Christina Mattina

Researchers and policy makers have recognized the importance of safe and stable housing in achieving better health outcomes, but a new study adds evidence that receiving housing assistance from programs administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is associated with expanded healthcare access.

Amid recent efforts to curtail sodium levels in packaged foods to prevent hypertension and heart disease, the amount of sodium in foods and beverages purchased by US households has decreased, according to a new study. However, most Americans are still buying sodium-dense foods, indicating the need for intensified initiatives to lower sodium intake.

According to a recent study, women who live in a highly segregated white community are more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer.

A new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll delves into Americans’ attitudes about Medicaid: its importance to their family, how it should be funded, and whether it is more similar to health insurance or welfare programs.

Healthcare professionals working in the emergency department may be unaware of the costs of the care they deliver, according to a new study that asked clinicians to guess the cost of 3 hypothetical visits.

The dangers of tobacco to users are well-known, but today the World Health Organization (WHO) is taking advantage of World No Tobacco Day to raise awareness of how tobacco impacts non-users, the environment, and society.

A new study finds that bariatric surgery can have beneficial effects for women beyond just weight loss: it was also associated with lower risk of female-specific cancers, like breast or ovarian cancer.

Patients with peripheral artery disease can now have supervised exercise therapy covered by Medicare, according to a recent announcement by CMS.

Shortly after the FDA announced it would permit the sale of genetic tests to consumers, an editorial contends that these tests will actually contribute to the deluge of low-value, wasteful medical services that the healthcare system should try to eliminate.

Although a report from the Surgeon General has determined that the aerosol vapor from e-cigarettes contains harmful chemicals like nicotine, a survey of US adults indicates that some are skeptical or unsure about the risk posed to children exposed to the vapor.

A new study in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report finds that people with arthritis are more likely to limit their activities due to their symptoms if they live in a rural county, indicating the need to offer targeted interventions to this population.

A new study published in Diabetes Care investigates ways to prevent driving accidents among patients with type 1 diabetes, who may be at higher risk of having such mishaps.

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report evaluating the continued public health response to the Zika virus in the US and detailing the remaining challenges and possible solutions.

In the first weeks of his tenure as FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD, is taking action on the issue he had vowed to make his “highest initial priority:” fighting the opioid abuse epidemic and stopping the waves of overdoses across the nation.

A JAMA study has found that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who received noninvasive ventilation in addition to home oxygen therapy went longer without being readmitted to the hospital or dying than those who received only home oxygen therapy.

Although each individual rare cancer affects a small percentage of patients, the collective group of 181 rare cancers is responsible for significant disease burden in the United States.

As the weather heats up, the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women may rise along with the temperature, according to findings from a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Every year, the week beginning with Mother’s Day is designated as National Women’s Health Week, meant to shine a spotlight on the unique health challenges affecting women in America.

The FDA has expanded the approved uses of Kalydeco (ivacaftor), which is used to treat cystic fibrosis, so it can now be used by patients with any of 33 rare gene mutations.

A new study suggests that tai chi may be as effective as traditional therapies at reducing insomnia in breast cancer survivors.

On Monday, days after he was sworn in as the new commissioner of the FDA, Scott Gottlieb, MD, delivered a speech to staff acknowledging the substantial challenges the agency must tackle, but expressing an optimistic drive to “fulfill FDA’s special mission.”

A new study in JAMA has found that patient-reported pain satisfaction scores on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys are not associated with rates of opioid prescribing after surgery.

As Medicare has no limit capping out-of-pocket costs and supplemental coverage can be expensive, many beneficiaries are spending significant portions of their income out-of-pocket on medical care or premiums, according to a recent report published by the Commonwealth Fund.

According to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, black individuals living in more racially segregated neighborhoods tended to have higher blood pressure, while those who moved to less segregated areas saw their blood pressure decrease.

A new study indicates that a technology-based intervention could help patients make informed decisions about cancer screening.

If all children engaged in CDC-recommended levels of physical activity, the resulting decreases in obesity could save up to $51.5 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in lost productivity each year.

A cohort study of TRICARE patients found that those who began to use statins were more likely to be diagnosed with a back disorder.

A new report from the Urban Institute seeks to characterize the rating regions across the United States by the number of insurers offering plans in the healthcare marketplaces and found stark disparities in demographics, coverage, and price.

Recent research indicates that patients who are treated within an integrated model of care for their inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have improved outcomes, as they tend to undergo IBD-related surgeries less often and are more likely to receive treatment other than steroids.

Findings from 2 Phase III trials of plecanatide were presented at Digestive Disease Week, held May 6-9 in Chicago, Illinois.