MD Magazine (1/22, Kunzmann) reports researchers “have observed a link between maternal postpartum depression and a risk of developing atopic dermatitis in childhood and adolescence.” After examining “a database of nearly 5000 US children born in metropolitan areas,” investigators found that “mothers are at a greater rate of depression in the postpartum period and beyond if their child suffers from the common skin condition.” What’s more, “the risk of depression…worsens with the severity or continuance of atopic dermatitis.” The findings were published in the January/February issue of the journal Dermatitis.

Related Links:

— “Postpartum Depression Linked to Pediatric Dermatitis, “Kevin Kunzmann, MD Magazine, January 22, 2020

MD Magazine (1/22, Rosenfeld) reports a study of over 700 women who experienced miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy found that one in six suffered from post-traumatic stress (PTSD). One month after the loss, “29% of women suffered post-traumatic stress and 24% experienced moderate to severe anxiety.” At nine months, the women who experienced ectopic pregnancy demonstrated higher PTSD, anxiety, and depression than those who had a miscarriage. The findings were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Related Links:

— “Miscarriage Associated with High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress, “Samara Rosenfeld, MD Magazine, January 22, 2020

MedPage Today (1/21, George) reports, “Benzodiazepines continued to be co-prescribed with opioids, despite risks that their concurrent use could lead to fatal overdose,” investigators from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics concluded in research (pdf) published online Jan. 17 in the National Health Statistics Reports. The report revealed that “from 2014 to 2016, benzodiazepines were prescribed at approximately 65.9 million office-based physician visits annually,” and “about 23 million (35%) of those office visits also involved an overlapping opioid prescription.” The study also found that “benzodiazepine prescribing rates were highest for women 65 and older,” while “women 65 and older also had the highest rate of co-prescribing, at 19 visits per 100 women.”

Related Links:

— “Opioid-Benzo Co-Prescribing Continues, Despite Risks, “Judy George, MedPage Today, January 21, 2020

HealthDay (1/21) reports, “While health problems from childhood exposure to lead and mercury are on the decline, these and other toxic chemicals continue to take a toll,” researchers concluded, finding that “exposure to other toxic chemicals – especially flame retardants and pesticides – led to more than one million cases of intellectual disability in the United States between 2001 and 2016.” Senior study author Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, “a professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine and population health at NYU Langone,” said, “Although people argue against costly regulations, unrestricted use of these chemicals is far more expensive in the long run, with American children bearing the largest burden.” The findings were published online ahead of print in the journal Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.

Related Links:

— “Flame Retardants, Pesticides Remain Threat to U.S. Health: Study, ” Kayla McKiski, HealthDay, January 21, 2020

Fox News (1/21, McKay) reports on its website that according to the 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, “45,390 American adults died from suicide in 2017 – the most recent available year of data collection – including 6,139 U.S. veterans.” The report “stated that the number of veteran suicides has exceeded 6,000 every single year between 2008 and 2017, and in 2017, the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times the rate for non-veteran adults.” The Department of Veterans Affairs “states that suicide prevention remains a primary focus,” and since 2017, the department “has been actively coordinating across its networks, as well as working in close partnership with the White House, Congress,” HHS, CDC, and local communities.

Related Links:

— “Veteran suicide rates remain alarmingly high despite years of reform, “Hollie McKay, Fox News, January 21, 2020