The American journal of medicine
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In 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 37 novel drugs. Twenty-four of the 37 (65%) novel drug approvals were reviewed and approved through an expedited review pathway and 20 of the 37 (54%) were approved for treatment of a rare disease. This review includes a summary of the novel drugs approved by the FDA in 2022.
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Osteoarthritis is a common cause of morbidity in an increasingly aging population. Although the weight-bearing joints of the leg and foot are frequently affected by osteoarthritis, degenerative changes in the joints of the upper extremity are likewise common and can be both particularly debilitating for affected individuals and uniquely challenging for the health care providers managing it. The present review seeks to overview the epidemiology, anatomy, diagnosis, and management of osteoarthritis in the joints of the shoulder, elbow, and hand with the intent of providing accessible and relevant information to the range of medical professionals involved in patient care.
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Limited English proficiency (LEP) is defined as individuals in whom English is not the primary language and who have limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand the English language. Cardiovascular (CV) team members routinely encounter language barriers in their practice. These barriers have a significant impact on the quality of CV care that patients with LEP receive. ⋯ Although well recognized, the initial step will be to continue to highlight the importance of language needs identification and appropriate use of professional interpreter services. In parallel, a health system-level approach is essential that describes initiatives and key policies to ensure a high-level quality of care for a growing LEP population. This review aims to present the topic of LEP during the CV care of older adults, for continued awareness along with practical considerations for clinical use and directions for future research.
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Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a significant driver of morbidity and mortality. There are common misconceptions regarding the disease processes underlying heart failure and best practices for therapy. The terms heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and left ventricular systolic dysfunction are not interchangeable terms. ⋯ Marginal blood pressure is not a relative contraindication to optimal guideline directed medical therapy. Guideline directed medical therapy should be continued even if ejection fraction improves. There are other therapies that provide significant benefit besides the four key medications in guideline directed medical therapy.
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Dismantling racism in health care demands that medical education promote racial justice throughout all stages of medical training. However, racial bias can be fostered unintentionally, influencing the way we make decisions as clinicians with downstream effects on patient health and health equity. The development of any anti-racism curriculum in medicine requires the ability to identify racial bias in practices we have not previously recognized as explicitly racist or unjust. This has limited the creation and delivery of effective anti-racism education in health care.