Skylar is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The Center for Biosimilars®, and joined AJMC® in 2020. She is responsible for covering all aspects of the ever-changing global biosimilar industry and produces content that is accessible and informative for all health care stakeholders.
She has a BA in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. You can connect with Skylar on LinkedIn.
Certain COPD, Asthma Medications May Increase COVID-19 Hospitalization Risk
Study results show that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and comorbid asthma may have a greater risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 if they use bronchodilators or steroids plus bronchodilators.
Study Identifies Thousands of Potential Diagnosis Errors Among Patients With COPD
Researchers found that thousands of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) did not follow the traditional trajectory associated with the disease, suggesting a possible incorrect diagnosis.
Permanent Disability Claims for RA May Rise in Years Following COVID-19 Crisis
From 1999 to 2015, permanent disability claims for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) spiked during periods of economic recessions, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic may create a similar effect in the near future.
Hospitalizations, ED Visits for COPD and Asthma Increase Under Certain Weather Conditions
Changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure were found to be associated with higher rates of medical care utilization for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
Study Finds CV Risk Is Unknown for Many Patients With COPD
A recent study found that the proportion of patients in the Netherlands with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are being assessed for cardiovascular (CV) risk does not align with Dutch guideline recommendations.
Sunlight Exposure Linked to Reduced Disease Severity in MS
Investigators observed that some patients had improvements in their multiple sclerosis (MS) severity with increased sun exposure, whereas photosensitive individuals and those taking certain medications did not see the same effects.
Inhaled Sugar Formulation May Reduce Ventilation Duration, Improve Lung Function in AECOPD
A pilot study among hospitalized patients on the use of an inhaled naturally occurring sugar showed several positive outcomes for those with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).
Lymphocyte-HDL Ratio Outperforms Other Biomarkers for Predicting Pulmonary Function in COPD
Investigators found that the ratio of lymphocytes to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) performed better in predicting pulmonary function than the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio.
Family History, Genetics May Help to Predict, Detect Early-Stage CKD
A population-based study from the Netherlands showed that individuals with had at least 1 direct relative affected with chronic kidney disease (CKD), suggesting that biomarkers for CKD can aid in detecting the early stages of the disease.
Risk of Respiratory Complications, but Not Death, Is Higher for Patients With COPD Who Receive TAVI
Study findings show that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had increased risks of respiratory complications and pneumonia after undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve insertion (TAVI) compared with those without COPD.