JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
-
Meta Analysis
Revisiting Race and the Benefit of RAS Blockade in Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
Concerns have arisen that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers are less effective in Black patients than non-Black patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). ⋯ The mortality benefit from RAS blockade was similar in Black and non-Black patients. Despite the smaller relative risk reduction in hospitalization for HF with RAS blockade in Black patients, the absolute benefit in Black patients was comparable with non-Black patients because of the greater incidence of this outcome in Black patients.
-
Chronic pruritus, defined as itch experienced for 6 weeks or longer, affects approximately 22% of people in their lifetime. Approximately 1% of physician visits are for the chief concern of chronic pruritus. Chronic pruritus is associated with adverse outcomes, including impaired sleep and reduced quality of life. ⋯ Chronic pruritus can adversely affect quality of life and can be categorized into inflammatory, neuropathic, or a combined etiology. First-line therapies are topical steroids for inflammatory causes, such as hydrocortisone (2.5%) or triamcinolone (0.1%); topical neuropathic agents for neuropathic causes, such as menthol or pramoxine; and combinations of these therapies for mixed etiologies of chronic pruritus.