The CDAI has been slow on blog posts recently, but that's because we are all working on our research.. NOT on vacation the way we would like to be. Although we are not blogging much, we are definitely keeping in touch with what's new and interesting on the field of chronic diseases and aging.
So it is that today JAMA brings a short review on a topic close to CDAIers hearts - Mental Health Comorbidities of Diabetes. Wanna know more about it? The article is free! So check it out here.
Can't find us at the school but want to contact us? Well, we haven't been getting out of our air-conditioned offices very often, lately. So, either you can find us during coffee break at the JHSPH café or just email us at: cdai-jhsph@gmail.com
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
When is it time to stop using antidepressants?
In today's New York Times, Dr. Doris Iarovici, a psychiatrist from Duke University, narrates cases of young college students who are exposed to long-term pharmaceutical treatments for depression, sometimes spanning their entire college trajectory. Her discussion of the relationship between life transitions and long-term use of mental health pharmaceutical treatments illustrates and contributes to the larger question of over-medicalization of mental health conditions and their intersection with personal trajectories and experiences. In addition, Dr. Iarovici also raises important questions about the role of comorbid disorders and behaviors (drug/alcohol addiction, undiagnosed eating disorders, among others), and the need for a better understanding of how psychiatric medicines might affect brain development and mental health, extending into young adulthood and possibly beyond.
The growing phenomenon of over-medicalization and pharmaceuticalization of health is not restricted to mental health problems, in that it affects multiple other clinical conditions as well. Young individuals going through significant life transitions, however, are especially vulnerable to this phenomenon, and they may face greater risks from undiscriminated and long-term pharmaceutical use.
To read the NYT story, follow the link here.
The growing phenomenon of over-medicalization and pharmaceuticalization of health is not restricted to mental health problems, in that it affects multiple other clinical conditions as well. Young individuals going through significant life transitions, however, are especially vulnerable to this phenomenon, and they may face greater risks from undiscriminated and long-term pharmaceutical use.
To read the NYT story, follow the link here.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Global Spending on Hepatitis C Drugs Expected to Skyrocket: New Drugs Released for as much as $1,000 per Pill
Although chronic diseases are often seen as a synonym of non-communicable conditions, infections such as HIV and HCV are progressively being recognized as chronic diseases as well. The treatment of these chronic viral infections poses similar challenges to other "traditional" NCDs, such as the need for sustainable, affordable, accessible, safe and efficient regimens.
In the past few days, multiple organizations have sounded the alarm for skyrocketing costs from anti-HCV treatment in the US and globally. ExpressScripts, the largest pharmacy benefit management organization in the United States, has issued a report expecting costs from anti-HCV to grow 1,800 percent by 2016. A few drugs - namely the new direct-acting antivirals sofosbuvir (brand name Sovaldi) and simprevir (trade name Olysio) - are responsible for most of the cost. According to a report by Doctors Without Borders/MSF, "Sofosbuvir has been released in the US with a price tag of US$84,000 for 12 weeks’ treatment, which equates to $1,000 per pill".
The costs of these drugs in the global market are also sky-high: the MSF report states that "Simeprevir costs around $45,000 for 12 weeks’ treatment in Russia and sofosbuvir could be priced as much as $5,000 in Thailand". The World Health Organization (WHO), together with UNITAID, alerted for the fact that, due to high costs, HCV treatments are unlikely to be available in low- and middle-income countries, where a great proportion of HCV infections are believed to be concentrated, although most of them are undiagnosed.
HCV, or the chronic infection by the Hepatitis-C virus, can persist for decades before producing symptoms. If left untreated, however, the infection may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. The WHO has recently published new guidelines for the treatment of this disease, which include the new drugs and can be found here.
In the past few days, multiple organizations have sounded the alarm for skyrocketing costs from anti-HCV treatment in the US and globally. ExpressScripts, the largest pharmacy benefit management organization in the United States, has issued a report expecting costs from anti-HCV to grow 1,800 percent by 2016. A few drugs - namely the new direct-acting antivirals sofosbuvir (brand name Sovaldi) and simprevir (trade name Olysio) - are responsible for most of the cost. According to a report by Doctors Without Borders/MSF, "Sofosbuvir has been released in the US with a price tag of US$84,000 for 12 weeks’ treatment, which equates to $1,000 per pill".
The costs of these drugs in the global market are also sky-high: the MSF report states that "Simeprevir costs around $45,000 for 12 weeks’ treatment in Russia and sofosbuvir could be priced as much as $5,000 in Thailand". The World Health Organization (WHO), together with UNITAID, alerted for the fact that, due to high costs, HCV treatments are unlikely to be available in low- and middle-income countries, where a great proportion of HCV infections are believed to be concentrated, although most of them are undiagnosed.
HCV, or the chronic infection by the Hepatitis-C virus, can persist for decades before producing symptoms. If left untreated, however, the infection may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. The WHO has recently published new guidelines for the treatment of this disease, which include the new drugs and can be found here.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Video: how Google Glass may help persons living with Parkison's Disease
Researchers at Newcastle University, UK are investigating how Google Glass could be used to increase autonomy and improve quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.
So far, the device will be used to issue reminders for patients to take their medication and to contact relatives in the event of an emergency (such as a fall), and especially to try to prevent 'freezing' episodes. The glass is described to work as a hands-free smartphone, issuing alerts and making calls without requiring patients to deal with a touch-screen, something that can be extremely challenging given the motor impairments caused by Parkinson's.
If successful, this technology will provide an important addition to the management of persons with Parkinson's, a disease that is understood to be the result of both biologic and environmental factors and for which the currently available therapies include pharmaceuticals, surgery, and rehabilitation through physical and speech therapy.
The Daily Telegraph has interviewed the researchers- see a video with the interviews below:
So far, the device will be used to issue reminders for patients to take their medication and to contact relatives in the event of an emergency (such as a fall), and especially to try to prevent 'freezing' episodes. The glass is described to work as a hands-free smartphone, issuing alerts and making calls without requiring patients to deal with a touch-screen, something that can be extremely challenging given the motor impairments caused by Parkinson's.
If successful, this technology will provide an important addition to the management of persons with Parkinson's, a disease that is understood to be the result of both biologic and environmental factors and for which the currently available therapies include pharmaceuticals, surgery, and rehabilitation through physical and speech therapy.
The Daily Telegraph has interviewed the researchers- see a video with the interviews below:
Monday, April 14, 2014
The Long Reach Of Alzheimer’s Disease - Health Affairs Special Issue
On April 1st the Health Affairs journal launched a thematic issue focused on Alzheimer's Disease.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia among older people and, according to the journal, it affects about 5 million Americans and 35.6 million people around the globe. This yet incurable disease produces a very high burden on families and caregivers, and also on the health system. It is estimated that even the lower estimate of health expenditures associated with Alzheimer's in the USA is greater than the direct treatment costs of cancer or heart disease.
The articles in Health Affairs explore the many subjects raised by Alzheimer’s disease. In their description, "the optimal care patients receive and the testing of new models, international comparisons of how the disease is treated, families’ end-of-life dilemmas, a new public-private research collaboration designed to produce improved treatments, and others".
Here's the link for the Special Issue. Enjoy the read!
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia among older people and, according to the journal, it affects about 5 million Americans and 35.6 million people around the globe. This yet incurable disease produces a very high burden on families and caregivers, and also on the health system. It is estimated that even the lower estimate of health expenditures associated with Alzheimer's in the USA is greater than the direct treatment costs of cancer or heart disease.
The articles in Health Affairs explore the many subjects raised by Alzheimer’s disease. In their description, "the optimal care patients receive and the testing of new models, international comparisons of how the disease is treated, families’ end-of-life dilemmas, a new public-private research collaboration designed to produce improved treatments, and others".
Here's the link for the Special Issue. Enjoy the read!
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