The Management of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common problem, especially in women, and it can significantly impact quality of life. UI involves involuntary urine leakage, which can result in a number of symptoms, including urgency, frequency, and nocturia. UI may be classified as stress, urge, overflow, functional, or mixed, depending on the underlying etiology. First-line treatment involves nonpharmacologic measures regardless of UI type. When nonpharmacologic measures are insufficient, pharmacologic options may be considered for some types of UI. Many of the pharmacologic options for UI are associated with undesirable, yet manageable, adverse effects; therefore, counseling is important in fostering patient adherence to medications used to treat UI. Read more.
New Approaches in Managing Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic condition of the bladder, which causes pain or discomfort in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes. The exact etiology of IC/BPS is unknown, leading to controversy regarding treatment. The American Urological Association guideline recommends a stepwise approach in the selection of treatment options, based on patient characteristics and the severity of symptoms. Due to the difficulty in fully understanding this condition, the goal of therapy is to provide symptom relief and improve quality of life. Read more.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Strategies for Treatment and Prevention
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) remains a relevant public health concern due to long-term effects on reproductive potential. Despite being the most common gynecologic infection, programs focusing on prevention are lacking. Given the correlation between PID and sexual activity, practitioners should be cognizant of this disease in adolescents and young adults. The treatment of PID should include antimicrobials with activity against common sexually transmitted pathogens as well as other vaginal microflora. Read more.
Depression Found to Be Both Undertreated, Overtreated in U.S.
A report published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine says that most Americans with depression receive no treatment. More than two-thirds of adults receiving treatment for depression, on the other hand, did not report symptoms of the disorder. Read more.
Antipsychotic Use During Pregnancy Doesn’t Appear to Increase Birth Defects
A study of 1.3 million expectant mothers suggests antipsychotic medication early in pregnancy was not linked to a meaningful increase in the risk of birth defects when other mitigating factors were considered. Read more.
More Expensive Drug Combo: Reasonably Cost Effective in Heart Failure
Sacubitril-valsartan is reasonably cost effective compared to widely used therapies for reducing mortality and morbidity in patients with reduced ejection fraction heart failure, according to an article published online by Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more.
Intracranial Bleeding Risks Lower With Some NOACs Than Warfarin
While new oral anticoagulants provide the same stroke prevention as warfarin, they generally are able to do so with less intracranial bleeding, according to a study in more than 43,000 patients. Read more. |
