Nontreatment of atrial fibrillation is associated with increased burden, chronicity, and comorbidity. Patients with atrial fibrillation left untreated with an oral anticoagulation are at elevated risk for death.

Young black gay men experience poorer antiretroviral medication adherence relative to their white counterparts. Longitudinal findings indicate that participants with high medication adherence are less likely to report daily/weekly alcohol or marijuana use, have higher family acceptance, and exhibit greater self-efficacy.

Ignition interlocks -- alcohol-sensing devices connected to a vehicle's ignition to prevent it from starting if a driver has a predetermined blood alcohol content (BAC) level -- are a promising avenue for preventing alcohol-involved driving. This study assessed the effects of laws requiring ignition interlocks for some or all drunk driving offenders on alcohol-involved fatal crashes. State laws requiring interlocks for all drunk driving offenders prevented an estimated 1,250 fatal crashes. Laws requiring interlocks for segments of high-risk drunk driving offenders may reduce alcohol-involved fatal crashes after two years of implementation.

Women with pregnancy in advanced age have a higher risk for hemorrhagic stroke in the postmenopausal period.

Adolescents exposed to stressful life events have been shown to be at increased risk for poor health as well as concurrent asthma. Major stressful events in adolescence are associated with future asthma in a general population sample and may represent an additional risk factor associated with susceptibility for development of adult-onset asthma.

In a Taiwanese study of 1 million insurance enrollees (4,891 with newly diagnosed hip fracture and 4,891 without hip fracture), it was found that those with current use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression were 2.17 times more likely to have a hip fracture than those who never used an SSRI. While this study does not identify a direct causal link, it can caution physicians about SSRI use in patients vulnerable for hip fracture.

This study reports the results of a survey with 115 patients receiving chronic opioid therapy to obtain information regarding how chronic opioid therapy was started. Chronic opioids were started following surgery (27%) or for the treatment of acute injury-related pain (27%). Many who initiated opioid therapy after surgery reported postoperative complications and many with injury-related pain reported follow-up corrective surgery, which led to the continuation of opioids.

This CME activity will provide participants with the opportunity to assess challenges in the care of patients with spasticity, in addition to reviewing appropriate use of chemodenervation and other treatments. The content for this activity is based on the satellite symposium, Spasticity Video Challenge: A Look at Methods for Addressing Difficult Cases, that was presented at AAPM&R in New Orleans, La. Upon completion of this activity, you may receive up to 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Begin this activity!

Researchers found that high salt intake may reduce fluid consumption, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation meant to simulate extended space travel. Study participants also reported they were hungrier when their food contained more salt.

Youths whose parents received the flu shot were almost three times more likely have a flu shot themselves, and they were also more likely to receive other vaccines, compared with youths whose parents did not have the flu shot. Similarly, children whose parents were not vaccinated against the flu were less likely to be vaccinated against diseases such as human papillomavirus, researchers report in Pediatrics.

The CMS released proposed payment policies for fiscal 2018 that aim to "reduce burdens for hospitals so they can focus on providing high quality care for patients," CMS Administrator Seema Verma said. The proposed rule would result in 2.9% higher inpatient operating prospective payments, reduce payments to long-term hospitals by nearly 3.75% and relax clinical quality measure reporting standards for hospitals with an EHR system.

HIMSS Analytics found that almost 80% of 125 health IT executives and professionals surveyed cited employee security awareness as their top health care data security concern, followed by 69% who cited exposure from partners or third parties and 54% who cited securing wireless or bring-your-own devices. Respondents said budget concerns, competing priorities, employee awareness and training, impact to clinical workflows and in-house expertise are the top barriers to adopting security programs.

Hospital Compare data showed Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals had lower 30-day mortality and readmission rates than non-VA hospitals, as well as higher scores on six patient safety indicators and equivalent scores on three others, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. However, VA hospitals scored lower than civilian hospitals on some behavioral health and patient experience measures, including clinician communication, noise, pain management, post-discharge planning and tobacco use treatment.

Australian researchers found that type 2 diabetes patients who participated in a three-week lifestyle modification program reduced their routine medication costs and the number of pills taken daily by 1.3 at one year. The findings in BMJ Open, based on 29 adults who participated in the program that combined restrictive diet, high exercise volume and education, revealed that 54% of patients stopped or decreased their medication use one year after the intervention, compared with 19% who increased or started taking new drugs.