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Black patients: prescribed opioids less frequently yet undergo more urine drug screenings. The Journal of Clinical Oncology reports on various healthcare disparities affecting older patients at end of life. Findings from over 300,000 decedents >65 years with poor-prognosis cancers include:
- Receiv...
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"Doing something as simple as reducing daily TV-watching time can have a profound effect on bodily pain trajectories that occur with aging,” states the principal researcher of an article in the BMC Public Health journal. Over 4,000 people in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study were...
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A study in the PAIN journal examined whether comorbidities aided in determining if back pain led to further disability. Over 450 patients ≥55 years of age were included in the prospective cohort study that looked at the 1 year clinical course of back pain related disability. Questionnaires were used...
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Finger joint osteoarthritis is experienced by half of men over age 60 and half of women over age 50, causing pain and decreased strength and range of motion. An article in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports an alternative to conventional surgery for patients with arthritic...
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A study in the ACR Open Rheumatology journal determined that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are undermedicated—STILL, even though guidelines have called for early and aggressive treatment. Researchers looked into over 7,800,000 ambulatory visits by older adults over 12 years. Rheumatologists...
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What is the association between chronic low back pain (CLBP) and regional brain atrophy? A Japanese study asked that question and answers are published in the journal Pain. Basically, the part of the brain that processes pain may have atrophied. Over 1100 participants 65 years or older were put into...
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"Elect"ing to say "maybe?" Results have been released from a National Poll on Healthy Aging. Among adults 50 to 80 years of age who considered having elective surgery—including joint, eye, abdominal, cosmetic, foot, or leg—well over 60% said their #1 concern was pain/discomfort. The poll was...
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Does what you eat eventually impact the amount of medications you'll need when you’re older? Researchers investigated diets and medication amounts in 328 participants 60 years or older. Via questionnaires and measurements, the participants recounted what they ate, and the number of pills/medication...
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Two senators, one republican and one democrat, from two states are working together to try to pass the Provider Training in Palliative Care Act. It would give National Health Service Corps members the ability to train in palliative care while deferring their service. Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada...
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The PAINWeek National Conference has presented many courses teaching the benefits of music therapy. A university in Thailand is promoting a music therapy course, and not just to treat those in pain. Music therapy has helped lower blood pressure, soothe patients during dialysis or chemotherapy, or...