The American journal of medicine
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Physical inactivity and obesity crises persist in the United States despite substantial mitigation efforts. The primary goal of this analysis is to determine whether the geographic concentration of religious institutions overlaps with geographic patterns for physical inactivity and obesity prevalence. ⋯ Approaches to addressing the pandemics of unhealthy lifestyle-related health factors of physical inactivity and obesity in the United States have, in large part, been unsuccessful. Church-based healthy lifestyle programs, particularly in areas where a high concentration of congregations align with high physical inactivity and obesity, may offer a novel and effective approach to addressing this issue.
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Buprenorphine is effective for the treatment of opioid use disorder and chronic pain, has a safer pharmacological profile than full mu-opioid agonists, and can now be prescribed by any US provider with a Drug Enforcement Administration license. This study aimed to examine a decade of buprenorphine prescribing patterns in the United States. ⋯ Buprenorphine is infrequently used, despite being effective for pain and safer than full mu-opioid agonists. The Drug Enforcement Administration recently ended the requirement for prescribers to obtain an X-waiver, which may increase the rate of buprenorphine use among US practitioners.
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COVID vaccine hesitancy identifies a discrepancy between personal decisions and public guidelines. We tested whether COVID vaccine hesitancy was associated with the long-term risks of a traffic crash. ⋯ COVID vaccine hesitancy is associated with significant increased long-term risks of a traffic crash. A greater awareness of traffic risks might encourage patients to take protective actions for personal safety.
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Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a side effect in patients undergoing treatment with bone-modifying agents (BMA) for cancer or osteoporosis. Although most cases are treated by oral medicine specialists, some cases may present extraorally as a fistula in the skin or erythematous swelling localized to the jaw area, causing these patients to consult a primary care physician. This study examined the prevalence and clinical characteristics of extraoral manifestations of MRONJ in a large cohort to raise awareness among primary care physicians of this entity, enabling prompt diagnosis and treatment. ⋯ MRONJ is a significant side effect of BMA therapy. Although MRONJ mostly presents intraorally, some patients may initially present with extraoral manifestations of erythematous swelling or fistulas localized to the jaw area. Primary care physicians should consider MRONJ as a differential diagnosis in such patients.
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Veterans may be especially susceptible to increased alcohol consumption following the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to evaluate trends in alcohol use among US Veterans prior to, during, and following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ High-risk alcohol use among US Veterans has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic onset, and in the third year following pandemic onset, 15% of Veterans overall and over 20% of young Veterans ages 18-39 years reported high-risk alcohol use.