The AP (6/17, Johnson ) reports, “A new study documents lost opportunities to treat drug overdose survivors covered by the Medicare program – and illustrates the difficulty of managing chronic pain.” Medicare beneficiaries “who survived a drug overdose in 2020 were much more likely to later receive opioid painkillers than any medication to treat addiction – and some went on to die of an overdose.” In the study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, “researchers found 53% of overdose survivors received opioid painkillers while 4% received treatments such as buprenorphine. Only 6% filled prescriptions for the overdose antidote naloxone. Within a year of their overdose, 17% experienced a second nonfatal overdose and 1% died of an overdose.”

Related Links:

— “Lost chances to treat overdose survivors are documented in new Medicare study,”Carla K. Johnson, AP, June 17, 2024

Healio (6/14, Young) reported, “Individuals diagnosed with glaucoma may benefit from increased monitoring for dementia symptoms, particularly if they were diagnosed at age 80 years or older, according to a study in Ophthalmology.” In the study, “participants with glaucoma had a more than 35% increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, about 65% greater risk for vascular dementia and about 55% greater risk for all-cause dementia, regardless of sex.”

Related Links:

— “Increased monitoring for dementia may be needed in patients with glaucoma,”Kate Young, Healio, June 14, 2024

Cardiovascular Business (6/12, Walter ) reports, “Drinking alcohol on a regular basis is associated with a heightened risk of hypertension, according to a new meta-analysis published in Hypertension.” In the study, “overall, the team’s analysis revealed a ‘positive and almost linear association’ between alcohol consumption and hypertension. Risk ratios were 0.89 for individuals who drank no alcohol, 1.11 for those who drank at least 24 g/d, 1.22 for those who drank at least 36 g/d and 1.33 for those who drank at least 48 g/d.”

Related Links:

— “Even moderate alcohol use increases risk of high blood pressure, new meta-analysis confirms,”Michael Walter, Cardiovascular Business, June 12, 2024

HealthDay (6/12, Mundell ) reports, “Depression and memory declines may be closely linked in older people, new research suggests.” Senior study author Dr. Dorina Cadar said, “Our study shows that the relationship between depression and poor memory cuts both ways, with depressive symptoms preceding memory decline and memory decline linked to subsequent depressive symptoms.” However, “in contrast to the finding that memory and depression were closely intertwined, the research did not show a strong relationship between depression and another marker of brain health, verbal fluency.” The results were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Depression Could Take Toll on Memory With Age,”Ernie Mundell, HealthDay, June 12, 2024

Rheumatology Advisor (6/11, Maitlall) reports, “The high prevalence of mental health conditions among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) emphasizes the need for early screening, intervention, and tailored strategies to mitigate the impact of these conditions on patient outcomes, according to study results published in Rheumatology.” In the study, “among adults with SLE, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and depressive disorders were the 3 most common mental health conditions, corresponding to prevalence rates of 27.0%, 27.0%, and 22.4%, respectively.”

Related Links:

— “Emotional Wellness Impacts Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,”James Maitlall, MD, Rheumatology Advisor, June 11, 2024