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  • Frailty may be linked to infection history in older adults

    Infections were associated with a higher Frailty Index score in older adults, with obesity potentially influencing this relationship, researchers reported in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. The research involving 1,399 participants suggested that infections could accelerate molecular or immunological impairment, leading to frailty. MedPage Today (free registration) (3/5) Learn More

  • Kidney biomarkers may predict COVID-19 mortality

    A study identified biological markers that can predict three-month mortality in patients hospitalized with initially mild COVID-19 pneumonia. Researchers developed a predictive score using two renal markers and one inflammatory marker and "were surprised to discover that renal markers predicted the risk of transfer to intensive care and death, even though [a] majority of patients did not have established kidney failure," said co-author Dr. Pierre-Louis Tharaux. Medscape (3/6) Learn More

  • Research tracks risks, trends associated with long COVID

    A population-based study published in BMC Infectious Diseases suggested that adults with pre-pandemic respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis and recurrent upper respiratory infections may have a higher risk of long COVID after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. A research letter published in JAMA Network Open found that from 2022 to 2024, 8.3% of adults reported experiencing long COVID, compared with 51% in 2020. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (3/5) Learn More

  • Maine bill would cap prices, set prior authorization rules

    A bill under consideration in Maine would cap hospital charges at 200% of Medicare rates, limit annual increases, require insurers to honor prior authorizations for at least one year for treatment of chronic conditions and ban revocation of coverage for approved treatments within 90 days. Critical access and financially distressed hospitals would be exempt from the price caps. WCSH-TV/WLBZ-TV (Portland-Bangor, Maine) (3/4) Learn More

  • CFOs can rethink compliance to boost financial resilience

    Health care CFOs are reevaluating compliance, payer mix strategy and policy monitoring to enhance financial resilience amid increasing Medicaid uncertainty and regulatory complexity. Edward Blacher, CFO of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, shares strategies for navigating these challenges, emphasizing the need for proactive regulatory monitoring and diversification of payer mix. HealthLeaders Media (3/5) Learn More

  • Survey: Many sonographers lack cleaning guidelines

    An international survey by the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology found that only 37% of respondents had access to infection prevention guidelines for endocavity ultrasound procedures. The study, published in Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology and involving 1,436 participants across 105 countries, also reported that 46% had received training in transducer reprocessing. AuntMinnie (free registration) (3/2) Learn More

  • AI tool can help screen for structural heart disease

    A team at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, led by Dr. Pierre Elias, developed an artificial intelligence tool called EchoNext that uses data from electrocardiograms to screen patients for structural heart disease. The tool can detect conditions such as severe aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, and it has already identified a patient with severe aortic stenosis who then underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Researchers published findings in JACC: Case Reports. Cardiovascular Business (3/5) Learn More

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