News From Annals Of Internal Medicine: Nov. 15 2011
1. High CHADS2 Score Associated with Complications, Death Among A-Fib Patients on Oral Anticoagulants The CHADS2 score is a clinical prediction rule for estimating stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation, but the usefulness of the score in predicting risk of bleeding on anticoagulants is unknown. One point is assigned for a history of congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, or being older than 75. Two points are assigned for a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack.
Neuroscience 2011 Explores New Approaches To Treating Pain
Scientists are discovering promising approaches to treating pain, one of the most common and debilitating neurological complaints, according to research released at Neuroscience 2011, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health. Studies show that "mirror box therapy" can help reduce arthritis-related pain, and that a new opioid-like drug may be able to relieve acute pain without the euphoric effects that can lead to dependency.
Spinal Surgery Becomes More Cost-Effective Over Time
For specific causes of back pain, spinal surgery provides a good value over long-term follow-up, compared to nonsurgical treatment, concludes a report in the November 15th issue of Spine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. In patients meeting well-defined diagnostic criteria for spinal disorders, estimates of cost-effectiveness at four years' follow-up are more favorable than at two years. "Following effectiveness and cost patterns over time resulted in improved estimates of surgery's value, " according to the new research led by Anna N.