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New Study Shows How Weight Loss Surgery Disparities Have Changed Over 20 Years
A new study by Mass General Brigham has uncovered striking trends in the realm of weight loss surgery, revealing persistent racial disparities and an alarming rise in sex disparities over the past two decades. The research, which analyzed the medical records of over 120,000 patients, indicates a pressing need for interventions to ensure that all…
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New Study Reveals Gender Bias in Heart Disease Diagnosis
Women may be missing diagnoses of a potentially lethal heart condition due to existing medical guidelines that fail to consider natural differences in sex and body size, according to new research led by University College London (UCL). This study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, offers a new personalized approach that…
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New AI Tool Tackles Global Antimicrobial Resistance
An AI breakthrough is set to revolutionize the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). An international team of researchers — co-led by Yong-Guan Zhu, a professor of environmental biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and David Graham, a research professor in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University — has developed a cutting-edge…
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Immunocompromised Show Lower Antibody Response to RSV Vaccines, Study Reveals
People over 60 with weakened immune systems produce fewer protective antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) following vaccination, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers. The findings shine a light on the potential need for tailored vaccination strategies for immunocompromised individuals, such as organ transplant recipients and those with immune system disorders.…
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Hospital Mergers and Acquisitions Fail to Improve Health Care, Study Finds
Hospital mergers and acquisitions in the United States seldom lead to reduced health care costs or improved quality of care, a newly published study has revealed. The systematic review, appearing in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS), analyzed hundreds of studies and found that these transactions largely fail to deliver the promised…
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Digital Health Care Consultations Fall Short in Diagnosing Tonsillitis
New research from the University of Gothenburg has revealed that digital health care consultations are not adequate for the safe diagnosis of tonsillitis, heightening the risks of over- or undertreatment. The study, led by doctoral student Patrycja Woldan-Gradalska, is a crucial reminder of the importance of physical examinations in medical assessments. Tonsillitis is a frequent…
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Study Reveals Racial Disparities in Access to Obesity-Management Medications
Asians, non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics are significantly less likely than whites to use obesity-management medications to manage their weight, new research shows. These disparities persist even when controlling for socioeconomic factors, insurance coverage and clinical need. Published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, the study is one of the few to explore…
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Mount Sinai Researchers Devise AI Strategy to Cut Health Care Costs
A new study conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has revealed novel strategies for deploying large language models (LLMs), a form of advanced artificial intelligence (AI), in health care systems. The strategies, detailed in a paper published in npj Digital Medicine, aim to maintain cost efficiency and high performance,…
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Study Reveals Federal Overpayment for Veterans’ Health Care in Medicare Advantage Plans
A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) has uncovered significant inefficiencies in federal spending on Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, particularly for veterans who predominantly receive their medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The researchers discovered that approximately one in five veterans enrolled in high-veteran MA plans,…
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Impact of Ownership Changes on Home Health Agencies: Increased Medicare Spending, Reduced Staffing Levels
Medicare-certified home health agencies, essential for enabling older adults to age comfortably at home, are increasingly experiencing ownership transfers. This shift raises significant concerns about health care expenditure, workforce dynamics and care quality, according to new research led by UTHealth Houston. “The ownership change in health care sectors — including various forms of acquisitions by…
