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Study finds association between open-angle glaucoma and ED
Men with ED also were more likely to have had open-angle glaucoma than those without ED, according to a study published in the February 12 online issue of Opthalmology.
Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) also were more likely to have had open-angle glaucoma (OAG) than those without ED, according to a study published in the February 12 online issue of Ophthalmology.
The study, conducted by Shiu-Dong Chung, MD, and colleagues, identified a novel association between ED and prior OAG by using a nationwide, population-based data with a retrospective case-control cohort design in Taiwan.
OAG is associated with systemic metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, and both share common risk factors with ED. However, few studies had investigated the association between ED and OAG.
In this case-controlled study matching 4,605 men with ED with 5 control patients each, showed that after controlling for potential confounding factors, men with ED were almost 3 times more likely to have had a prior diagnosis of OAG (OR=2.85; 95% Cl, 2.10-4.07). According to the study, 1.1% of the ED patients had prior OAG compared with 0.4% of patients without ED.
Researchers adjusted for a patient’s monthly income, geographical location, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and alcohol abuse.
The investigators also concluded that their findings suggest that prospective studies should be undertaken to develop the appropriate clinical guidelines for evaluating concurrent or subsequent ED in OAG patients.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
