March 31, 2011 |  0
In this meta-analysis of patients with ICH, those who had been on a statin before the ICH had twice the odds of better functional outcomes, and half the odds of mortality at 90 days, compared to those not on a statin before the ICH. Although not a randomized trial, this study adds mounting evidence of […]
March 31, 2011 |  0
In this 1 year randomized trial of patients with moderate to severe COPD, those randomized to tiotropium had significantly fewer COPD exacerbations and overall hospitalizations than those randomized to salmeterol. For patients with moderate to severe COPD, tiotropium may be better than salmeterol in reducing exacerbations and hospitalizations (abstract)
March 31, 2011 |  0
In this large retrospective analysis of five large nursing home chains, those with higher quality scores on 10 measures were only marginally less likely to to have a tort claim filed, than those with the lowest scores. There is not a strong association between nursing home quality and litigation claims in the US (abstract)
March 31, 2011 |  0
The FDA has released important information on the requirements for storage and handling of dabigatran; it has to be stored in the bottle in which it comes (not in a pill box, due to degradation of the product), and has to be used within 60 days of opening. Patients on dabigatran should be counseled not […]
March 29, 2011 |  8
I fondly remember attending the Local 17 insulators union hall meetings with my dad when I was a young boy. The scene was similar to what one might expect: a smokey, comfortably packed, dimly lit and musty room in a small red brick building in Chicago’s “Back of the Yards” neighborhood.  My father  introduced every […]
March 29, 2011 |  1
This is a quick note to let you know that the two patient safety websites that I’m privileged to edit for the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – AHRQ WebM&M and AHRQ Patient Safety Network – were relaunched this week after extensive makeovers. The sites already receive more than 2 million visits each […]