Giuliana Grossi

A pair of studies found the common morning ritual of hitting the snooze button doesn't dilute the quality of sleep and can improve cognitive function after awakening.

Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, and First Steps and Beyond director Takiyah Durham, MBA, explain how the community-centered program ensures pregnant patients are equipped with resources while receiving equitable care.

Individuals with genetic syndromes or neurodevelopmental conditions experienced shorter and poorer quality sleep, while those with heterogeneous intellectual disabilities had comparable duration but lower quality to controls.

“There are things more important than our discomfort, and there are things that are more important than even our fear—inclusion is more important,” said Erica Marsh, MD, MSCI. “Our care of our patients and loved ones is more important, and our existence tomorrow has to be more important than our fears today.”

Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, a distinguished infertility specialist, highlights the pivotal role of cultural humility, diversity, acknowledgment of historical injustices, and collective action in addressing disparities and fostering equitable access to health care.

In the aftermath of the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, Anita Allen, PhD, highlights the challenges to abortion rights in the United States, emphasizing disparities faced by marginalized communities, outlining threats to reproductive health care, and calling for collective action and advocacy to defend constitutional privacy and uphold the dignity of all individuals.

"The racial and ethnic distribution of United States sperm donors differs significantly from the United States population, particularly for those of African American or Black descent,” Cassie Hobbs, MD, explained.

Wiyatta Fahnbulleh, PsyD, and Pamela Blackwell, PsyD, LMSW, presented on the cultural limitations of the Personality Assessment Inventory and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for assessing individuals for third-party reproduction.

Nearly 50% of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, leading to significant health, economic, and environmental consequences, Stephanie Page, MD, PhD, explains in her presentation at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2023 Scientific Congress & Expo.

Results show engaging in unstructured physical activities, even those of low intensity and carried out in the morning and early afternoon, is linked to reduced average glucose levels throughout the day and night.

Older patients often face financial challenges on fixed incomes with different payer systems like Medicare, Sarah Wall, MD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, says. Accessing treatment centers far away is difficult due to support system disruptions, leading to increased stress and financial strain.

David Adamson, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, FACS, reproductive endocrinologist, surgeon, founder and CEO of ARC Fertility, and past president of The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, discusses the importance of professional guidelines in reproductive medicine.

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2023 Scientific Congress & Expo in New Orleans will focus on the latest advancements and challenges in reproductive health, including new treatments and technology, evolving legislation, and the importance of professional guidelines.

Director Takiyah Durham, MBA, and Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, share how the program is improving maternal and infant care in Pittsburgh, PA, at Highmark Health.

A commentary questions the characterization of cryoprecipitate, which is not pathogen-reduced, as an alternative modality for treating hemophilia, despite its substantial risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens to patients.

Based on the comprehensive findings of a review, investigators outline several crucial policy implications, each designed to address the complex issue of bias mitigation in clinical algorithms effectively.

The data show the average age of dialysis in the least vulnerable neighborhoods was 68.2 years old, but 59.4 years—almost a decade earlier—in the most vulnerable.

Fresenius Vascular Care's own research reportedly showed these surgeries not only failed to benefit patients with end-stage renal disease, but also potentially damaged their ability to receive essential dialysis treatment.

Madeleine McDowell, MD, hopes these data insights will help change providers' behavior in terms of adopting earlier and more regular screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The October issue of Health Affairs examines the multifaceted aspects of structural racism in health care, exploring historical roots, policy implications, public biases, innovative solutions, and institutional challenges, urging action to confront and dismantle disparities.

Although gene therapy is anticipated to bring positive changes for people with hemophilia, choosing to receive gene therapy will require empowerment, participation, and shared decision-making, investigators write.

Seun Ross, PhD, describes the goals Independence Blue Cross has for improving maternal health, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and behavioral health.

Employees want to know that their employers have a vested interest in their health, Vikki Walton, MBA, health equity leader at Mercer, explains.

At the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Policy Summit, prominent figures in the health care industry from diverse organizations emphasized a commitment to advancing health equity and addressing pressing social and health disparities.

The median age of death remained consistently 10 years lower for Black and Hispanic males in comparison to White males, underscoring a critical area for further attention.

At the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health 2023 Wellness Summit, Seun Ross, PhD, explains the business case for achieving health equity.

"CMS cannot do this alone. We have to do this in partnership. So really thinking about providers and beneficiaries and how we do this together," Ellen Lukens, MPH, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, explained.

At the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health 2023 Wellness Summit, Vikki Walton, MBA, addresses the role employers have in health equity.

"Even though awareness was increasing, it wasn't translating into action," Taylor-Desir explains. "We know from our experience as physicians, that physical health and mental health are tied."

"We really have to work on our implicit bias, acknowledging it, understanding it, and doing the work to try to change it," Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, MAS, says.