Chronic Pain And High-Impact Chronic Pain Among U.S. Adults, 2019

According to a Data Brief released in November 2020 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), in 2019, 20.4% of adults had chronic pain and 7.4% of adults had chronic pain that frequently limited life or work activities (referred to as high-impact chronic pain) in the past three months. Chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain both increased with age and were highest among adults aged 65 and over. Non-Hispanic white adults (23.6%) were more likely to have chronic pain compared with non-Hispanic black (19.3%), Hispanic (13.0%), and non-Hispanic Asian (6.8%) adults. The percentage of adults with chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain increased as place of residence became more rural. Chronic pain and chronic pain that frequently limits life or work activities are among the most common reasons adults seek medical care and are associated with decreased quality of life, opioid dependence, and poor mental health.

Black, Hispanic Patients Hospitalized For COVID-19 At Disproportionately High Rates

Results of a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Duke University published on November 17, 2020 in the journal Circulation show that Black and Hispanic patients made up nearly 60% of COVID-19 hospitalizations. This disproportionate number is attributed to societal structures reinforcing health disparities among racial and ethnic groups. The study looked at data from 7,868 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between January 17 and July 22 at 88 U.S. hospitals participating in the American Heart Association COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry. Hispanic and Black patients had a disproportionate risk of landing in the hospital: 33% were Hispanic, 25.5% were Black, 6.3% were Asian and 35.2% were white. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau for ZIP codes where participating hospitals are located show Hispanic individuals make up just 9% of the local population, Black persons constitute 10.6%, Asian inhabitants represent 4.7%, and non-Hispanic white residents account for 59.3%.

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Exploration Of The The Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Autoimmune Disease

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) damages the health of 35% of adult Americans. Disordered sleep results in increased risk of several autoimmune disorders, but the molecular links to autoimmunity are poorly understood. New research by University of Georgia scientists reported in the December 2020 issue of the journal Clinical Immunology identified four cytokines associated with autoimmune disease, whose median serum levels were significantly different for OSA patients receiving airways therapy, from the levels in untreated OSA patients. Immune system disorders are a result of either low activity or over activity of the immune system and include well known conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. OSA occurs when throat muscles relax temporarily, narrowing or collapsing the airway and momentarily cutting off breathing during sleep. The main treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, which pumps air through a mask to keep the airway open. About 40% of patients can't tolerate CPAP. The results of this study may lead to better approaches to treatment and possibly new drug therapies.

Pre-Recorded Audio Messages Help Improve Outcomes For Patients With Heart Failure

Patients who are hospitalized with heart failure can reduce their odds of requiring re-hospitalization, a heart transplant, or death by reviewing recorded audio messages repeatedly about self-care at home, according to late breaking research presented on November 17, 2020 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions virtual meeting. “My Recorded On-Demand Audio Discharge Instructions (MyROAD®)” is a re-playable audio card containing information for patients with heart failure who have been discharged from the hospital. The MyROAD audio card begins with a general statement and then has four sections about diet, physical activity, medication, and self-monitoring behaviors specific to heart failure to help answer frequently asked questions about the condition and what to expect at home. The study was conducted by investigators at the Office of Nursing Research and Innovation at the Cleveland Clinic Health System. It involved a randomized controlled trial of about 1,000 patients (average age 72.8 years, 58.7% male) who were hospitalized with heart failure at four sites in Northeast Ohio.

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