Post-Tuberculosis Sequelae Take a Toll on Life Expectancy

TOPLINE: The life expectancy of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) was found to be reduced compared with that of individuals without TB. Post-TB sequelae also reduced life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy among TB survivors in the United States.  METHODOLOGY: Researchers aimed to estimate the health impact of TB, including post-TB sequelae, among survivors in … Read more

BP Below 130 mm Hg Linked to CV Benefit in Octogenarians

TOPLINE: Among adults aged 80 years or older on antihypertensive medications, intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) control (below 130 mm Hg) was associated with a significantly lower risk for cardiovascular mortality than SBP of 130-160 mm Hg. METHODOLOGY: Current guidelines advocate for more intensive BP control but remain inconsistent and lack strong evidence for adults … Read more

Digital Tools for Better Efficiency

The advancement of digital tools has brought about a profound transformation across many sectors, and healthcare is no exception. When used with the appropriate ethical and technical safeguards, these tools can contribute to increased productivity and career development. In recent years, several studies have highlighted the potential benefits of digital technologies for healthcare professionals. One … Read more

Heat May Worsen Mania but Ease Depression, Study Finds

TOPLINE:  Each 1°C increase in the mean daily temperature reduced the symptoms of depression by 0.2% but increased the symptoms of mania by 0.4% in patients with mood disorders, new research showed. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analysed data from 4000 adults (mean age, 30.9 years) with depressive symptoms and 2132 adults (mean age, 30.4 years) with manic … Read more

Chikungunya Vaccine Shows Promise in Adults

TOPLINE: The chikungunya virus virus-like particle (CHIKV VLP) vaccine achieved 100% seroconversion in adults who had previously received alphavirus vaccines and alphavirus vaccine–naive control individuals, with the previous recipients showing a faster immune response. Moreover, both groups had similar safety profiles. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted an open-label, phase 2, randomized controlled trial at two clinical sites … Read more

Blood Tests Highly Accurate in ALS Diagnosis, Prognosis

TOPLINE: Four serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) tests showed high accuracy in diagnosing and predicting progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a new study. Investigators said the findings also offer diagnostic and prognostic cutoff values and lay the foundation for future use of the tests in clinical practice. METHODOLOGY: This study included 139 patients … Read more

Two-Drug HIV Therapy Effective Without Resistance Testing

TOPLINE: Dolutegravir plus lamivudine demonstrates noninferiority to the standard-of-care three-drug regimen in treatment-naive patients with HIV without preliminary drug resistance testing. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a randomized, noninferiority, phase 4 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dolutegravir plus lamivudine in untreated patients with HIV with no preliminary drug resistance testing. Overall, 223 participants (median … Read more

Smoking Linked to Twofold Higher Risk for Ischemic Stroke

TOPLINE: Smoking was associated with a doubling in risk for cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS), with the strongest association in men and those aged 45-49 years in a new study. METHODOLOGY: In a prospective case-control study, 546 patients with CIS (47% women) aged 18-49 years from 19 European stroke centers were assessed between 2013 and 2022. … Read more

Feb 21 2025 This Week in Cardiology

Please note that the text below is not a full transcript and has not been copyedited. For more insight and commentary on these stories, subscribe to the This Week in Cardiology podcast, download the Medscape app or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast provider. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. … Read more

CUD Hospitalization Raises Early Death Risk

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