Matthew Gavidia

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) had significantly higher Alzheimer disease biomarkers in their plasma than those without the condition, which may explain the occurrence of cognitive decline in these populations, according to study findings.

Korean patients with Parkinson disease were found to be at greater risk of developing skin cancer, with male and older populations considered higher-risk groups, according to study findings published this week.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exposes and exacerbates social determinants of health (SDOH) in at-risk communities, services such as clinical trials and personalized care can prove effective interventions for employers in providing access to vital health services.

Physical exercise has been shown in previous studies to improve motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). However, as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) proves a significant threat to those with chronic diseases such as PD, many patients are now tasked with adapting to the physical and mental effects of the pandemic.

More than a third of healthcare workers responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China during its peak suffered from insomnia, with those reporting sleeplessness also more likely to feel depressed, anxious, and have stress-based trauma, according to study findings published today.

Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the use of telemedicine has expanded among employers and healthcare providers to ensure effective coverage without risking potential exposure.

Employees with either obstructive sleep apnea or excessive daytime sleepiness were shown to be 2 times more likely to be involved in occupational incidents, highlighting the serious safety hazard posed by both conditions.

As part of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions Employer Town Hall series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), speakers discussed how employers are helping employees and their families to maintain mental health and wellness, with additional input on those managing existing mental health conditions.

Ashwagandha root extract, a revered herb of Ayurveda, was associated with improvements in quality of life, sleep quality, and mental alertness in elderly patients, according to study findings.

Parkinson disease (PD) subtypes derived from a novel subtyping system were significantly linked with disease duration and severity. However, the system may solely reflect stages of PD, rather than identify distinct clinical subtypes.

In a study released Monday by the Integrated Benefits Institute, researchers found that due to lost time from work caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), employee benefits for absent workers could cost employers more than $23 billion.

Theranexus announced this week that its phase 2 trial for THN102 (modafinil/flecainide) in patients with Parkinson disease met its primary efficacy end point of significantly increasing the proportion of patients no longer suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness.

Employers are showing great interest in value-based insurance design, as they recognize their role in shaping how their employees’ share of healthcare costs can affect what care they seek.

In a survey released this week, half of US small business owners said they cannot afford to pay employees for a full month amid the economic lockdown caused by coronavirus disease 2019, with 1 in 5 also noting their inability to afford wages for a week or less.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy via telephone was shown to be an effective depression intervention in patients with Parkinson disease, which may lead to greater access of care for patients with this unmet need, according to study findings published today.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to healthcare cost increases of as much as 7% for employers, based on recent study results, stressing the essential need for organizations to have a plan that supports employees and potential revenue loss.

Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has issued a position statement on the significance of sufficient sleep, which when impaired has been deemed a possible contributing factor to physician burnout.

Long-term usage of immediate-release isradipine for treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) did not exhibit an effect on slowing the clinical progression of early-stage PD, according to study findings published today.

The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC® ) interviewed Martha Gulati, MD, cardiologist at Banner – University Medicine Heart Institute, on findings of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels in relation to cardiovascular outcomes and smoking cessation with e-cigarettes. These studies are part of the 2020 American College of Cardiology / World Congress of Cardiology Virtual Experience.

The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC® ) interviewed Craig I. Coleman, PharmD, University of Connecticut, School of Pharmacy/Hartford Hospital Evidence-Based Practice Center, on bleeding-related hospitalizations in both patients at high thrombotic risk and those administered andexanet alfa or 4-Factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4FPCC).

The American Journal of Managed Care® discussed an indirect comparison of andexanet alfa and prothrombin complex concentrate therapy with Alexander T. Cohen, MBBS, MSc, MD, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The American Journal of Managed Care® interviewed Ashish Pershad, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Banner–University Medicine Heart Institute, on findings of the PARTNER 3 low-risk randomized trial, SPYRAL-HTN OFF MED pivotal trial, and ISCHEMIA and ISCHEMIA-CKD trials. These studies are part of the 2020 American College of Cardiology / World Congress of Cardiology Virtual Experience.

The trial showed that patients taking this novel therapy, an oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, were 10% less likely to experience the primary outcome—a composite of death from cardiovascular (CV) causes or first hospitalization for HF—than those taking placebo. The drug could address the sickest patients through a mechanism that would take on HF progression.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Innovaccer’s free to use COVID-19 Management System promotes the ability for patients to implement self-assessments to determine severity risk, which could prove crucial in at-risk, under resourced populations.

Researchers found that 1 in 10 patients with diabetes initially hospitalized for treatment of common medical conditions was discharged with intensified diabetes medications, with nearly half unlikely to benefit due to limited life expectancy or already having an optimal blood glucose level.

In older adults who are cognitively unimpaired, sleep-disordered breathing was found to alter Alzheimer disease–sensitive brain regions, causing greater amyloid deposition and neuronal activity, according to study findings.

TG Therapeutics announced that their investigational dual inhibitor drug umbralisib was granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma.

In patients with hypertension who are overweight or moderately obese, diuretics were shown to potentially reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, according to study findings.

In a webinar moderated by Thomas Parry, PhD, president of the Integrated Benefits Institute, an employer panel discussed value, application, and barriers to strategies involving the integration of employee needs and interests into benefit programs.

In adolescent patients with sickle cell disease, hydroxycarbamide therapy was associated with improvements in neurocognition variables such as working memory, verbal memory, and nonverbal IQ, according to study findings.