HealthDay (5/17, Reinberg) reports researchers surveyed “203 pediatricians who screened more than 59,400 infants or toddlers [for autism] at their 12-, 18- and 24-month check-ups” and found that “only 39% of toddlers who had failed a screening looking for autism signs were then referred to additional expert evaluation.” Karen Pierce, the study’s lead researcher, said in a press release, “The lack of referral follow-through was because pediatricians thought that the results of the screen were wrong.” However, Pierce added that “if a parent noted that they were concerned, the referral rate increased to 70%.” The findings were published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Parents’ Input Key When Screening Toddlers for Autism “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, May 17, 2021

HealthDay (5/17, Reinberg) reports researchers found “gender-diverse youths are three times more likely to be bullied and victimized than those who identify as male or female.” The findings were published in Pediatrics.

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— “Bullying, Violence Common for Gender-Diverse Youth “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay , May 17, 2021

HealthDay (5/14, Mann) reported researchers found that the increase in drinking during the pandemic is leading to “a serious spike in alcohol-related diseases.” The findings are “scheduled to be presented May 21at the virtual Digestive Disease Week meeting.”

MedPage Today (5/14, Swift) reported in the study, the researchers found that “inpatient consults for alcohol-related GI and liver diseases surged after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and remained elevated.”

Related Links:

— “Is Rise in Liver Damage Tied to More Drinking During Lockdowns? ” Denise Mann, HealthDay , May 14, 2021

The Washington Post (5/14, Cimons) reported, “The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health says up to two-thirds of women in perimenopause report cognitive problems, although estimates as to the extent of affected women differ among experts.” It’s also “still unclear what causes these deficits – hormones or other factors – and whether they continue postmenopause.” One recent study “of low-income women of color, some of them HIV infected, suggests that cognitive declines may linger into postmenopause for some, although demographics also may influence this, says Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), which published the research in its journal, Menopause.” Peter Schmidt, “chief of the behavioral endocrinology branch at the National Institute of Mental Health and one of the study authors, says: ‘I think it’s very clear that a subgroup of women do develop depression, for some for the first time in their lives, and there is evidence that declining estrogen contributes to its development.’”

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

HealthDay (5/14, Reinberg) reported researchers found “people with heart failure are 20% more likely than those with cancer to develop depression within five years of their diagnosis.” The findings were published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Related Links:

— “Depression Even More Common With Heart Failure Than Cancer ” Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, May 14, 2021