Top 5 AJMC® Stories of the Week: March 9, 2020

American Academy of Ophthalmology Issues Coronavirus Guidelines

Utilizing the latest information provided by the World Health Organization and CDC on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a set of guidelines recommending protection for the mouth, nose, and eyes when caring for patients potentially infected with the virus.

How Vulnerable Are Patients With Cardiovascular Disease to COVID-19, Flu Complications?

Patients with cardiovascular disease are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections, although uncertainty remains on just what damage COVID-19 can cause in these patients. The flu season is also in full swing, with an estimated 440,000 individuals hospitalized so far in the United States alone, according to the CDC.

Review Assesses Role of Vitamin D in Migraine Mechanism, Treatment

Eighteen out of 30 studies included in a recent literature review, published in Nutrients, showed a link between serum vitamin D levels and headaches, with the strongest connection established between serum vitamin D and migraine.

Did Medicaid Expansion Impact Cancer Diagnosis Rates?

Investigators tracked time to treatment for 3 types of cancer in states that expanded Medicaid coverage on January 1, 2014, comparing rates before and after the expansion. Patients with new diagnoses of invasive breast, colon, or lung cancers aged 40 to 64 years were included in the analysis.

Antimalarial Drug Plus Adalimumab Aids Hair Regrowth in Lichen Planopilaris

The combination of the biologic adalimumab and hydroxychloroquine may be responsible for the improvement in lichen planopilaris, including the hair regrowth, according to the study.