Prevalence Of Tooth Loss Among Older Adults, 2015-2018
A June 2020 Data Brief from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) indicates that the prevalence of complete tooth loss among adults aged 65 and over was 12.9% and increased with age: 8.9% (ages 65– 69), 10.6% (ages 70–74), and 17.8% (ages 75 and over). Non-Hispanic black older adults (25.4%) had a higher prevalence of complete tooth loss than Hispanic (15.3%) and non-Hispanic white (10.9%) older adults. Prevalence of complete tooth loss was higher for older adults with less than a high school education (31.9%) compared with those with a high school education or greater (9.5%). From 1999–2000 through 2017–2018, the age-adjusted prevalence of complete tooth loss among all older adults declined significantly. Nevertheless, complete tooth loss can diminish quality of life by limiting food choices and impeding social interaction. Reducing this problem is a national health goal monitored by Healthy People.
Opioid-Involved Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, And Deaths
A National Health Statistics Report on June 16, 2020 reveals that in the 2014 National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS), there were 15,495 patients with an opioid-involved ED-only visit and 24,059 patients with an opioid-involved hospitalization. Of the patients with an opioid-involved hospitalization, 1,805 died (9%) within one year of discharge. Of these deaths, 341 (19%) resulted from a drug overdose. Opioids most frequently mentioned included heroin (46%), fentanyl (20%), oxycodone (13%), methadone (12%), and morphine (12%). These categories are not mutually exclusive because a death may involve more than one drug. For approximately 22% of patients who died of an opioid-involved drug overdose in 2014, their last ED-only visit or hospitalization was opioid-involved. While lockdowns stemming from COVID-19 are aimed at preventing fatal infections, a concern is that social isolation may lead to increases in drug overdoses, suicides, and other health problems. Future studies will uncover the extent of such occurrences.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Personalized Mapping Of Drug Metabolism By The Human Gut Microbiome
Previous studies have examined how single species of gut bacteria can metabolize oral medications, but a new framework enables the evaluation of an individual's entire intestinal microbial community at once. A research team at Princeton University used an approach to evaluate the gut microbiome's effect on hundreds of common medications already on the market by indicating how the microbial community in the intestines can chemically transform, or metabolize, oral medications in ways that have an impact on safety and efficacy. According to a study published on June 10, 2020 in the journal Cell, researchers identified 57 cases in which gut bacteria can alter existing oral medications. Eighty percent of those had not been previously reported, emphasizing the potential of the method for revealing unknown drug-microbiome interactions. The new methodology could aid the development of medications that are more effective, have fewer side effects, and are personalized to an individual's microbiome.
Magnetoelectric Materials For Miniature, Wireless Neural Stimulation At Therapeutic Frequencies
A major challenge for miniature bioelectronics is wireless power delivery deep inside the body. Electromagnetic or ultrasound waves suffer from absorption and impedance mismatches at biological interfaces. Magnetic fields do not suffer these losses, which has led to magnetically powered bioelectronic implants based on induction or magnetothermal effects. These approaches have yet to produce, however, a miniature stimulator that operates at clinically relevant high frequencies. A manuscript published on June 8, 2020 in the journal Neuron describes study results suggesting that using magnetoelectric materials for wireless power delivery is more than a novel idea. These materials are viewed as being excellent candidates for clinical-grade, wireless bioelectronics. Tiny implants capable of modulating activity of the brain and nervous system could have wide-ranging implications and could be useful for treating depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders and more than a third of patients who suffer from chronic, intractable pain that often leads to anxiety, depression and opioid addiction.
More June 2020 TRENDS Articles
COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICAL TRIAL CONCERNS
Indicates the importance of ensuring that key demographic groups experiencing the ravages of this disease are represented adequately in upcoming stage three clinical trials. Read More
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
ASAHP President Phyllis King discusses leadership during a time of change with a focus on helping academic teams with transition by working with campus administration to clarify the vision and establish structures that support change. Read More
EFFECTIVE CORONAVIRUS MESSAGES FROM ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
Identifies the top five communicators based on frequency and consistency of mention according to an annual Student Sentiment Survey conducted by the firm Eduventures. Read More
CONGRESS IN A TIME OF CORONAVIRUS
Contains some details about an initiative by U.S. senators to increase access to telehealth because of its potential to expand availability of health care, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes. Read More
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Points out how Medicare is on an unsustainable trajectory and identifies fundamental changes that must be addressed in the federal-state Medicaid program. Read More
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Describes how doubts and uncertainties are affecting decisions on whether to reopen schools at all academic levels and some thoughts on how to rethink accreditation and quality assurance. Read More
QUICK STAT (SHORT, TIMELY, AND TOPICAL)
Prevalence Of Tooth Loss Among Older Adults, 2015-2018
Opioid-Involved Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, And Deaths
Personalized Mapping Of Drug Metabolism By The Human Gut Microbiome
Magnetoelectric Materials For Miniature, Wireless Neural Stimulation At Therapeutic Frequencies Read More
AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
Advancing Adolescent Flourishing: Moving Policy Upstream
Preparing For The Next Pandemic
New Data On Community Resilience In The Face Of Disasters Read More
NIH FUNDING AND THE PURSUIT OF EDGE SCIENCE
Reveals the degree to which the NIH is successful in funding work with novel ideas, known as “edge science,” and some reasons why support for this endeavor is not as robust as it could be. Read More
TRANSHUMANISM AND THE PROSPECT OF NEVER HAVING TO DIE
Enthusiasm persists in some quarters that human death can be overcome, but at least in the short term, that quest still has a considerable way to go to reach fruition. Read More