Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) does not prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a new study, and The Lancet retracted a previous paper examining the drug's safety; voters are mainly split along party lines when it comes to in-person voting in a pandemic; ownership of a handgun is associated with a significantly greater risk of suicide by firearm.
A new study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that after high-risk or moderate-risk exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) does not prevent infection. The news comes after weeks of speculation the malaria drug may be effective in preventing the illness, as President Donald Trump revealed he was taking the medication as a precaution. A separate study previously found use of HCQ was linked to increased mortality rates; however, that study has now been retracted. The majority of Americans (53%) say they would be somewhat or very comfortable voting in person amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Hill-HarrisX poll. However, 47% reported they would be uncomfortable doing so. Respondents tended to be divided along party lines as Republicans were more inclined to be comfortable with in-person voting. In comparison, 58% of Democrats and 53% of Independents expressed concern with the idea of in-person voting in a pandemic. The poll included 961 registered voters and was conducted online between May 27 and 28. The margin of error was 3.16 percentage points.Owning a handgun is associated with a greatly elevated and enduring risk of suicide by firearm, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers in California identified handgun acquisitions and deaths in a cohort of over 26 million individuals with no history of acquiring handguns. After following up with individuals for an average of 12 years and 2 months, researchers found a total of 676,425 acquired 1 or more handgun while 17,894 died by suicide. Of the total suicide deaths, 6691 were suicides by firearm. In addition, rates of suicide by any method were higher among owners of handguns, and 52% of all suicides by firearm among handgun owners occurred after 1 year of acquisition.
Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
April 23rd 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. In the third episode, Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, discusses approaching community health holistically through spiritual and community engagement.
Listen
What We’re Reading: Abortion Privacy Rules; Alzheimer Drug Hurdles; Nursing Home Staffing Overhaul
April 23rd 2024New health privacy rules aim to protect patients and providers in an evolving abortion landscape; some physicians express concerns about efficacy, risks, and entrenched beliefs in treating Alzheimer disease; CMS addresses longstanding staffing deficits in nursing homes.
Read More
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Survey Results Reveal Potential Factors Slowing the Decline in Cardiovascular Mortality Rate
April 23rd 2024Research indicated that worsened glycemic, blood pressure, and obesity control, as well as increased alcohol consumption, leveled lipid control, and persistent socioeconomic disparities may have contributed to the decelerated cardiovascular mortality decline in recent years.
Read More
Award-Winning Poster Presentations From AMCP 2024
April 23rd 2024At the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting, multiple poster presentations concerned with health equity, data collection, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, and more were acknowledged for their originality, relevance, clarity, bias, and quality.
Read More