Certain Drugs Lower Risk Of Diabetes For Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Or Psoriasis
In a study that included nearly 14, 000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, the use of certain disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was found to lower the risk of diabetes, according to a study in the June 22/29 issue of JAMA. Two common systemic inflammatory conditions, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis, predispose patients to insulin resistance and may place patients at risk for diabetes mellitus (DM). The treatment of psoriasis and RA includes disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, which are directed against the inflammatory response, according to background information in the article.
Multifaceted Approach Best For Assessing Osteoporotic Fracture Risk: NPS, Australia
NPS has released a new education program for health professionals - Reducing osteoporotic fracture risk and building healthy bones - encouraging use of a multifaceted approach to help identify those most at risk of osteoporotic fractures and target interventions accordingly. NPS clinical adviser Dr Danielle Stowasser says osteoporosis poses a significant burden on society in terms of morbidity, mortality and health care costs. "Over 2.2 million Australians are affected by osteoporosis, and, with an ageing population, the rate of osteoporotic fractures is increasing.
New All-Party Parliamentary Group On Improving Patient Access To Medical Technology
The newly formed APPG on Improving Patient Access to Medical Technology will meet on Tuesday to discuss recent trends in elective care, and will consider how to safeguard patient access to cost effective procedures in the NHS now and in the future. Those gathered will scrutinise recent moves to limit the availability of elective procedures such as hip and knee replacements, spinal cord stimulation and bariatric surgery on the NHS. In a recent BBC Freedom of Information survey, 106 surgeons said that routine operations had been put on hold in their area, and 118 specialists said hip and knee surgery had been regarded as a procedure of low priority.