If anyone can put a positive spin on the end of life, it’s Charles Vialotti, MD, director of Hospice Care at Holy Name Medical Center’s Villa Marie Claire in Bergen County, New Jersey. Violotti, who at the age of 80 lives at the 20-bed Villa Marie Claire to serve its residents full-time, says the hospice … Read more
Primary care providers are accustomed to talking with their patients about how diet and nutrition influence health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular health. But their effect on lung health? “It’s not always at the forefront of our recommendations for lung health,” said Christina M. Eckhardt, MD, MS, a pulmonologist and assistant professor of medicine and … Read more
As Hurricane Helene approached western North Carolina, Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, didn’t anticipate the storm would disrupt practice operations for more than a day or so. But the massive rainfall and flooding damage last September proved to be far more challenging. Despite best efforts by the 13-physician practice, basic treatments for most patients were interrupted … Read more
TOPLINE: A study found that among US adults eligible for lung cancer screening (LCS), the uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer screening was nearly fourfold higher than LCS. Among those who had never undergone LCS, approximately 60% participated in other cancer screenings — indicating they are reachable and open to preventive health services. … Read more
TOPLINE: Low-dose CT screening in a high-risk population detected lung cancer in 2.0% of participants, with nearly 80% of cases diagnosed at stage I or II. The screening protocol demonstrated 97.0% sensitivity at 12 months, with a 4.8% false-positive rate. METHODOLOGY: Annual low-dose CT screening has been recommended in the United States since 2013, but … Read more
BOSTON — Key DNA and chromosomal and immune cell changes in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma show significant associations with outcomes, representing potentially important early predictors to guide management of the increasingly prevalent, deadly disease, according to the results of a new study. “We found that DNA ploidy and chromosomal structure predict early recurrence in lung adenocarcinoma, … Read more
TOPLINE: Among Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancer, 45% had more than one acute care visit, in-hospital mortality, late receipt of systemic therapy, or hospice entry in the last 30 days of life. METHODOLOGY: Historical evidence has shown that patients with advanced cancer often receive potentially aggressive care at the end of life, including late initiation … Read more
TOPLINE: Hospitalization for cannabis use disorder (CUD) is associated with a nearly threefold higher risk for premature death compared with the general population, with risk particularly high for death by trauma, suicide, and opioid poisoning, a new study showed. METHODOLOGY: A population-based retrospective cohort study included 11.6 million individuals aged 15-105 years from Ontario, Canada, … Read more
Quitting smoking is challenging, particularly when resources are limited. A recent study in the United States confirmed that an intensive program combining behavioral therapy and medication, linked to a lung cancer screening program, offers the highest success rate. However, its long-term success was similar to that of telephone counselling and drug therapy. Pulmonologist and experienced … Read more