID diagnosis with mental ill health, and broadly speaking, they had reported associations of different magnitudes,” study author Jonathan A. C. Sterne, PhD, with University of Bristol, noted in a journal podcast. 

“Some studies were restricted to patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and some not and the duration of follow-up varied. And importantly, the nature of COVID-19 changed profoundly as vaccination became available and there was little data on the impact of vaccination on associations of COVID-19 with subsequent mental ill health,” Dr. Sterne said. 

The UK study was conducted in three cohorts — a cohort of about 18.6 million people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 before a vaccine was available, a cohort of about 14 million adults who were vaccinated, and a cohort of about 3.2 million people who were unvaccinated.

The researchers compared rates of various mental illnesses after COVID-19 with rates before or without COVID-19 and by vaccination status.

Across all cohorts, rates of most mental illnesses examined were “markedly elevated” during the first month following a COVID-19 diagnosis compared with rates before or without COVID-19.

For example, the adjusted hazard ratios for depression (the most common illness) and serious mental illness in the month after COVID-19 were 1.93 and 1.49, respectively, in the prevaccination cohort and 1.79 and 1.45, respectively, in the unvaccinated cohort compared with 1.16 and 0.91 in the vaccinated cohort.

This elevation in the rate of mental illnesses was mainly seen after severe COVID-19 that led to hospitalization and remained higher for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated adults.

For severe COVID-19 with hospitalization, the adjusted hazard ratio for depression in the month following admission was 16.3 in the prevaccine cohort, 15.6 in the unvaccinated cohort, and 12.9 in the vaccinated cohort.

The adjusted hazard ratios for serious mental illness in the month after COVID hospitalization was 9.71 in the prevaccine cohort, 8.75 with no vaccination, and 6.52 with vaccination. 

“Incidences of other mental illnesses were broadly similar to those of depression and serious mental illness, both overall and for COVID-19 with and without hospitalization,” the authors report in their paper.

Consistent with prior research, subgroup analyzes found the association of COVID-19 and mental illness was stronger among older adults and men, with no marked differences by ethnic group.

“We should be concerned about continuing consequences in people who experienced severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and they may include a continuing higher incidence of mental ill health, such as depression and serious mental illness,” Dr. Sterne said in the podcast. 

In terms of ongoing booster vaccinations, “people who are advised that they are under vaccinated or recommended for further COVID-19 vaccination, should take those invitations seriously, because by preventing severe COVID-19, which is what vaccination does, you can prevent consequences such as mental illness,” Dr. Sterne added. 

The study was supported by the COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study, which is funded by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research. The authors had no relevant conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Most physicians oppose the way standardized relative value units (RVUs) are used to determine performance and compensation, according to Medscape’s 2024 Physicians and RVUs Report. About 6 in 10 survey respondents were unhappy with how RVUs affected them financially, while 7 in 10 said RVUs were poor measures of productivity.

The report analyzed 2024 survey data from 1005 practicing physicians who earn RVUs.

“I’m already mad that the medical field is controlled by health insurers and what they pay and authorize,” said an anesthesiologist in New York. “Then [that approach] is transferred to medical offices and hospitals, where physicians are paid by RVUs.”

Most physicians surveyed produced between 4000 and 8000 RVUs per year. Roughly one in six were high RVU generators, generating more than 10,000 annually.

In most cases, the metric influences earning potential — 42% of doctors surveyed said RVUs affect their salaries to some degree. One quarter said their salary was based entirely on RVUs. More than three fourths of physicians who received performance bonuses said they must meet RVU targets to do so.

“The current RVU system encourages unnecessary procedures, hurting patients,” said an orthopedic surgeon in Maine.

Nearly three fourths of practitioners surveyed said they occasionally to frequently felt pressure to take on more patients as a result of this system.

“I know numerous primary care doctors and specialists who have been forced to increase patient volume to meet RVU goals, and none is happy about it,” said Alok Patel, MD, a pediatric hospitalist with Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. “Plus, patients are definitely not happy about being rushed.”

More than half of respondents said they occasionally or frequently felt compelled by their employer to use higher-level coding, which interferes with a physician’s ethical responsibility to the patient, said Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, a bioethicist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

“Rather than rewarding excellence or good outcomes, you’re kind of rewarding procedures and volume,” said Dr. Caplan. “It’s more than pressure; it’s expected.”

Nearly 6 in 10 physicians said that the method for calculating reimbursements was unfair. Almost half said that they weren’t happy with how their workplace uses RVUs.

A few respondents said that their RVU model, which is often based on what Dr. Patel called an “overly complicated algorithm,” did not account for the time spent on tasks or the fact that some patients miss appointments. RVUs also rely on factors outside the control of a physician, such as location and patient volume, said one doctor.

The model can also lower the level of care patients receive, Dr. Patel said.

“I know primary care doctors who work in RVU-based systems and simply cannot take the necessary time — even if it’s 30-45 minutes — to thoroughly assess a patient, when the model forces them to take on 15-minute encounters.”

Finally, over half of clinicians said alternatives to the RVU system would be more effective, and 77% suggested including qualitative data. One respondent recommended incorporating time spent doing paperwork and communicating with patients, complexity of conditions, and medication management.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Most physicians oppose the way standardized relative value units (RVUs) are used to determine performance and compensation, according to Medscape’s 2024 Physicians and RVUs Report. About 6 in 10 survey respondents were unhappy with how RVUs affected them financially, while 7 in 10 said RVUs were poor measures of productivity.

The report analyzed 2024 survey data from 1005 practicing physicians who earn RVUs.

“I’m already mad that the medical field is controlled by health insurers and what they pay and authorize,” said an anesthesiologist in New York. “Then [that approach] is transferred to medical offices and hospitals, where physicians are paid by RVUs.”

Most physicians surveyed produced between 4000 and 8000 RVUs per year. Roughly one in six were high RVU generators, generating more than 10,000 annually.

In most cases, the metric influences earning potential — 42% of doctors surveyed said RVUs affect their salaries to some degree. One quarter said their salary was based entirely on RVUs. More than three fourths of physicians who received performance bonuses said they must meet RVU targets to do so.

“The current RVU system encourages unnecessary procedures, hurting patients,” said an orthopedic surgeon in Maine.

Nearly three fourths of practitioners surveyed said they occasionally to frequently felt pressure to take on more patients as a result of this system.

“I know numerous primary care doctors and specialists who have been forced to increase patient volume to meet RVU goals, and none is happy about it,” said Alok Patel, MD, a pediatric hospitalist with Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. “Plus, patients are definitely not happy about being rushed.”

More than half of respondents said they occasionally or frequently felt compelled by their employer to use higher-level coding, which interferes with a physician’s ethical responsibility to the patient, said Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, a bioethicist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

“Rather than rewarding excellence or good outcomes, you’re kind of rewarding procedures and volume,” said Dr. Caplan. “It’s more than pressure; it’s expected.”

Nearly 6 in 10 physicians said that the method for calculating reimbursements was unfair. Almost half said that they weren’t happy with how their workplace uses RVUs.

A few respondents said that their RVU model, which is often based on what Dr. Patel called an “overly complicated algorithm,” did not account for the time spent on tasks or the fact that some patients miss appointments. RVUs also rely on factors outside the control of a physician, such as location and patient volume, said one doctor.

The model can also lower the level of care patients receive, Dr. Patel said.

“I know primary care doctors who work in RVU-based systems and simply cannot take the necessary time — even if it’s 30-45 minutes — to thoroughly assess a patient, when the model forces them to take on 15-minute encounters.”

Finally, over half of clinicians said alternatives to the RVU system would be more effective, and 77% suggested including qualitative data. One respondent recommended incorporating time spent doing paperwork and communicating with patients, complexity of conditions, and medication management.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Most physicians oppose the way standardized relative value units (RVUs) are used to determine performance and compensation, according to Medscape’s 2024 Physicians and RVUs Report. About 6 in 10 survey respondents were unhappy with how RVUs affected them financially, while 7 in 10 said RVUs were poor measures of productivity.

The report analyzed 2024 survey data from 1005 practicing physicians who earn RVUs.

“I’m already mad that the medical field is controlled by health insurers and what they pay and authorize,” said an anesthesiologist in New York. “Then [that approach] is transferred to medical offices and hospitals, where physicians are paid by RVUs.”

Most physicians surveyed produced between 4000 and 8000 RVUs per year. Roughly one in six were high RVU generators, generating more than 10,000 annually.

In most cases, the metric influences earning potential — 42% of doctors surveyed said RVUs affect their salaries to some degree. One quarter said their salary was based entirely on RVUs. More than three fourths of physicians who received performance bonuses said they must meet RVU targets to do so.

“The current RVU system encourages unnecessary procedures, hurting patients,” said an orthopedic surgeon in Maine.

Nearly three fourths of practitioners surveyed said they occasionally to frequently felt pressure to take on more patients as a result of this system.

“I know numerous primary care doctors and specialists who have been forced to increase patient volume to meet RVU goals, and none is happy about it,” said Alok Patel, MD, a pediatric hospitalist with Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. “Plus, patients are definitely not happy about being rushed.”

More than half of respondents said they occasionally or frequently felt compelled by their employer to use higher-level coding, which interferes with a physician’s ethical responsibility to the patient, said Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, a bioethicist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

“Rather than rewarding excellence or good outcomes, you’re kind of rewarding procedures and volume,” said Dr. Caplan. “It’s more than pressure; it’s expected.”

Nearly 6 in 10 physicians said that the method for calculating reimbursements was unfair. Almost half said that they weren’t happy with how their workplace uses RVUs.

A few respondents said that their RVU model, which is often based on what Dr. Patel called an “overly complicated algorithm,” did not account for the time spent on tasks or the fact that some patients miss appointments. RVUs also rely on factors outside the control of a physician, such as location and patient volume, said one doctor.

The model can also lower the level of care patients receive, Dr. Patel said.

“I know primary care doctors who work in RVU-based systems and simply cannot take the necessary time — even if it’s 30-45 minutes — to thoroughly assess a patient, when the model forces them to take on 15-minute encounters.”

Finally, over half of clinicians said alternatives to the RVU system would be more effective, and 77% suggested including qualitative data. One respondent recommended incorporating time spent doing paperwork and communicating with patients, complexity of conditions, and medication management.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

A growing body of research has increasingly connected hearing loss with a higher risk for dementia. In addition, some studies suggest that wearing hearing aids may help prevent dementia, though one study was recently voluntarily retracted due to methodological errors.

Given the overall evidence, how robust are these associations? And what guidance should clinicians provide to their patients?

Frank Lin, MD, PhD, a clinician and professor of otolaryngology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, emphasized that the evidence from the past 10-15 years strongly links hearing loss to cognitive decline.

While quantifying the exact increase in risk is challenging, Dr. Lin said, “there’s no doubt about it; it’s not trivial.”

With respect to the potential link between hearing aids and dementia prevention, Dr. Lin is involved in the ongoing ACHIEVE randomized trial. Results presented at the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and simultaneously published in The Lancet revealed participants who used hearing aids experienced a significant slowing of cognitive decline compared with those who received health education.

“It’s a no-risk intervention that can benefit social function, and for people at risk for cognitive decline, it can actually benefit cognitive health,” Dr. Lin said.
 

Potential Mechanisms

Dr. Lin pointed out that the Lancet Commission on Dementia identifies hearing impairment as one of the most significant risk factors for dementia. Overall, the consensus from most studies is that hearing loss definitely increases the risk for cognitive decline and dementia, he said.

Several hypotheses may explain this connection, and Dr. Lin believes that a combination of three key mechanisms is likely to be central to understanding this link.

The first theory focuses on cognitive load. As people experience age-related hearing changes, “the inner ear is no longer sending signals clearly to the brain,” Dr. Lin explained. This forces the brain to work harder, increasing its cognitive load as it reallocates resources to assist with hearing.

Dr. Lin emphasized that this is a hypothesis and does not prove hearing loss directly causes cognitive decline or dementia. Rather, it suggests that hearing loss accelerates the “unmasking” of cognitive issues. Brain resources that might otherwise buffer against dementia’s pathologic triggers are consumed earlier due to the demands of managing hearing loss.

The second potential mechanism suggests that hearing loss may have detrimental effects on brain structure and function over time — a theory supported by several recent studies.

These studies show that individuals with more severe hearing loss experience faster rates of brain atrophy. The reduced stimulation from poor auditory signals accelerates brain atrophy, Dr. Lin explained.

The third hypothesis focuses on social isolation. Individuals with hearing loss may engage less in social activities, reducing cognitive stimulation and overall social interaction. It’s well-known that social engagement and cognitive stimulation are crucial for maintaining cognitive health over time, Dr. Lin said.

Overall, Dr. Lin believes that the association between hearing loss and an increased risk for cognitive decline likely involves a combination of all three potential mechanisms. It’s not a matter of one theory being right and the others being wrong, he said.
 

The Role of Hearing Aids

However, the jury is out on the role of hearing aids in preventing dementia.

A large observational study published in 2023 in Lancet Public Health was hailed by its investigators as providing “the best evidence to date” that hearing aids could mitigate the impact of hearing loss on dementia (Lancet Public Health. 2023 May;8[5]:e329-e338. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667[23]00048-8). However, the authors voluntarily retracted the paper in December 2023 due to a coding error.

Despite this, a large meta-analysis published in JAMA Neurology suggested that hearing aids might reduce cognitive decline and dementia risk and even enhance short-term cognitive function.

Additionally, the ACHIEVE study, the first randomized trial to investigate these issues, included nearly 1000 older participants from two populations — those from the ARIC study and healthy volunteers. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a hearing intervention or education on healthy aging.

Although the primary endpoint of change in standardized neurocognitive scores at year 3 showed no significant difference between the hearing intervention and health education groups, the ARIC cohort experienced a notable 48% reduction in cognitive decline with hearing aids compared with education.

Dr. Lin explained that, due to the study’s design, the control group was healthier than the ARIC cohort, which was at higher risk for cognitive decline due to factors such as age and diabetes. This is where they observed a strong effect of hearing intervention in reducing cognitive decline within just 3 years, Dr. Lin said.

Conversely, the hearing aids had minimal impact on the healthy controls, likely because they had not experienced cognitive decline to begin with. Essentially, the benefits of hearing aids were more apparent once cognitive issues were already present.

“It seems sort of obvious. In a group of people who aren’t at risk for cognitive decline, a hearing intervention isn’t going to benefit their cognition” in the short term, Dr. Lin noted. That said, the investigators are continuing to follow the healthy controls to determine whether hearing aids lower dementia risk over the long term.
 

Which Comes First?

Some experts have questioned the directionality of the link between hearing aids and dementia — do hearing aids reduce dementia risk or are individuals with dementia simply less likely to use them?

Dr. Lin noted that observational studies often have confounders. For instance, people who use hearing aids are often healthier and better educated. This makes it difficult to distinguish the effect of the intervention from the factors that led people to use it, he said.

In contrast, the ACHIEVE trial, a randomized study, was designed to separate these factors from the hearing intervention, Dr. Lin explained.

However, he added that ACHIEVE was not specifically powered to assess dementia development, focusing instead on cognitive decline. The investigators plan long-term follow-up of participants to evaluate the impact on dementia in the future.

So, given the current evidence, what should clinicians tell their patients?

Because all people experience some degree of hearing changes as they age, which can gradually affect communication and social engagement, it’s important for everyone to be aware of their hearing health, Dr. Lin said.

He noted there are apps available that allow individuals to measure their hearing with their phones, including determining their “hearing number.”

With respect to hearing aids, Dr. Lin noted that if individuals have trouble participating in everyday activities, addressing hearing issues and considering a hearing intervention is crucial.

There’s no medical risk associated with hearing aids, he said. Even if they only improve social activities and engagement, that’s a benefit. If they also have potential positive effects on cognitive health, “even better,” he added.

Dr. Lin noted that as of 2022, hearing aids are now available over the counter, a move that has improved accessibility. In addition, new technologies, such as stylish “hearing aid glasses,” are being developed to offer more appealing options and reduce the stigma associated with traditional devices.

People often view hearing loss as a significant life event and are reluctant to admit they need hearing aids. However, focusing on “what’s your hearing?” as a neutral tracking metric could make it easier to adopt new technologies in the future, Lin said.
 

Alzheimer’s Association Weighs in

Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president, Medical & Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, echoed Dr. Lin, noting that there has been substantial research showing a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

“This association is something that we have seen repeated and replicated in a number of different studies. What we don’t know is the cause and effect,” Dr. Snyder said.

She noted it is unknown whether there is a causal link between hearing loss and cognitive decline and/or whether cognitive decline may contribute to hearing loss. These are some of the “big questions” that remain, said Dr. Snyder.

Still, she noted that hearing health is an important part of quality of life and overall brain health and “should be part of the conversation” between clinicians and their patients.

Discussing the results of the ACHIEVE study, Dr. Snyder highlighted that while the subgroup at higher risk for cognitive decline did experience significant improvement, the overall population did not show a benefit from the intervention.

The brain “is complex,” and it’s unlikely that a single intervention or target will provide all the benefits, Dr. Snyder said.

She emphasized that addressing hearing loss with hearing aids, combined with managing other modifiable risk factors — such as heart and metabolic health, physical activity, and a balanced diet — appears to offer the greatest potential for synergy and preserving cognition.

Drs. Lin and Snyder reported no relevant conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

A growing body of research has increasingly connected hearing loss with a higher risk for dementia. In addition, some studies suggest that wearing hearing aids may help prevent dementia, though one study was recently voluntarily retracted due to methodological errors.

Given the overall evidence, how robust are these associations? And what guidance should clinicians provide to their patients?

Frank Lin, MD, PhD, a clinician and professor of otolaryngology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, emphasized that the evidence from the past 10-15 years strongly links hearing loss to cognitive decline.

While quantifying the exact increase in risk is challenging, Dr. Lin said, “there’s no doubt about it; it’s not trivial.”

With respect to the potential link between hearing aids and dementia prevention, Dr. Lin is involved in the ongoing ACHIEVE randomized trial. Results presented at the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and simultaneously published in The Lancet revealed participants who used hearing aids experienced a significant slowing of cognitive decline compared with those who received health education.

“It’s a no-risk intervention that can benefit social function, and for people at risk for cognitive decline, it can actually benefit cognitive health,” Dr. Lin said.
 

Potential Mechanisms

Dr. Lin pointed out that the Lancet Commission on Dementia identifies hearing impairment as one of the most significant risk factors for dementia. Overall, the consensus from most studies is that hearing loss definitely increases the risk for cognitive decline and dementia, he said.

Several hypotheses may explain this connection, and Dr. Lin believes that a combination of three key mechanisms is likely to be central to understanding this link.

The first theory focuses on cognitive load. As people experience age-related hearing changes, “the inner ear is no longer sending signals clearly to the brain,” Dr. Lin explained. This forces the brain to work harder, increasing its cognitive load as it reallocates resources to assist with hearing.

Dr. Lin emphasized that this is a hypothesis and does not prove hearing loss directly causes cognitive decline or dementia. Rather, it suggests that hearing loss accelerates the “unmasking” of cognitive issues. Brain resources that might otherwise buffer against dementia’s pathologic triggers are consumed earlier due to the demands of managing hearing loss.

The second potential mechanism suggests that hearing loss may have detrimental effects on brain structure and function over time — a theory supported by several recent studies.

These studies show that individuals with more severe hearing loss experience faster rates of brain atrophy. The reduced stimulation from poor auditory signals accelerates brain atrophy, Dr. Lin explained.

The third hypothesis focuses on social isolation. Individuals with hearing loss may engage less in social activities, reducing cognitive stimulation and overall social interaction. It’s well-known that social engagement and cognitive stimulation are crucial for maintaining cognitive health over time, Dr. Lin said.

Overall, Dr. Lin believes that the association between hearing loss and an increased risk for cognitive decline likely involves a combination of all three potential mechanisms. It’s not a matter of one theory being right and the others being wrong, he said.
 

The Role of Hearing Aids

However, the jury is out on the role of hearing aids in preventing dementia.

A large observational study published in 2023 in Lancet Public Health was hailed by its investigators as providing “the best evidence to date” that hearing aids could mitigate the impact of hearing loss on dementia (Lancet Public Health. 2023 May;8[5]:e329-e338. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667[23]00048-8). However, the authors voluntarily retracted the paper in December 2023 due to a coding error.

Despite this, a large meta-analysis published in JAMA Neurology suggested that hearing aids might reduce cognitive decline and dementia risk and even enhance short-term cognitive function.

Additionally, the ACHIEVE study, the first randomized trial to investigate these issues, included nearly 1000 older participants from two populations — those from the ARIC study and healthy volunteers. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a hearing intervention or education on healthy aging.

Although the primary endpoint of change in standardized neurocognitive scores at year 3 showed no significant difference between the hearing intervention and health education groups, the ARIC cohort experienced a notable 48% reduction in cognitive decline with hearing aids compared with education.

Dr. Lin explained that, due to the study’s design, the control group was healthier than the ARIC cohort, which was at higher risk for cognitive decline due to factors such as age and diabetes. This is where they observed a strong effect of hearing intervention in reducing cognitive decline within just 3 years, Dr. Lin said.

Conversely, the hearing aids had minimal impact on the healthy controls, likely because they had not experienced cognitive decline to begin with. Essentially, the benefits of hearing aids were more apparent once cognitive issues were already present.

“It seems sort of obvious. In a group of people who aren’t at risk for cognitive decline, a hearing intervention isn’t going to benefit their cognition” in the short term, Dr. Lin noted. That said, the investigators are continuing to follow the healthy controls to determine whether hearing aids lower dementia risk over the long term.
 

Which Comes First?

Some experts have questioned the directionality of the link between hearing aids and dementia — do hearing aids reduce dementia risk or are individuals with dementia simply less likely to use them?

Dr. Lin noted that observational studies often have confounders. For instance, people who use hearing aids are often healthier and better educated. This makes it difficult to distinguish the effect of the intervention from the factors that led people to use it, he said.

In contrast, the ACHIEVE trial, a randomized study, was designed to separate these factors from the hearing intervention, Dr. Lin explained.

However, he added that ACHIEVE was not specifically powered to assess dementia development, focusing instead on cognitive decline. The investigators plan long-term follow-up of participants to evaluate the impact on dementia in the future.

So, given the current evidence, what should clinicians tell their patients?

Because all people experience some degree of hearing changes as they age, which can gradually affect communication and social engagement, it’s important for everyone to be aware of their hearing health, Dr. Lin said.

He noted there are apps available that allow individuals to measure their hearing with their phones, including determining their “hearing number.”

With respect to hearing aids, Dr. Lin noted that if individuals have trouble participating in everyday activities, addressing hearing issues and considering a hearing intervention is crucial.

There’s no medical risk associated with hearing aids, he said. Even if they only improve social activities and engagement, that’s a benefit. If they also have potential positive effects on cognitive health, “even better,” he added.

Dr. Lin noted that as of 2022, hearing aids are now available over the counter, a move that has improved accessibility. In addition, new technologies, such as stylish “hearing aid glasses,” are being developed to offer more appealing options and reduce the stigma associated with traditional devices.

People often view hearing loss as a significant life event and are reluctant to admit they need hearing aids. However, focusing on “what’s your hearing?” as a neutral tracking metric could make it easier to adopt new technologies in the future, Lin said.
 

Alzheimer’s Association Weighs in

Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president, Medical & Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, echoed Dr. Lin, noting that there has been substantial research showing a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

“This association is something that we have seen repeated and replicated in a number of different studies. What we don’t know is the cause and effect,” Dr. Snyder said.

She noted it is unknown whether there is a causal link between hearing loss and cognitive decline and/or whether cognitive decline may contribute to hearing loss. These are some of the “big questions” that remain, said Dr. Snyder.

Still, she noted that hearing health is an important part of quality of life and overall brain health and “should be part of the conversation” between clinicians and their patients.

Discussing the results of the ACHIEVE study, Dr. Snyder highlighted that while the subgroup at higher risk for cognitive decline did experience significant improvement, the overall population did not show a benefit from the intervention.

The brain “is complex,” and it’s unlikely that a single intervention or target will provide all the benefits, Dr. Snyder said.

She emphasized that addressing hearing loss with hearing aids, combined with managing other modifiable risk factors — such as heart and metabolic health, physical activity, and a balanced diet — appears to offer the greatest potential for synergy and preserving cognition.

Drs. Lin and Snyder reported no relevant conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

A growing body of research has increasingly connected hearing loss with a higher risk for dementia. In addition, some studies suggest that wearing hearing aids may help prevent dementia, though one study was recently voluntarily retracted due to methodological errors.

Given the overall evidence, how robust are these associations? And what guidance should clinicians provide to their patients?

Frank Lin, MD, PhD, a clinician and professor of otolaryngology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, emphasized that the evidence from the past 10-15 years strongly links hearing loss to cognitive decline.

While quantifying the exact increase in risk is challenging, Dr. Lin said, “there’s no doubt about it; it’s not trivial.”

With respect to the potential link between hearing aids and dementia prevention, Dr. Lin is involved in the ongoing ACHIEVE randomized trial. Results presented at the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and simultaneously published in The Lancet revealed participants who used hearing aids experienced a significant slowing of cognitive decline compared with those who received health education.

“It’s a no-risk intervention that can benefit social function, and for people at risk for cognitive decline, it can actually benefit cognitive health,” Dr. Lin said.
 

Potential Mechanisms

Dr. Lin pointed out that the Lancet Commission on Dementia identifies hearing impairment as one of the most significant risk factors for dementia. Overall, the consensus from most studies is that hearing loss definitely increases the risk for cognitive decline and dementia, he said.

Several hypotheses may explain this connection, and Dr. Lin believes that a combination of three key mechanisms is likely to be central to understanding this link.

The first theory focuses on cognitive load. As people experience age-related hearing changes, “the inner ear is no longer sending signals clearly to the brain,” Dr. Lin explained. This forces the brain to work harder, increasing its cognitive load as it reallocates resources to assist with hearing.

Dr. Lin emphasized that this is a hypothesis and does not prove hearing loss directly causes cognitive decline or dementia. Rather, it suggests that hearing loss accelerates the “unmasking” of cognitive issues. Brain resources that might otherwise buffer against dementia’s pathologic triggers are consumed earlier due to the demands of managing hearing loss.

The second potential mechanism suggests that hearing loss may have detrimental effects on brain structure and function over time — a theory supported by several recent studies.

These studies show that individuals with more severe hearing loss experience faster rates of brain atrophy. The reduced stimulation from poor auditory signals accelerates brain atrophy, Dr. Lin explained.

The third hypothesis focuses on social isolation. Individuals with hearing loss may engage less in social activities, reducing cognitive stimulation and overall social interaction. It’s well-known that social engagement and cognitive stimulation are crucial for maintaining cognitive health over time, Dr. Lin said.

Overall, Dr. Lin believes that the association between hearing loss and an increased risk for cognitive decline likely involves a combination of all three potential mechanisms. It’s not a matter of one theory being right and the others being wrong, he said.
 

The Role of Hearing Aids

However, the jury is out on the role of hearing aids in preventing dementia.

A large observational study published in 2023 in Lancet Public Health was hailed by its investigators as providing “the best evidence to date” that hearing aids could mitigate the impact of hearing loss on dementia (Lancet Public Health. 2023 May;8[5]:e329-e338. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667[23]00048-8). However, the authors voluntarily retracted the paper in December 2023 due to a coding error.

Despite this, a large meta-analysis published in JAMA Neurology suggested that hearing aids might reduce cognitive decline and dementia risk and even enhance short-term cognitive function.

Additionally, the ACHIEVE study, the first randomized trial to investigate these issues, included nearly 1000 older participants from two populations — those from the ARIC study and healthy volunteers. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a hearing intervention or education on healthy aging.

Although the primary endpoint of change in standardized neurocognitive scores at year 3 showed no significant difference between the hearing intervention and health education groups, the ARIC cohort experienced a notable 48% reduction in cognitive decline with hearing aids compared with education.

Dr. Lin explained that, due to the study’s design, the control group was healthier than the ARIC cohort, which was at higher risk for cognitive decline due to factors such as age and diabetes. This is where they observed a strong effect of hearing intervention in reducing cognitive decline within just 3 years, Dr. Lin said.

Conversely, the hearing aids had minimal impact on the healthy controls, likely because they had not experienced cognitive decline to begin with. Essentially, the benefits of hearing aids were more apparent once cognitive issues were already present.

“It seems sort of obvious. In a group of people who aren’t at risk for cognitive decline, a hearing intervention isn’t going to benefit their cognition” in the short term, Dr. Lin noted. That said, the investigators are continuing to follow the healthy controls to determine whether hearing aids lower dementia risk over the long term.
 

Which Comes First?

Some experts have questioned the directionality of the link between hearing aids and dementia — do hearing aids reduce dementia risk or are individuals with dementia simply less likely to use them?

Dr. Lin noted that observational studies often have confounders. For instance, people who use hearing aids are often healthier and better educated. This makes it difficult to distinguish the effect of the intervention from the factors that led people to use it, he said.

In contrast, the ACHIEVE trial, a randomized study, was designed to separate these factors from the hearing intervention, Dr. Lin explained.

However, he added that ACHIEVE was not specifically powered to assess dementia development, focusing instead on cognitive decline. The investigators plan long-term follow-up of participants to evaluate the impact on dementia in the future.

So, given the current evidence, what should clinicians tell their patients?

Because all people experience some degree of hearing changes as they age, which can gradually affect communication and social engagement, it’s important for everyone to be aware of their hearing health, Dr. Lin said.

He noted there are apps available that allow individuals to measure their hearing with their phones, including determining their “hearing number.”

With respect to hearing aids, Dr. Lin noted that if individuals have trouble participating in everyday activities, addressing hearing issues and considering a hearing intervention is crucial.

There’s no medical risk associated with hearing aids, he said. Even if they only improve social activities and engagement, that’s a benefit. If they also have potential positive effects on cognitive health, “even better,” he added.

Dr. Lin noted that as of 2022, hearing aids are now available over the counter, a move that has improved accessibility. In addition, new technologies, such as stylish “hearing aid glasses,” are being developed to offer more appealing options and reduce the stigma associated with traditional devices.

People often view hearing loss as a significant life event and are reluctant to admit they need hearing aids. However, focusing on “what’s your hearing?” as a neutral tracking metric could make it easier to adopt new technologies in the future, Lin said.
 

Alzheimer’s Association Weighs in

Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president, Medical & Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, echoed Dr. Lin, noting that there has been substantial research showing a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

“This association is something that we have seen repeated and replicated in a number of different studies. What we don’t know is the cause and effect,” Dr. Snyder said.

She noted it is unknown whether there is a causal link between hearing loss and cognitive decline and/or whether cognitive decline may contribute to hearing loss. These are some of the “big questions” that remain, said Dr. Snyder.

Still, she noted that hearing health is an important part of quality of life and overall brain health and “should be part of the conversation” between clinicians and their patients.

Discussing the results of the ACHIEVE study, Dr. Snyder highlighted that while the subgroup at higher risk for cognitive decline did experience significant improvement, the overall population did not show a benefit from the intervention.

The brain “is complex,” and it’s unlikely that a single intervention or target will provide all the benefits, Dr. Snyder said.

She emphasized that addressing hearing loss with hearing aids, combined with managing other modifiable risk factors — such as heart and metabolic health, physical activity, and a balanced diet — appears to offer the greatest potential for synergy and preserving cognition.

Drs. Lin and Snyder reported no relevant conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Childhood cancers represent a diverse group of neoplasms, and thanks to advances in treatment, survival rates have improved significantly. Today, more than 80%-85% of children diagnosed with cancer in developed countries survive into adulthood.

This increase in survival has brought new challenges, however. Compared with the general population, childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at a notably higher risk for early mortality, developing secondary cancers, and experiencing various long-term clinical and psychosocial issues stemming from their disease or its treatment.

Long-term follow-up care for CCS is a complex and evolving field. Despite ongoing efforts to establish global and national guidelines, current evidence indicates that the care and management of these patients remain suboptimal.

Sexual dysfunction is a common and significant late effect among CCS. The disruptions caused by cancer and its treatment can interfere with normal physiological and psychological development, leading to issues with sexual function. This aspect of health is critical as it influences not just physical well-being but also psychosocial, developmental, and emotional health.
 

Characteristics and Mechanisms

Sexual functioning encompasses the physiological and psychological aspects of sexual behavior, including desire, arousal, orgasm, sexual pleasure, and overall satisfaction.

As CCS reach adolescence or adulthood, they often face sexual and reproductive issues, particularly as they enter romantic relationships.

Sexual functioning is a complex process that relies on the interaction of various factors, including physiological health, psychosexual development, romantic relationships, body image, and desire.

Despite its importance, the impact of childhood cancer on sexual function is often overlooked, even though cancer and its treatments can have lifelong effects. 
 

Sexual Function in CCS

A recent review aimed to summarize the existing research on sexual function among CCS, highlighting assessment tools, key stages of psychosexual development, common sexual problems, and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction.

The review study included 22 studies published between 2000 and 2022, comprising two qualitative, six cohort, and 14 cross-sectional studies.

Most CCS reached all key stages of psychosexual development at an average age of 29.8 years. Although some milestones were achieved later than is typical, many survivors felt they reached these stages at the appropriate time. Sexual initiation was less common among those who had undergone intensive neurotoxic treatments, such as those diagnosed with brain tumors or leukemia in childhood.

In a cross-sectional study of CCS aged 17-39 years, about one third had never engaged in sexual intercourse, 41.4% reported never experiencing sexual attraction, 44.8% were dissatisfied with their sex lives, and many rarely felt sexually attractive to others. Another study found that common issues among CCS included a lack of interest in sex (30%), difficulty enjoying sex (24%), and difficulty becoming aroused (23%). However, comparing and analyzing these problems was challenging due to the lack of standardized assessment criteria.

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among CCS ranged from 12.3% to 46.5%. For males, the prevalence ranged from 12.3% to 54.0%, while for females, it ranged from 19.9% to 57.0%.
 

Factors Influencing Sexual Function

The review identified the following four categories of factors influencing sexual function in CCS: Demographic, treatment-related, psychological, and physiological.

Demographic factors: Gender, age, education level, relationship status, income level, and race all play roles in sexual function.

Female survivors reported more severe sexual dysfunction and poorer sexual health than did male survivors. Age at cancer diagnosis, age at evaluation, and the time since diagnosis were closely linked to sexual experiences. Patients diagnosed with cancer during childhood tended to report better sexual function than those diagnosed during adolescence.

Treatment-related factors: The type of cancer and intensity of treatment, along with surgical history, were significant factors. Surgeries involving the spinal cord or sympathetic nerves, as well as a history of prostate or pelvic surgery, were strongly associated with erectile dysfunction in men. In women, pelvic surgeries and treatments to the pelvic area were commonly linked to sexual dysfunction.

The association between treatment intensity and sexual function was noted across several studies, although the results were not always consistent. For example, testicular radiation above 10 Gy was positively correlated with sexual dysfunction. Women who underwent more intensive treatments were more likely to report issues in multiple areas of sexual function, while men in this group were less likely to have children.

Among female CCS, certain types of cancer, such as germ cell tumors, renal tumors, and leukemia, present a higher risk for sexual dysfunction. Women who had CNS tumors in childhood frequently reported problems like difficulty in sexual arousal, low sexual satisfaction, infrequent sexual activity, and fewer sexual partners, compared with survivors of other cancers. Survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and those who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) also showed varying degrees of impaired sexual function, compared with the general population. The HSCT group showed significant testicular damage, including reduced testicular volumes, low testosterone levels, and low sperm counts.

Psychological factors: These factors, such as emotional distress, play a significant role in sexual dysfunction among CCS. Symptoms like anxiety, nervousness during sexual activity, and depression are commonly reported by those with sexual dysfunction. The connection between body image and sexual function is complex. Many CCS with sexual dysfunction express concern about how others, particularly their partners, perceived their altered body image due to cancer and its treatment.

Physiological factors: In male CCS, low serum testosterone levels and low lean muscle mass are linked to an increased risk for sexual dysfunction. Treatments involving alkylating agents or testicular radiation, and surgery or radiotherapy targeting the genitourinary organs or the hypothalamic-pituitary region, can lead to various physiological and endocrine disorders, contributing to sexual dysfunction. Despite these risks, there is a lack of research evaluating sexual function through the lens of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and neuroendocrine pathways.
 

This story was translated from Univadis Italy using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Childhood cancers represent a diverse group of neoplasms, and thanks to advances in treatment, survival rates have improved significantly. Today, more than 80%-85% of children diagnosed with cancer in developed countries survive into adulthood.

This increase in survival has brought new challenges, however. Compared with the general population, childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at a notably higher risk for early mortality, developing secondary cancers, and experiencing various long-term clinical and psychosocial issues stemming from their disease or its treatment.

Long-term follow-up care for CCS is a complex and evolving field. Despite ongoing efforts to establish global and national guidelines, current evidence indicates that the care and management of these patients remain suboptimal.

Sexual dysfunction is a common and significant late effect among CCS. The disruptions caused by cancer and its treatment can interfere with normal physiological and psychological development, leading to issues with sexual function. This aspect of health is critical as it influences not just physical well-being but also psychosocial, developmental, and emotional health.
 

Characteristics and Mechanisms

Sexual functioning encompasses the physiological and psychological aspects of sexual behavior, including desire, arousal, orgasm, sexual pleasure, and overall satisfaction.

As CCS reach adolescence or adulthood, they often face sexual and reproductive issues, particularly as they enter romantic relationships.

Sexual functioning is a complex process that relies on the interaction of various factors, including physiological health, psychosexual development, romantic relationships, body image, and desire.

Despite its importance, the impact of childhood cancer on sexual function is often overlooked, even though cancer and its treatments can have lifelong effects. 
 

Sexual Function in CCS

A recent review aimed to summarize the existing research on sexual function among CCS, highlighting assessment tools, key stages of psychosexual development, common sexual problems, and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction.

The review study included 22 studies published between 2000 and 2022, comprising two qualitative, six cohort, and 14 cross-sectional studies.

Most CCS reached all key stages of psychosexual development at an average age of 29.8 years. Although some milestones were achieved later than is typical, many survivors felt they reached these stages at the appropriate time. Sexual initiation was less common among those who had undergone intensive neurotoxic treatments, such as those diagnosed with brain tumors or leukemia in childhood.

In a cross-sectional study of CCS aged 17-39 years, about one third had never engaged in sexual intercourse, 41.4% reported never experiencing sexual attraction, 44.8% were dissatisfied with their sex lives, and many rarely felt sexually attractive to others. Another study found that common issues among CCS included a lack of interest in sex (30%), difficulty enjoying sex (24%), and difficulty becoming aroused (23%). However, comparing and analyzing these problems was challenging due to the lack of standardized assessment criteria.

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among CCS ranged from 12.3% to 46.5%. For males, the prevalence ranged from 12.3% to 54.0%, while for females, it ranged from 19.9% to 57.0%.
 

Factors Influencing Sexual Function

The review identified the following four categories of factors influencing sexual function in CCS: Demographic, treatment-related, psychological, and physiological.

Demographic factors: Gender, age, education level, relationship status, income level, and race all play roles in sexual function.

Female survivors reported more severe sexual dysfunction and poorer sexual health than did male survivors. Age at cancer diagnosis, age at evaluation, and the time since diagnosis were closely linked to sexual experiences. Patients diagnosed with cancer during childhood tended to report better sexual function than those diagnosed during adolescence.

Treatment-related factors: The type of cancer and intensity of treatment, along with surgical history, were significant factors. Surgeries involving the spinal cord or sympathetic nerves, as well as a history of prostate or pelvic surgery, were strongly associated with erectile dysfunction in men. In women, pelvic surgeries and treatments to the pelvic area were commonly linked to sexual dysfunction.

The association between treatment intensity and sexual function was noted across several studies, although the results were not always consistent. For example, testicular radiation above 10 Gy was positively correlated with sexual dysfunction. Women who underwent more intensive treatments were more likely to report issues in multiple areas of sexual function, while men in this group were less likely to have children.

Among female CCS, certain types of cancer, such as germ cell tumors, renal tumors, and leukemia, present a higher risk for sexual dysfunction. Women who had CNS tumors in childhood frequently reported problems like difficulty in sexual arousal, low sexual satisfaction, infrequent sexual activity, and fewer sexual partners, compared with survivors of other cancers. Survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and those who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) also showed varying degrees of impaired sexual function, compared with the general population. The HSCT group showed significant testicular damage, including reduced testicular volumes, low testosterone levels, and low sperm counts.

Psychological factors: These factors, such as emotional distress, play a significant role in sexual dysfunction among CCS. Symptoms like anxiety, nervousness during sexual activity, and depression are commonly reported by those with sexual dysfunction. The connection between body image and sexual function is complex. Many CCS with sexual dysfunction express concern about how others, particularly their partners, perceived their altered body image due to cancer and its treatment.

Physiological factors: In male CCS, low serum testosterone levels and low lean muscle mass are linked to an increased risk for sexual dysfunction. Treatments involving alkylating agents or testicular radiation, and surgery or radiotherapy targeting the genitourinary organs or the hypothalamic-pituitary region, can lead to various physiological and endocrine disorders, contributing to sexual dysfunction. Despite these risks, there is a lack of research evaluating sexual function through the lens of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and neuroendocrine pathways.
 

This story was translated from Univadis Italy using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Childhood cancers represent a diverse group of neoplasms, and thanks to advances in treatment, survival rates have improved significantly. Today, more than 80%-85% of children diagnosed with cancer in developed countries survive into adulthood.

This increase in survival has brought new challenges, however. Compared with the general population, childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at a notably higher risk for early mortality, developing secondary cancers, and experiencing various long-term clinical and psychosocial issues stemming from their disease or its treatment.

Long-term follow-up care for CCS is a complex and evolving field. Despite ongoing efforts to establish global and national guidelines, current evidence indicates that the care and management of these patients remain suboptimal.

Sexual dysfunction is a common and significant late effect among CCS. The disruptions caused by cancer and its treatment can interfere with normal physiological and psychological development, leading to issues with sexual function. This aspect of health is critical as it influences not just physical well-being but also psychosocial, developmental, and emotional health.
 

Characteristics and Mechanisms

Sexual functioning encompasses the physiological and psychological aspects of sexual behavior, including desire, arousal, orgasm, sexual pleasure, and overall satisfaction.

As CCS reach adolescence or adulthood, they often face sexual and reproductive issues, particularly as they enter romantic relationships.

Sexual functioning is a complex process that relies on the interaction of various factors, including physiological health, psychosexual development, romantic relationships, body image, and desire.

Despite its importance, the impact of childhood cancer on sexual function is often overlooked, even though cancer and its treatments can have lifelong effects. 
 

Sexual Function in CCS

A recent review aimed to summarize the existing research on sexual function among CCS, highlighting assessment tools, key stages of psychosexual development, common sexual problems, and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction.

The review study included 22 studies published between 2000 and 2022, comprising two qualitative, six cohort, and 14 cross-sectional studies.

Most CCS reached all key stages of psychosexual development at an average age of 29.8 years. Although some milestones were achieved later than is typical, many survivors felt they reached these stages at the appropriate time. Sexual initiation was less common among those who had undergone intensive neurotoxic treatments, such as those diagnosed with brain tumors or leukemia in childhood.

In a cross-sectional study of CCS aged 17-39 years, about one third had never engaged in sexual intercourse, 41.4% reported never experiencing sexual attraction, 44.8% were dissatisfied with their sex lives, and many rarely felt sexually attractive to others. Another study found that common issues among CCS included a lack of interest in sex (30%), difficulty enjoying sex (24%), and difficulty becoming aroused (23%). However, comparing and analyzing these problems was challenging due to the lack of standardized assessment criteria.

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among CCS ranged from 12.3% to 46.5%. For males, the prevalence ranged from 12.3% to 54.0%, while for females, it ranged from 19.9% to 57.0%.
 

Factors Influencing Sexual Function

The review identified the following four categories of factors influencing sexual function in CCS: Demographic, treatment-related, psychological, and physiological.

Demographic factors: Gender, age, education level, relationship status, income level, and race all play roles in sexual function.

Female survivors reported more severe sexual dysfunction and poorer sexual health than did male survivors. Age at cancer diagnosis, age at evaluation, and the time since diagnosis were closely linked to sexual experiences. Patients diagnosed with cancer during childhood tended to report better sexual function than those diagnosed during adolescence.

Treatment-related factors: The type of cancer and intensity of treatment, along with surgical history, were significant factors. Surgeries involving the spinal cord or sympathetic nerves, as well as a history of prostate or pelvic surgery, were strongly associated with erectile dysfunction in men. In women, pelvic surgeries and treatments to the pelvic area were commonly linked to sexual dysfunction.

The association between treatment intensity and sexual function was noted across several studies, although the results were not always consistent. For example, testicular radiation above 10 Gy was positively correlated with sexual dysfunction. Women who underwent more intensive treatments were more likely to report issues in multiple areas of sexual function, while men in this group were less likely to have children.

Among female CCS, certain types of cancer, such as germ cell tumors, renal tumors, and leukemia, present a higher risk for sexual dysfunction. Women who had CNS tumors in childhood frequently reported problems like difficulty in sexual arousal, low sexual satisfaction, infrequent sexual activity, and fewer sexual partners, compared with survivors of other cancers. Survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and those who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) also showed varying degrees of impaired sexual function, compared with the general population. The HSCT group showed significant testicular damage, including reduced testicular volumes, low testosterone levels, and low sperm counts.

Psychological factors: These factors, such as emotional distress, play a significant role in sexual dysfunction among CCS. Symptoms like anxiety, nervousness during sexual activity, and depression are commonly reported by those with sexual dysfunction. The connection between body image and sexual function is complex. Many CCS with sexual dysfunction express concern about how others, particularly their partners, perceived their altered body image due to cancer and its treatment.

Physiological factors: In male CCS, low serum testosterone levels and low lean muscle mass are linked to an increased risk for sexual dysfunction. Treatments involving alkylating agents or testicular radiation, and surgery or radiotherapy targeting the genitourinary organs or the hypothalamic-pituitary region, can lead to various physiological and endocrine disorders, contributing to sexual dysfunction. Despite these risks, there is a lack of research evaluating sexual function through the lens of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and neuroendocrine pathways.
 

This story was translated from Univadis Italy using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Edema in the feet and legs is a common complaint in our practices. It can cause pain, weakness, heaviness, discomfort, limited movement, and a negative body image. Medications can contribute to edema, either alone or in combination with other health issues.

Edema is also associated with advanced age, female sex, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, pain, lack of physical activity, and mobility limitations. These factors often necessitate medication prescriptions, which can aggravate the problem. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat or prevent medication-induced edema.

There are four main causes of edema, and all can facilitate medication-induced edema.

• Increased capillary pressure. Conditions such as heart failure, renal dysfunction, venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, and cirrhosis can increase capillary pressure, leading to edema.
• Decreased oncotic pressure. Hypoalbuminemia, a primary cause of reduced colloid oncotic pressure, can result from nephrotic syndrome, diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephropathy, amyloidosis, nephropathies, cirrhosis, chronic liver disease, and malabsorption or malnutrition.
• Increased capillary permeability. Vascular injury, often associated with diabetes, can increase capillary permeability and contribute to edema.
• Impaired lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic obstruction is common in patients with lymphedema, tumors, inflammation, fibrosis, certain infections, surgery, and congenital anomalies. Conditions such as thyroid disorders can also cause an increase in interstitial albumin and other proteins without a corresponding increase in lymphatic flow, leading to lymphedema.

Medications That Can Cause Edema

• Calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Drugs such as nifedipine and amlodipine can increase hydrostatic pressure by causing selective vasodilation of precapillary vessels, leading to increased intracapillary pressures. Newer lipophilic CCBs (eg, levamlodipine) exhibit lower rates of edema. Reducing the dose is often effective. Diuretics are not very effective for vasodilation-induced edema. Combining CCBs with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which induce postcapillary dilation and normalize intracapillary pressure, may reduce fluid leakage into the interstitial space. This combination may be more beneficial than high-dose CCB monotherapy.
• Thiazolidinedione (eg, pioglitazone). These increase vascular permeability and hydrostatic pressure. They work by stimulating the peroxisome proliferator–activated gamma receptor, increasing vascular endothelial permeability, vascular endothelial growth factor secretion, and renal retention of sodium and fluids. Because of other adverse effects, their use is now limited.
• Agents for neuropathic pain (gabapentin and pregabalin). These drugs can induce selective vasodilation of arterioles through a mechanism similar to that of CCBs, causing increased intracapillary pressures. Edema usually begins within the first month of treatment or dose increase and often regresses after dose reduction or drug discontinuation.
• Antiparkinsonian dopamine agonists. These increase hydrostatic pressure by reducing sympathetic tone and dilating arterioles through alpha-2 adrenergic receptor activity.
• New antipsychotics. Drugs like clozapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone can increase hydrostatic pressure through antagonistic effects on alpha-1 adrenergic receptors, causing vasodilation.
• Nitrates. These drugs increase hydrostatic pressure by causing preferential venous dilation, leading to increased venous pooling.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs can increase hydrostatic pressure by inhibiting vasodilation of afferent renal arterioles, decreasing the glomerular filtration rate, and stimulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which leads to sodium and water retention. These adverse effects warrant cautious use of these agents.
• ACE inhibitors. Drugs such as enalapril and ramipril can increase vascular permeability. They reduce the metabolism and accumulation of bradykinin, which increases vascular permeability and fluid leakage. These effects are rare and are usually related to allergic responses.
• Insulin. Insulin decreases capillary oncotic pressure and increases vascular permeability. Rapid correction of hyperglycemia can cause a loss of oncotic pressure, while chronic hyperglycemia can damage vascular membranes, increasing permeability. These effects are generally benign and can be managed with careful dose titration, sodium restriction, or diuretics.
• Steroids. Steroids with mineralocorticoid activity can increase renal sodium and water retention, leading to increased blood volume. Fludrocortisone has the highest mineralocorticoid activity, while dexamethasone and methylprednisolone have negligible activity.

Implications

Understanding how these medications cause edema is important for effective management. For example, in the case of those causing edema due to reduced oncotic pressure, like insulin, slow dose titrations can help adapt to osmolarity changes. For drugs causing edema due to increased hydrostatic pressure, diuretics are more effective in acute management.

The key takeaways from this review are:

• Awareness of drug-induced edema. Many drugs besides CCBs can cause edema.
• Combination therapy. Combining ACE inhibitors or ARBs with CCBs can prevent or reduce CCB-induced edema.
• Edema management strategies. Strategies to manage or prevent edema should include dose reductions or replacement of the problematic medication, especially in severe or refractory cases.

Dr. Wajngarten, professor of cardiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

This story was translated from the Medscape Portuguese edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Edema in the feet and legs is a common complaint in our practices. It can cause pain, weakness, heaviness, discomfort, limited movement, and a negative body image. Medications can contribute to edema, either alone or in combination with other health issues.

Edema is also associated with advanced age, female sex, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, pain, lack of physical activity, and mobility limitations. These factors often necessitate medication prescriptions, which can aggravate the problem. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat or prevent medication-induced edema.

There are four main causes of edema, and all can facilitate medication-induced edema.

• Increased capillary pressure. Conditions such as heart failure, renal dysfunction, venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, and cirrhosis can increase capillary pressure, leading to edema.
• Decreased oncotic pressure. Hypoalbuminemia, a primary cause of reduced colloid oncotic pressure, can result from nephrotic syndrome, diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephropathy, amyloidosis, nephropathies, cirrhosis, chronic liver disease, and malabsorption or malnutrition.
• Increased capillary permeability. Vascular injury, often associated with diabetes, can increase capillary permeability and contribute to edema.
• Impaired lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic obstruction is common in patients with lymphedema, tumors, inflammation, fibrosis, certain infections, surgery, and congenital anomalies. Conditions such as thyroid disorders can also cause an increase in interstitial albumin and other proteins without a corresponding increase in lymphatic flow, leading to lymphedema.

Medications That Can Cause Edema

• Calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Drugs such as nifedipine and amlodipine can increase hydrostatic pressure by causing selective vasodilation of precapillary vessels, leading to increased intracapillary pressures. Newer lipophilic CCBs (eg, levamlodipine) exhibit lower rates of edema. Reducing the dose is often effective. Diuretics are not very effective for vasodilation-induced edema. Combining CCBs with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which induce postcapillary dilation and normalize intracapillary pressure, may reduce fluid leakage into the interstitial space. This combination may be more beneficial than high-dose CCB monotherapy.
• Thiazolidinedione (eg, pioglitazone). These increase vascular permeability and hydrostatic pressure. They work by stimulating the peroxisome proliferator–activated gamma receptor, increasing vascular endothelial permeability, vascular endothelial growth factor secretion, and renal retention of sodium and fluids. Because of other adverse effects, their use is now limited.
• Agents for neuropathic pain (gabapentin and pregabalin). These drugs can induce selective vasodilation of arterioles through a mechanism similar to that of CCBs, causing increased intracapillary pressures. Edema usually begins within the first month of treatment or dose increase and often regresses after dose reduction or drug discontinuation.
• Antiparkinsonian dopamine agonists. These increase hydrostatic pressure by reducing sympathetic tone and dilating arterioles through alpha-2 adrenergic receptor activity.
• New antipsychotics. Drugs like clozapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone can increase hydrostatic pressure through antagonistic effects on alpha-1 adrenergic receptors, causing vasodilation.
• Nitrates. These drugs increase hydrostatic pressure by causing preferential venous dilation, leading to increased venous pooling.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs can increase hydrostatic pressure by inhibiting vasodilation of afferent renal arterioles, decreasing the glomerular filtration rate, and stimulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which leads to sodium and water retention. These adverse effects warrant cautious use of these agents.
• ACE inhibitors. Drugs such as enalapril and ramipril can increase vascular permeability. They reduce the metabolism and accumulation of bradykinin, which increases vascular permeability and fluid leakage. These effects are rare and are usually related to allergic responses.
• Insulin. Insulin decreases capillary oncotic pressure and increases vascular permeability. Rapid correction of hyperglycemia can cause a loss of oncotic pressure, while chronic hyperglycemia can damage vascular membranes, increasing permeability. These effects are generally benign and can be managed with careful dose titration, sodium restriction, or diuretics.
• Steroids. Steroids with mineralocorticoid activity can increase renal sodium and water retention, leading to increased blood volume. Fludrocortisone has the highest mineralocorticoid activity, while dexamethasone and methylprednisolone have negligible activity.

Implications

Understanding how these medications cause edema is important for effective management. For example, in the case of those causing edema due to reduced oncotic pressure, like insulin, slow dose titrations can help adapt to osmolarity changes. For drugs causing edema due to increased hydrostatic pressure, diuretics are more effective in acute management.

The key takeaways from this review are:

• Awareness of drug-induced edema. Many drugs besides CCBs can cause edema.
• Combination therapy. Combining ACE inhibitors or ARBs with CCBs can prevent or reduce CCB-induced edema.
• Edema management strategies. Strategies to manage or prevent edema should include dose reductions or replacement of the problematic medication, especially in severe or refractory cases.

Dr. Wajngarten, professor of cardiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

This story was translated from the Medscape Portuguese edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Edema in the feet and legs is a common complaint in our practices. It can cause pain, weakness, heaviness, discomfort, limited movement, and a negative body image. Medications can contribute to edema, either alone or in combination with other health issues.

Edema is also associated with advanced age, female sex, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, pain, lack of physical activity, and mobility limitations. These factors often necessitate medication prescriptions, which can aggravate the problem. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat or prevent medication-induced edema.

There are four main causes of edema, and all can facilitate medication-induced edema.

• Increased capillary pressure. Conditions such as heart failure, renal dysfunction, venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, and cirrhosis can increase capillary pressure, leading to edema.
• Decreased oncotic pressure. Hypoalbuminemia, a primary cause of reduced colloid oncotic pressure, can result from nephrotic syndrome, diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephropathy, amyloidosis, nephropathies, cirrhosis, chronic liver disease, and malabsorption or malnutrition.
• Increased capillary permeability. Vascular injury, often associated with diabetes, can increase capillary permeability and contribute to edema.
• Impaired lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic obstruction is common in patients with lymphedema, tumors, inflammation, fibrosis, certain infections, surgery, and congenital anomalies. Conditions such as thyroid disorders can also cause an increase in interstitial albumin and other proteins without a corresponding increase in lymphatic flow, leading to lymphedema.

Medications That Can Cause Edema

• Calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Drugs such as nifedipine and amlodipine can increase hydrostatic pressure by causing selective vasodilation of precapillary vessels, leading to increased intracapillary pressures. Newer lipophilic CCBs (eg, levamlodipine) exhibit lower rates of edema. Reducing the dose is often effective. Diuretics are not very effective for vasodilation-induced edema. Combining CCBs with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which induce postcapillary dilation and normalize intracapillary pressure, may reduce fluid leakage into the interstitial space. This combination may be more beneficial than high-dose CCB monotherapy.
• Thiazolidinedione (eg, pioglitazone). These increase vascular permeability and hydrostatic pressure. They work by stimulating the peroxisome proliferator–activated gamma receptor, increasing vascular endothelial permeability, vascular endothelial growth factor secretion, and renal retention of sodium and fluids. Because of other adverse effects, their use is now limited.
• Agents for neuropathic pain (gabapentin and pregabalin). These drugs can induce selective vasodilation of arterioles through a mechanism similar to that of CCBs, causing increased intracapillary pressures. Edema usually begins within the first month of treatment or dose increase and often regresses after dose reduction or drug discontinuation.
• Antiparkinsonian dopamine agonists. These increase hydrostatic pressure by reducing sympathetic tone and dilating arterioles through alpha-2 adrenergic receptor activity.
• New antipsychotics. Drugs like clozapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone can increase hydrostatic pressure through antagonistic effects on alpha-1 adrenergic receptors, causing vasodilation.
• Nitrates. These drugs increase hydrostatic pressure by causing preferential venous dilation, leading to increased venous pooling.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs can increase hydrostatic pressure by inhibiting vasodilation of afferent renal arterioles, decreasing the glomerular filtration rate, and stimulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which leads to sodium and water retention. These adverse effects warrant cautious use of these agents.
• ACE inhibitors. Drugs such as enalapril and ramipril can increase vascular permeability. They reduce the metabolism and accumulation of bradykinin, which increases vascular permeability and fluid leakage. These effects are rare and are usually related to allergic responses.
• Insulin. Insulin decreases capillary oncotic pressure and increases vascular permeability. Rapid correction of hyperglycemia can cause a loss of oncotic pressure, while chronic hyperglycemia can damage vascular membranes, increasing permeability. These effects are generally benign and can be managed with careful dose titration, sodium restriction, or diuretics.
• Steroids. Steroids with mineralocorticoid activity can increase renal sodium and water retention, leading to increased blood volume. Fludrocortisone has the highest mineralocorticoid activity, while dexamethasone and methylprednisolone have negligible activity.

Implications

Understanding how these medications cause edema is important for effective management. For example, in the case of those causing edema due to reduced oncotic pressure, like insulin, slow dose titrations can help adapt to osmolarity changes. For drugs causing edema due to increased hydrostatic pressure, diuretics are more effective in acute management.

The key takeaways from this review are:

• Awareness of drug-induced edema. Many drugs besides CCBs can cause edema.
• Combination therapy. Combining ACE inhibitors or ARBs with CCBs can prevent or reduce CCB-induced edema.
• Edema management strategies. Strategies to manage or prevent edema should include dose reductions or replacement of the problematic medication, especially in severe or refractory cases.

Dr. Wajngarten, professor of cardiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

This story was translated from the Medscape Portuguese edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, alcoholic hand sanitizers have become widely accessible nationwide. They can pose a problem, especially for emergency departments, when alcohol-dependent patients start drinking them. One example that demonstrates the challenge of diagnosing alcohol abuse is the medical history of a young man, as reported by Mahmoud El Hussein, MD, and colleagues from Hôpital Lariboisière in Paris, France.

Presentation and History

A 26-year-old man presented with severe abdominal pain at the emergency department. Upon arrival, he was hemodynamically stable but nervous and verbally aggressive at times. The patient reported no relevant preexisting conditions and was not taking any medications.

Findings

Upon initial physical examination, the patient had a soft, diffusely tender abdomen; tachycardia; and notably poor hygiene. The patient was afebrile. An ECG confirmed the tachycardia but showed no signs of ischemia. Blood work, except for slightly elevated liver values, did not reveal any abnormalities, particularly ruling out bleeding or kidney disease.

A urease rapid test to rule out kidney stones also showed no pathologic findings. In consultation with the surgical department, a CT scan of the abdomen was performed to rule out organ perforation, volvulus, or mesenteric ischemia. Only signs of fatty liver were found.
 

A Neighbor’s Tip

During all examinations, the patient’s abdomen was repeatedly palpated to promptly detect signs of an acute abdomen. However, there was never any defense tension at any point.

Intravenous analgesics and proton pump inhibitors (ie, paracetamol, phloroglucin, and pantoprazole) did not relieve the patient’s symptoms. Morphine was administered intravenously for sedation.

Only after a frustrating diagnostic process did a neighbor of the patient inform a nurse that he suspected the patient of stealing and consuming hand sanitizer. With the patient’s consent, a blood alcohol test was performed, revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2% (2 g/L). A urine test, also conducted with the patient’s consent, tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol. Additional tests showed the following results:

• Venous pH: 7.29 (normal, 7.32-7.38)
• Anion gap (mEq/L): 14 (normal, 3-9)
• Ketone bodies (mmol/L): 0.2 (normal, < 0.6)
• Calculated serum osmolality (mOsm/kg): 292 (normal, 285-295)
• Measured serum osmolality (mOsm/kg): 320 (normal, 285-295)
• Osmolality gap (mOsm/kg): 2 (normal, < 10)

The patient was informed of the test results and confessed to feigning abdominal pain. He was dependent on alcohol and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The patient had stolen seven 475-mL bottles of hand sanitizer and consumed one and a half in the past 4-6 hours. According to the authors, the sanitizer consisted of 80% ethanol, 1.45% glycerol, and 0.13% hydrogen peroxide.
 

Discussion

In Germany, alcohol consumption results in approximately €57 billion in direct economic costs annually, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Health. In 2021, about 7.9 million people aged 18-64 years consumed alcohol in a risky manner (approximately 9.6% of the German population). About 9 million people (approximately 11%) were classified as alcoholics.

The authors of the case report pointed out that those in the advanced stages of alcohol addiction often consume any alcoholic liquid they can access. This includes alcoholic hand sanitizers commonly used in hospitals. Therefore, staff in emergency departments, where potential abusers encounter a wide range of potential abuse items, should exercise caution.

Although hand sanitizers are mainly composed of ethanol, they may also contain isopropanol, methanol, or acetone. Methanol poisoning can cause abdominal pain, visual disturbances, central nervous system damage, and death. Other alcohols such as ethylene glycol, commonly found in antifreeze, can distort blood values (lactate) and complicate a correct diagnosis.

Physicians working in emergency departments should proceed with caution when suspecting alcohol abuse. Questioning the patient’s environment and determining additional laboratory parameters (such as osmolality gap in the case report) can help unmask substance abuse if it is in doubt.

This story was translated from Univadis Germany, which is part of the Medscape professional network, using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, alcoholic hand sanitizers have become widely accessible nationwide. They can pose a problem, especially for emergency departments, when alcohol-dependent patients start drinking them. One example that demonstrates the challenge of diagnosing alcohol abuse is the medical history of a young man, as reported by Mahmoud El Hussein, MD, and colleagues from Hôpital Lariboisière in Paris, France.

Presentation and History

A 26-year-old man presented with severe abdominal pain at the emergency department. Upon arrival, he was hemodynamically stable but nervous and verbally aggressive at times. The patient reported no relevant preexisting conditions and was not taking any medications.

Findings

Upon initial physical examination, the patient had a soft, diffusely tender abdomen; tachycardia; and notably poor hygiene. The patient was afebrile. An ECG confirmed the tachycardia but showed no signs of ischemia. Blood work, except for slightly elevated liver values, did not reveal any abnormalities, particularly ruling out bleeding or kidney disease.

A urease rapid test to rule out kidney stones also showed no pathologic findings. In consultation with the surgical department, a CT scan of the abdomen was performed to rule out organ perforation, volvulus, or mesenteric ischemia. Only signs of fatty liver were found.
 

A Neighbor’s Tip

During all examinations, the patient’s abdomen was repeatedly palpated to promptly detect signs of an acute abdomen. However, there was never any defense tension at any point.

Intravenous analgesics and proton pump inhibitors (ie, paracetamol, phloroglucin, and pantoprazole) did not relieve the patient’s symptoms. Morphine was administered intravenously for sedation.

Only after a frustrating diagnostic process did a neighbor of the patient inform a nurse that he suspected the patient of stealing and consuming hand sanitizer. With the patient’s consent, a blood alcohol test was performed, revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2% (2 g/L). A urine test, also conducted with the patient’s consent, tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol. Additional tests showed the following results:

• Venous pH: 7.29 (normal, 7.32-7.38)
• Anion gap (mEq/L): 14 (normal, 3-9)
• Ketone bodies (mmol/L): 0.2 (normal, < 0.6)
• Calculated serum osmolality (mOsm/kg): 292 (normal, 285-295)
• Measured serum osmolality (mOsm/kg): 320 (normal, 285-295)
• Osmolality gap (mOsm/kg): 2 (normal, < 10)

The patient was informed of the test results and confessed to feigning abdominal pain. He was dependent on alcohol and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The patient had stolen seven 475-mL bottles of hand sanitizer and consumed one and a half in the past 4-6 hours. According to the authors, the sanitizer consisted of 80% ethanol, 1.45% glycerol, and 0.13% hydrogen peroxide.
 

Discussion

In Germany, alcohol consumption results in approximately €57 billion in direct economic costs annually, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Health. In 2021, about 7.9 million people aged 18-64 years consumed alcohol in a risky manner (approximately 9.6% of the German population). About 9 million people (approximately 11%) were classified as alcoholics.

The authors of the case report pointed out that those in the advanced stages of alcohol addiction often consume any alcoholic liquid they can access. This includes alcoholic hand sanitizers commonly used in hospitals. Therefore, staff in emergency departments, where potential abusers encounter a wide range of potential abuse items, should exercise caution.

Although hand sanitizers are mainly composed of ethanol, they may also contain isopropanol, methanol, or acetone. Methanol poisoning can cause abdominal pain, visual disturbances, central nervous system damage, and death. Other alcohols such as ethylene glycol, commonly found in antifreeze, can distort blood values (lactate) and complicate a correct diagnosis.

Physicians working in emergency departments should proceed with caution when suspecting alcohol abuse. Questioning the patient’s environment and determining additional laboratory parameters (such as osmolality gap in the case report) can help unmask substance abuse if it is in doubt.

This story was translated from Univadis Germany, which is part of the Medscape professional network, using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, alcoholic hand sanitizers have become widely accessible nationwide. They can pose a problem, especially for emergency departments, when alcohol-dependent patients start drinking them. One example that demonstrates the challenge of diagnosing alcohol abuse is the medical history of a young man, as reported by Mahmoud El Hussein, MD, and colleagues from Hôpital Lariboisière in Paris, France.

Presentation and History

A 26-year-old man presented with severe abdominal pain at the emergency department. Upon arrival, he was hemodynamically stable but nervous and verbally aggressive at times. The patient reported no relevant preexisting conditions and was not taking any medications.

Findings

Upon initial physical examination, the patient had a soft, diffusely tender abdomen; tachycardia; and notably poor hygiene. The patient was afebrile. An ECG confirmed the tachycardia but showed no signs of ischemia. Blood work, except for slightly elevated liver values, did not reveal any abnormalities, particularly ruling out bleeding or kidney disease.

A urease rapid test to rule out kidney stones also showed no pathologic findings. In consultation with the surgical department, a CT scan of the abdomen was performed to rule out organ perforation, volvulus, or mesenteric ischemia. Only signs of fatty liver were found.
 

A Neighbor’s Tip

During all examinations, the patient’s abdomen was repeatedly palpated to promptly detect signs of an acute abdomen. However, there was never any defense tension at any point.

Intravenous analgesics and proton pump inhibitors (ie, paracetamol, phloroglucin, and pantoprazole) did not relieve the patient’s symptoms. Morphine was administered intravenously for sedation.

Only after a frustrating diagnostic process did a neighbor of the patient inform a nurse that he suspected the patient of stealing and consuming hand sanitizer. With the patient’s consent, a blood alcohol test was performed, revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2% (2 g/L). A urine test, also conducted with the patient’s consent, tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol. Additional tests showed the following results:

• Venous pH: 7.29 (normal, 7.32-7.38)
• Anion gap (mEq/L): 14 (normal, 3-9)
• Ketone bodies (mmol/L): 0.2 (normal, < 0.6)
• Calculated serum osmolality (mOsm/kg): 292 (normal, 285-295)
• Measured serum osmolality (mOsm/kg): 320 (normal, 285-295)
• Osmolality gap (mOsm/kg): 2 (normal, < 10)

The patient was informed of the test results and confessed to feigning abdominal pain. He was dependent on alcohol and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The patient had stolen seven 475-mL bottles of hand sanitizer and consumed one and a half in the past 4-6 hours. According to the authors, the sanitizer consisted of 80% ethanol, 1.45% glycerol, and 0.13% hydrogen peroxide.
 

Discussion

In Germany, alcohol consumption results in approximately €57 billion in direct economic costs annually, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Health. In 2021, about 7.9 million people aged 18-64 years consumed alcohol in a risky manner (approximately 9.6% of the German population). About 9 million people (approximately 11%) were classified as alcoholics.

The authors of the case report pointed out that those in the advanced stages of alcohol addiction often consume any alcoholic liquid they can access. This includes alcoholic hand sanitizers commonly used in hospitals. Therefore, staff in emergency departments, where potential abusers encounter a wide range of potential abuse items, should exercise caution.

Although hand sanitizers are mainly composed of ethanol, they may also contain isopropanol, methanol, or acetone. Methanol poisoning can cause abdominal pain, visual disturbances, central nervous system damage, and death. Other alcohols such as ethylene glycol, commonly found in antifreeze, can distort blood values (lactate) and complicate a correct diagnosis.

Physicians working in emergency departments should proceed with caution when suspecting alcohol abuse. Questioning the patient’s environment and determining additional laboratory parameters (such as osmolality gap in the case report) can help unmask substance abuse if it is in doubt.

This story was translated from Univadis Germany, which is part of the Medscape professional network, using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

In the case of a hip fracture, operating on a patient with dementia can be a difficult decision to make. Indeed, surgery exposes patients with dementia to a higher mortality rate, more delirium and postoperative complications, and a greater loss of mobility than patients of the same age without cognitive impairments. For patients with dementia in institutional settings, survival is better for those who undergo surgery than for those who do not. But what about the prognosis of surgery vs no surgery for patients with dementia who live at home?

To answer this question, researchers in the United States conducted a cohort study using Medicare data. This retrospective study included patients aged 66 years and older with dementia who were living at home and not placed in institutions and who had a hip fracture between January 2017 and June 2018. Patients with incomplete observations, particularly regarding the location and type of residence (home/institution), were excluded from the analysis. Fractures were categorized as (i) fractures of the head and neck, (ii) pertrochanteric, (iii) subtrochanteric, and (iv) multiple/complex. The type and severity (mild, moderate, or severe) of dementia were identified using the diagnostic code list in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision.
 

Examining Mortality

The primary outcome was mortality at 30, 90, and 180 days. Secondary outcomes included hospital delirium; the need for subsequent hospitalization (within 6 months) or home health services (within 10 days); and intensive care interventions such as dialysis, intubation, resuscitation maneuvers, mechanical ventilation, or the insertion of a feeding tube.

Postoperative medical facility admissions were distinguished according to whether there was a plan to return home. To compare the surgery and nonsurgery groups, an inverse propensity score analysis was conducted within subgroups determined by fracture type, comorbidities (using the Elixhauser score), the person or entity responsible for admission (ie, physician, clinic, hospital, etc.), dual eligibility (Medicare and Medicaid), place of residence (ie, urban or rural), race, and sex. Dementia severity was estimated using a frailty index on the basis of evaluation tests that were systematically collected in the Medicare database.
 

Results Favored Surgery

Among 56,209 patients with dementia who were admitted for a hip fracture (73.0% women; mean age, 86.4 ± 7.0 years), 33,142 (59.0%) underwent surgery and 23,067 (41.0%) did not. Among surgically treated patients, 73.3% had fractures of the head or neck of the femur, and 40.2% had moderate to severe dementia. The nonsurgically treated fractures were 78.5% pertrochanteric. Comorbidities were evenly distributed between the two groups.

At 180 days, mortality was 31.8% in the surgery group compared with 45.7% in the nonsurgery group, resulting in a significant reduction in the unadjusted relative risk (RR) for death in favor of surgery (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.76; P < .001). Among patients with mild dementia and a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, mortality at 180 days was 26.5% among surgical patients and 34.9% among nonsurgical patients (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.76; P < .001). After the investigators adjusted for risk according to propensity score, the benefit of surgery remained significant at 30, 90, and 180 days, regardless of dementia severity. There was no significant difference in mortality for other types of hip fractures between the surgery and nonsurgery groups, however.

The adjusted RR for in-hospital delirium was 1.23 (P = .008), which was significant for the surgery group, but only for those with moderate to severe dementia. There were also fewer permanent placements (P < .001) among the surgically treated patients, and fewer patients with mild dementia required nurse care at home. There was no difference in resuscitation maneuvers between surgery and nonsurgery patients, whether the dementia was mild or not. For patients with a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, there was no difference in the likelihood of rehabilitation admission within 180 days, whether they were operated on or not.
 

Ethical Considerations

This study can inform discussions among healthcare professionals, patients, and patients’ families about which goals to set and which strategy to choose. The main interest of this study lies in its comparison of outcomes between patients with dementia who were operated on and those who were not, rather than comparing patients with and without dementia. Among patients with dementia living at home with a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, those who underwent surgery had a lower risk for death than those who did not, regardless of the severity of dementia.

It is noteworthy that less than two thirds of patients with dementia underwent surgery, which contradicts recommendations for almost routine surgery for patients with dementia. This observation raises questions about respecting patient wishes and advance directives when known, possible detrimental delays in referrals, and legal-medical issues.

Furthermore, the treatment choices of American surgeons are clearly influenced by the type of hip fracture. Fractures of the head and neck of the femur are typically treated with prosthetic arthroplasty, which simplifies postoperative care, compared with osteosynthesis. The latter procedure is more often used for extra-articular hip fractures but entails higher risks. While survival is an apparently more easily achievable goal through surgery, ethical considerations about other treatment objectives such as pain control, functional recovery, and treatment adequacy cannot be overlooked. It is worth noting that the French National Authority for Health issued recommendations in 2018 regarding the care pathway for patients hospitalized for a hip fracture within an orthogeriatric organization.

This story was translated from JIM, which is part of the Medscape Medical News professional network, using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

In the case of a hip fracture, operating on a patient with dementia can be a difficult decision to make. Indeed, surgery exposes patients with dementia to a higher mortality rate, more delirium and postoperative complications, and a greater loss of mobility than patients of the same age without cognitive impairments. For patients with dementia in institutional settings, survival is better for those who undergo surgery than for those who do not. But what about the prognosis of surgery vs no surgery for patients with dementia who live at home?

To answer this question, researchers in the United States conducted a cohort study using Medicare data. This retrospective study included patients aged 66 years and older with dementia who were living at home and not placed in institutions and who had a hip fracture between January 2017 and June 2018. Patients with incomplete observations, particularly regarding the location and type of residence (home/institution), were excluded from the analysis. Fractures were categorized as (i) fractures of the head and neck, (ii) pertrochanteric, (iii) subtrochanteric, and (iv) multiple/complex. The type and severity (mild, moderate, or severe) of dementia were identified using the diagnostic code list in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision.
 

Examining Mortality

The primary outcome was mortality at 30, 90, and 180 days. Secondary outcomes included hospital delirium; the need for subsequent hospitalization (within 6 months) or home health services (within 10 days); and intensive care interventions such as dialysis, intubation, resuscitation maneuvers, mechanical ventilation, or the insertion of a feeding tube.

Postoperative medical facility admissions were distinguished according to whether there was a plan to return home. To compare the surgery and nonsurgery groups, an inverse propensity score analysis was conducted within subgroups determined by fracture type, comorbidities (using the Elixhauser score), the person or entity responsible for admission (ie, physician, clinic, hospital, etc.), dual eligibility (Medicare and Medicaid), place of residence (ie, urban or rural), race, and sex. Dementia severity was estimated using a frailty index on the basis of evaluation tests that were systematically collected in the Medicare database.
 

Results Favored Surgery

Among 56,209 patients with dementia who were admitted for a hip fracture (73.0% women; mean age, 86.4 ± 7.0 years), 33,142 (59.0%) underwent surgery and 23,067 (41.0%) did not. Among surgically treated patients, 73.3% had fractures of the head or neck of the femur, and 40.2% had moderate to severe dementia. The nonsurgically treated fractures were 78.5% pertrochanteric. Comorbidities were evenly distributed between the two groups.

At 180 days, mortality was 31.8% in the surgery group compared with 45.7% in the nonsurgery group, resulting in a significant reduction in the unadjusted relative risk (RR) for death in favor of surgery (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.76; P < .001). Among patients with mild dementia and a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, mortality at 180 days was 26.5% among surgical patients and 34.9% among nonsurgical patients (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.76; P < .001). After the investigators adjusted for risk according to propensity score, the benefit of surgery remained significant at 30, 90, and 180 days, regardless of dementia severity. There was no significant difference in mortality for other types of hip fractures between the surgery and nonsurgery groups, however.

The adjusted RR for in-hospital delirium was 1.23 (P = .008), which was significant for the surgery group, but only for those with moderate to severe dementia. There were also fewer permanent placements (P < .001) among the surgically treated patients, and fewer patients with mild dementia required nurse care at home. There was no difference in resuscitation maneuvers between surgery and nonsurgery patients, whether the dementia was mild or not. For patients with a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, there was no difference in the likelihood of rehabilitation admission within 180 days, whether they were operated on or not.
 

Ethical Considerations

This study can inform discussions among healthcare professionals, patients, and patients’ families about which goals to set and which strategy to choose. The main interest of this study lies in its comparison of outcomes between patients with dementia who were operated on and those who were not, rather than comparing patients with and without dementia. Among patients with dementia living at home with a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, those who underwent surgery had a lower risk for death than those who did not, regardless of the severity of dementia.

It is noteworthy that less than two thirds of patients with dementia underwent surgery, which contradicts recommendations for almost routine surgery for patients with dementia. This observation raises questions about respecting patient wishes and advance directives when known, possible detrimental delays in referrals, and legal-medical issues.

Furthermore, the treatment choices of American surgeons are clearly influenced by the type of hip fracture. Fractures of the head and neck of the femur are typically treated with prosthetic arthroplasty, which simplifies postoperative care, compared with osteosynthesis. The latter procedure is more often used for extra-articular hip fractures but entails higher risks. While survival is an apparently more easily achievable goal through surgery, ethical considerations about other treatment objectives such as pain control, functional recovery, and treatment adequacy cannot be overlooked. It is worth noting that the French National Authority for Health issued recommendations in 2018 regarding the care pathway for patients hospitalized for a hip fracture within an orthogeriatric organization.

This story was translated from JIM, which is part of the Medscape Medical News professional network, using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

In the case of a hip fracture, operating on a patient with dementia can be a difficult decision to make. Indeed, surgery exposes patients with dementia to a higher mortality rate, more delirium and postoperative complications, and a greater loss of mobility than patients of the same age without cognitive impairments. For patients with dementia in institutional settings, survival is better for those who undergo surgery than for those who do not. But what about the prognosis of surgery vs no surgery for patients with dementia who live at home?

To answer this question, researchers in the United States conducted a cohort study using Medicare data. This retrospective study included patients aged 66 years and older with dementia who were living at home and not placed in institutions and who had a hip fracture between January 2017 and June 2018. Patients with incomplete observations, particularly regarding the location and type of residence (home/institution), were excluded from the analysis. Fractures were categorized as (i) fractures of the head and neck, (ii) pertrochanteric, (iii) subtrochanteric, and (iv) multiple/complex. The type and severity (mild, moderate, or severe) of dementia were identified using the diagnostic code list in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision.
 

Examining Mortality

The primary outcome was mortality at 30, 90, and 180 days. Secondary outcomes included hospital delirium; the need for subsequent hospitalization (within 6 months) or home health services (within 10 days); and intensive care interventions such as dialysis, intubation, resuscitation maneuvers, mechanical ventilation, or the insertion of a feeding tube.

Postoperative medical facility admissions were distinguished according to whether there was a plan to return home. To compare the surgery and nonsurgery groups, an inverse propensity score analysis was conducted within subgroups determined by fracture type, comorbidities (using the Elixhauser score), the person or entity responsible for admission (ie, physician, clinic, hospital, etc.), dual eligibility (Medicare and Medicaid), place of residence (ie, urban or rural), race, and sex. Dementia severity was estimated using a frailty index on the basis of evaluation tests that were systematically collected in the Medicare database.
 

Results Favored Surgery

Among 56,209 patients with dementia who were admitted for a hip fracture (73.0% women; mean age, 86.4 ± 7.0 years), 33,142 (59.0%) underwent surgery and 23,067 (41.0%) did not. Among surgically treated patients, 73.3% had fractures of the head or neck of the femur, and 40.2% had moderate to severe dementia. The nonsurgically treated fractures were 78.5% pertrochanteric. Comorbidities were evenly distributed between the two groups.

At 180 days, mortality was 31.8% in the surgery group compared with 45.7% in the nonsurgery group, resulting in a significant reduction in the unadjusted relative risk (RR) for death in favor of surgery (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.76; P < .001). Among patients with mild dementia and a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, mortality at 180 days was 26.5% among surgical patients and 34.9% among nonsurgical patients (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.76; P < .001). After the investigators adjusted for risk according to propensity score, the benefit of surgery remained significant at 30, 90, and 180 days, regardless of dementia severity. There was no significant difference in mortality for other types of hip fractures between the surgery and nonsurgery groups, however.

The adjusted RR for in-hospital delirium was 1.23 (P = .008), which was significant for the surgery group, but only for those with moderate to severe dementia. There were also fewer permanent placements (P < .001) among the surgically treated patients, and fewer patients with mild dementia required nurse care at home. There was no difference in resuscitation maneuvers between surgery and nonsurgery patients, whether the dementia was mild or not. For patients with a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, there was no difference in the likelihood of rehabilitation admission within 180 days, whether they were operated on or not.
 

Ethical Considerations

This study can inform discussions among healthcare professionals, patients, and patients’ families about which goals to set and which strategy to choose. The main interest of this study lies in its comparison of outcomes between patients with dementia who were operated on and those who were not, rather than comparing patients with and without dementia. Among patients with dementia living at home with a fracture of the head or neck of the femur, those who underwent surgery had a lower risk for death than those who did not, regardless of the severity of dementia.

It is noteworthy that less than two thirds of patients with dementia underwent surgery, which contradicts recommendations for almost routine surgery for patients with dementia. This observation raises questions about respecting patient wishes and advance directives when known, possible detrimental delays in referrals, and legal-medical issues.

Furthermore, the treatment choices of American surgeons are clearly influenced by the type of hip fracture. Fractures of the head and neck of the femur are typically treated with prosthetic arthroplasty, which simplifies postoperative care, compared with osteosynthesis. The latter procedure is more often used for extra-articular hip fractures but entails higher risks. While survival is an apparently more easily achievable goal through surgery, ethical considerations about other treatment objectives such as pain control, functional recovery, and treatment adequacy cannot be overlooked. It is worth noting that the French National Authority for Health issued recommendations in 2018 regarding the care pathway for patients hospitalized for a hip fracture within an orthogeriatric organization.

This story was translated from JIM, which is part of the Medscape Medical News professional network, using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.