CDC Report – Arthritis linked with worse outcomes for the 50% of U.S. Adults with chronic conditions

The Centers for Disease Control has just released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. According to the CDC, we shouldn't look at arthritis as just a stand-alone ailment. For the millions of Americans with chronic conditions—about half of the US adult population—arthritis can make a tough situation even tougher.

And for the 25% of the US adult population with two or more chronic conditions, arthritis further compounds the negative effects of chronic diseases. People with both arthritis and at least one other chronic condition are more likely to report work disabilities, limitations in social activities, and serious psychological distress.

So how many people does this effect? One in six US adults  has arthritis  and at least one other chronic condition. Put another way, of the 52.5 million US adults with arthritis, 72% have at least one other chronic condition. Of those adults with two or more chronic conditions, 63% also have arthritis.  

There are non-drug remedies that can reduce these negative effects. Physical activity has been proven to reduce pain and depression, and to improve function. Self-management education programs are also proven to help people learn strategies to manage their arthritis. These interventions can also provide benefit to people with chronic conditions who do not have arthritis.

For the full report, click here.

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month

An estimated 5.2 Million American's of all ages have Alzheimer's disease. It is the most common form of dementia with predictions that it will affect 1 in 85 people globally by the year 2050.

There is no cure for the disease and as it progresses it will eventually lead to death.  Most Alzheimer's patients are diagnosed over 65 years of age, however, it can occur to people who are much younger.

Though there is no cure, Dr. Gino Tutera, founder and pioneer of SottoPelle Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy, believes that hormone insufficiency can lead to Alzheimer's. There is a direct correlation to Estradiol insufficiency and the development of Alzheimer's, he says.

Seniors Groups and Members of Congress Speak Out Against Proposed Cuts to Medicare to Fund Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)

Bill Would Take $950 Million from Seniors' Health Care

Seniors groups are urging U.S. House members to oppose plans to cut $950 million from Medicare to fund the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which assists displaced workers. The cuts would jeopardize access to care for millions of seniors on Medicare.

Richard Fiesta, Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans and Max Richtman, President, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare joined Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) to oppose the legislation. 


The Alliance for Retired Americans is a national organization that advocates for the rights and well-being
of 4.3 million retirees and their families. www.retiredamericans.org @activeretirees

HDL, Inc. releases myHDL Physician App for Apple Watch

iOS application now offers patient management tools via Apple Watch.

RICHMOND, VA (June 8, 2015) –Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL, Inc.) has updated its myHDL Physician App to support use with Apple Watch. The iOS app, which was released for iPhone and iPad in March 2015, now allows the company's provider partners to view and manage patient cases from their wrist, on all models of Apple Watch. The app is free for all HDL, Inc. ordering providers and is available on the iTunes App Store. "HDL, Inc. is thrilled to release this update in stride with Apple's latest digital health innovation," stated Joseph McConnell, Ph.D., President and CEO of HDL, Inc. "Our tech-savvy provider partners can use this cutting-edge tool to help them offer more effective, personalized care to their patients and ultimately get ahead of disease progression."  With myHDL for Apple Watch, physicians will be able access the same breadth of information that is currently available on iPhone and iPad, including lab results and treatment suggestions. Users will also be able to receive up-to-the-minute push notifications of patient reports as they arrive from the laboratory, allowing for timely patient care and disease management. Features include: Multiple Patients' ResultsAccess and manage a practice's entire practice population from the app. Users can view past results and monitor health trends over time to design personalized treatment plans for each patient. Simplicity and SpeedQuickly pinpoint specific areas for improvement for each patient with HDL, Inc.'s stoplight color-coding and categorized test results. MD-Written Comments and Treatment GuidelinesGain a deeper understanding of the novel biomarkers and get treatment recommendations with comments written by HDL, Inc. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tara Dall. Security and PrivacyThe app was designed for HIPAA compliance. To that end, the following security features have been incorporated: physicians must use a username and password to access the app; physicians may access data that pertain only to their own patients; data sent to the app from HDL, Inc. is encrypted; no cache of data is stored in the app itself; and the app has an automatic sign-off function.  The app is available on the iTunes App Store (search "myHDL for Physicians") and can be downloaded at www.myhdlapp.com.  ________________________________

About Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. Founded in 2008, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL, Inc.) is a leader in health improvement with one mission: to beat cardiovascular disease and diabetes, one patient at a time. HDL, Inc. provides comprehensive biomarker testing and clinical health consulting for earlier disease detection and targeted disease management, resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced costs. HDL, Inc.'s novel, systematic approach identifies the various underlying factors contributing to disease progression, providing a basis for targeted treatment. This allows healthcare professionals to provide the most effective, appropriate care for their patients, and empowers individuals to take steps to improve their health. In addition to lab testing, HDL, Inc. offers patients a personalized overview of their lab results and intensive counseling from expert Clinical Health Consultants to promote healthier lifestyles. HDL, Inc. is a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory. For more information, visit www.hdlabinc.com. Follow us at Facebook.com/myhdl and on Twitter @hdltweets. The Non-GMO Organic Cookbook & Food Guide This unique recipe book contains: Non-GMO organic recipes Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, paleo and juicing recipes Easy DIY meals Infographics that detail: how to determine if a product contains GMOs, how to avoid toxic food supply additives, how to know if you're getting 100% organic, what USDA grade of meat to buy, the best anti-cancer foods, the best anti-inflammation food ​

Chronic Care Management Program Does Not Result in Increased Abstinence From Alcohol and Other Drug Dependence

Richard Saitz, MD, MPH

Persons with alcohol and other drug dependence who received chronic care management including relapse prevention counseling and medical, addiction and psychiatric treatment were no more abstinent than those who received usual primary care, according to a study in the September 18 issue of JAMA.

Chronic care management (CCM) is a way of delivering care that has been shown to be effective for chronic medical and mental health conditions. “Chronic care management is multidisciplinary patient-centered proactive care, a way to organize services that provides coordination and expertise, and has been effective for depression, medical illnesses, and tobacco dependence (a substance use disorder),” the authors write. Trials of integrated medical and addiction care suggest that CCM may be effective for treating addiction, particularly since care elements long known to be effective for addiction overlap with CCM approaches.

Richard Saitz, M.D., M.P.H., of Boston Medical Center, and colleagues conducted a study to examine whether CCM for alcohol and other drug dependence improves substance use outcomes compared with usual primary care. Participants (n = 563) were recruited between September 2006 to September 2008 from a freestanding residential detoxification unit, and from referrals to an urban teaching hospital and from advertisements; 95 percent completed 12-month follow-up. Participants were randomized to receive CCM (n=282) or no CCM (n=281).

The chronic care management group received longitudinal care coordinated with a primary care clinician; motivational enhancement therapy; relapse prevention counseling; and on-site medical, addiction, and psychiatric treatment, social work assistance, and referrals (to specialty addiction treatment mutual help). The primary care group received a timely appointment and a list of addiction treatment resources including a telephone number to arrange counseling.

The researchers found no difference in abstinence from stimulants, opioids, and heavy drinking between the CCM intervention and control group (44 percent vs. 42 percent, respectively, at 12 months). In a subgroup of patients with alcohol dependence, there were fewer alcohol problems among those who received the intervention.

The authors did not detect differences in secondary outcomes of addiction severity, health-related quality of life, or drug problems.

The authors write that current health care reforms in the United States include a focus on CCM in patient-centered medical homes to reduce chronic disease burden and to reduce costs (both of which are among the highest for those with addiction), in part because numerous studies have found such benefits for medical and mental health conditions. “Even though CCM is effective for a number of chronic conditions, it may be premature to assume that CCM will be the solution to improve the quality of care for and reduce costs of patients with addiction,” the authors write. Further research is warranted to determine whether more intensive or longer-duration CCM, or CCM designed differently, might do so.”
(doi:10.l001/jama.2013.277609)

Editor’s Note: This study was funded by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Dr. Cheng reports having served on data monitoring committees for Johnson & Johnson and Janssen. No other disclosures were reported.

Editorial: Managing Substance Dependence as a Chronic Disease - Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

“How should clinicians, clinical leaders, researchers, and policy makers interpret the results of this negative study?” asks Patrick G. O'Connor, M.D., M.P.H., of the Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., in an accompanying editorial.

“… The findings may suggest that the glass is half full rather than half empty. This study places the evaluation of CCM for the treatment of substance use disorders firmly on the agenda for future research in this area. The CCM concept is sound, at least for some chronic illnesses, and highly relevant to today's evolving health care system. More research on CCM of addiction is clearly warranted to identify specific CCM approaches that may be useful for specific substance-using populations. Clinicians and health care organizations should move forward cautiously in this area pending convincing evidence that specific CCM models are effective for the treatment of substance use disorders in selected patient populations. Comprehensive, integrated management of addiction can only benefit patients—it remains to be seen how best to deliver substance abuse treatment effectively in an evidence-based manner.”
(doi:10.l001/jama.2013.277610)

Editor’s Note: The author has completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported.