Clinical

Many patients with diabetes loathe being called “diabetics” and people with autism may blanch at being called “autistic.” And studies, some reported on in JUCM News, have shown that the words a healthcare provider chooses actually influence outcomes. Using patient-first language (eg, “a patient with diabetes”) is a good first step toward a productive clinical relationship, whereas putting the disease first (“the diabetic patient”) can leave someone feeling demeaned or paint the clinician as uncaring, …

We all know that COVID-19 vaccines (like all vaccines) are not 100% effective in preventing infection. And we’re still learning just how long protection can be expected to last. As such, patients with symptoms that could be attributed to SARS-CoV-2 should be tested for the virus regardless of their vaccination status. An urgent care operation in Michigan learned this the hard way after they declined to test a 74-year-old woman who presented with sinus congestion, …

With the rate of COVID-19 cases and related deaths continuing to slow, there could be a collective sense of hope among the public that Thanksgiving 2021 will see a return to large gatherings without fear of infecting, or being infected by, loved ones. While the U.S. is currently in a healthier situation than it was a year ago, assuming the danger of the pandemic has passed would be both premature and dangerous. Rather, it’s time …

Even patients who recover quickly from COVID-19 infection may continue to struggle with brain fog months after they’re past physical symptoms of the virus, according to a new research letter published online by JAMA Network Open. Perhaps most surprisingly, cognitive dysfunction showed up in patients between 38 and 59 years more than 7 months post infection. The data were drawn from the cases of 740 patients tracked through a Mount Sinai Health System registry between …

At this time last year, COVID-19 vaccines were still months off and many Americans were grappling with the headaches of remote work and school, social distancing, and acute awareness of their own hygiene practices. One of the few upsides to that was reduction of exposure to seasonal influenza. Consequently, we had a relatively light flu season. Now, however, with several COVID-19 vaccines available and caseloads and hospitalizations slowly coming down, people are getting together in …

The good news that COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are on the decline among the general population is being tempered by the fact that cases among children are creeping up, as well as foreboding messages from federal and state health officials. The increase in pediatric infections was not unexpected, given that kids now have a couple of months of in-person school under their belts, and the trend could reverse itself once younger children are able …

The Food and Drug Administration approved booster doses for COVID-19 vaccines from both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, while also noting that the boosters can be given interchangeably with any of the other vaccines. There are still conditions regarding who is eligible to receive a booster, however. Patients who got two doses of the Moderna vaccine are eligible for a third dose of any COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after they received their second …

People who are opposed to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine often list unknown risks as their rationale for declining. Once you’ve pointed out the known risks of the virus, there’s not much else you can say to convince them. People who cite misinformation in decrying the value of the vacciune are another story however—and each week seems to bring more clinical evidence that could help you answer their concerns. The latest, called out in an article …

Hard evidence is catching up with anecdote when it comes to assessing the prospects for long-lasting effects of COVID-19. A new article based on review of 57 studies and published by JAMA Network Open reveals that mental health, pulmonary, and neurologic effects are the most likely to prevail in people who have survived SARS-CoV-2. This led the authors to conclude that long-term persistent acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) “must be factored into existing healthcare systems,” …

While patients in the midst of atrial fibrillation may feel like they’re having a heart attack, most often their fears are unfounded. Often, an electrocardiogram to confirm there’s no imminent risk and a recommendation to follow up with their primary care provider or cardiologist are enough to put their fears to rest (which can actually be helpful in mitigating the episode). This doesn’t mean there’s no risk associated with AFib, of course. Causative factors need …