More adults are being prescribed medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Gun injuries soared early in the COVID-19 pandemic; Studies link mysterious hepatitis outbreak in children to infection from adeno-associated virus 2.
ADHD Drug Use Spikes in Adults
A new CDC report shows that the number of adults taking a prescription for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including Adderall, increased significantly during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Washington Post. This spike may be attributed to the overwhelming mental health impact of the pandemic, which may have exacerbated ADHD symptoms, said the study’s authors. Furthermore, these findings suggest a need for developing better guidelines to treat adults with ADHD.
Gun Injuries Surged During COVID-19 Pandemic
The number of people injured by gunfire was nearly 40% higher in 2020 and 2021 compared with 2019, according to The Associated Press. The CDC study highlights America’s recent history of violence, and although this surge tapered off in 2022, the CDC says the number of injuries was still 20% higher than before the pandemic. Gun injuries saw their largest increase among younger children 15 years and younger.
Unknown Hepatitis Outbreak in Children Linked to Respiratory Infection
Three independent studies linked an outbreak of acute severe hepatitis in healthy children in 2022 to adeno-associated virus 2, or AAV2, according to CNN. Between April and July of 2022, hepatitis was diagnosed in more than 1000 children—with at least 350 cases in the United States alone—reported the World Health Organization. Although consistent links were found among these studies, more research is needed to confirm this association.
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.
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Beyond Insulin: The Impact of Next-Generation Diabetes Technology
April 17th 2024Experts explain how new diabetes technologies like continuous glucose monitors are transforming care beyond intensive insulin therapy, offering personalized insights and improving outcomes for patients of all treatment levels.
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Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
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Age Alone Is No Barrier to Allo-HCT for AML, Data Indicate
April 17th 2024A new study is among the largest real-world analyses to date to assess trends over time and predictive factors for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT).
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The Biden administration recently launched the Global Health Security Strategy, a new effort to combat the spread of infectious diseases; lawmakers zeroed in on the risks of massive consolidation in health care during the first congressional hearing on the Change Healthcare hack; the FDA recently announced the recall of a pair of heart devices linked to numerous deaths and injuries.
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