The combination of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea can be a dangerous combination for U.S. veterans, resulting in a much higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, among other conditions.
U.S. Veterans with Lung Cancer Experienced Greater Survival Gains Than Other U.S. Patients
Advances in lung-cancer screening and treatment have improved survival for patients across the United States. But new research suggested that healthcare delivery might be just as important as medical innovation in determining outcomes.
One ‘Aw Sh*t’ Wipes Out 1,000 ‘attaboys’
I must have heard or used variations of this month’s quote several hundred times during my military career. As a resident physician, my existence seemed to be ruled by this postulate, since months of smooth sailing at work could be wiped out in seconds by the smallest error. Good works seemed to fade in the collective memory of my superiors overnight, but mistakes appeared to stain my reputation in perpetuity. I guess whether it is resident relations with staff or international relations between countries, one’s reputation is only as formidable as the magnitude of one’s last mistake.
Plan for Homeless Veterans Haven in Los Angeles Continues to Be Plagued by Problems, Cost Concerns
While VA is lauding its progress in creating a haven for homeless veterans on its West Los Angeles campus, lawmakers are concerned about ongoing delays in the project and the unprecedented level of secrecy required of contractors.
Costs of Care, Oncologic Outcomes Related to Blue Light Cystoscopy at VA
Higher upfront costs vs. improved recurrence outcomes are a tradeoff when incorporating blue light cystoscopy (BLC) into nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) management, according to a new study.
Intradetrusor incobotulinumtoxinA Is Noninferior to OnabotulinumtoxinA in Treatment of Idiopathic Overactive Bladder
Is incobotulinumtoxinA to onabotulinumtoxinA more effective for the treatment of idiopathic overactive bladder syndrome?
Survey Found Improved Peritoneal Dialysis Program Infrastructure and Clinical Practices at VHA
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) use among the U.S. veterans is lower than that in the nonveteran kidney failure population. The VA has made access to high quality home dialysis a strategic priority.
Suicide Risk Higher in Active-Duty Army Servicemembers Who Carry Weapons
Among U.S. Army servicemembers who own firearms, carrying them, as well as other weapons, and storing them unsecured are associated with greater risk of suicide, according to a recent study.
Results Similar Between IV and Oral Iron Replacement Therapy With Mitigation
Noting that the long-term outcomes associated with intravenous (IV) vs. oral iron replacement therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease have been unclear, a recent study sought to remedy that.
Morning Dosing Appears Better for Use of ICIs in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Does synchronizing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) dosing with morning peaks in immune activation improve clinical outcomes?
CGM Data Predicts Kidney Decline, Cuts ESRD Risk in VA Diabetes Studies
VA researchers also find TBI doubles dementia risk in type 2 diabetes; stress tied to diabetes onset; and metformin linked to slower biological aging
Polygenic Scores Show Limited Value in Cardiovascular Risk Prediction for Breast Cancer Survivors
Approximately 4 million women in the United States are living with breast cancer, a number that reflects advances in screening and treatment. As survivorship improves, attention has increasingly shifted toward long-term risks such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of mortality in this population and a growing concern within the VA, given the increasing number of women veterans.
FY2027 VA Budget Predicts Healthcare Staffing Remaining at Current Levels
The VA funding request for fiscal year 2027 has the department expecting to spend big on new construction in the coming year, with less emphasis on any new hiring. It also continues to slowly bring spending on community care into parity with VA direct medical care.
Repeated Blast Exposure Appears to Increase Brain Aneurysms in U.S. Special Operations Forces
In U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel, greater repeated blast exposure is associated with a higher prevalence of intracranial aneurysms, according to a recent study.
Blood Pressure Drug Found to Reduces Arterial Stiffness, Especially in Older Patients
Low-dose amiloride, a potassium-sparing diuretic, appears to improve blood pressure and arterial stiffness in adults with overweight or obesity and features of metabolic syndrome, according to a new study.
Expert Panel Recommended Regular Review of Psychotropic Medications
Psychotropic medications are often prescribed for many complex, difficult-to-treat psychiatric disorders and include antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and stimulants. New guidance has suggested there’s a need for greater recognition of clinical psychopharmacology endpoints.
New Solutions for an Old Problem: Extending Dopamine Effectiveness in Parkinson’s Disease
Deep brain stimulation works well for some Parkinson’s disease patients for some period of time, but the long-term benefits might not be as promising, according to a new VA study. That brings clinicians back to their problem of decades: How to extend dopamine benefits to avoid “off” episodes. New pharmaceuticals might offer the answers.
First-Generation Weight Loss Drugs Still Play a Vital Role in Patient Care at VA
As obesity remains a significant threat to health worldwide, first-generation obesity medications continue to play an important role in clinical practice, according to a recent review article.
Nearly a Quarter of Active-Duty U.S. Servicemembers Meet Obesity Definition
Obesity poses an increasing threat to U.S. military readiness, with more than half of active-duty servicemembers classified as overweight and about a fourth as obese. Yet, weight loss medications continue to be underused. Find out why and how increasing political pressure might change that.
The Introduction of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ‘Game Changer’ in NSCLC, Other Cancers
Presentations at the most recent European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) annual conference and other studies underscored the durability of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which enable the patient’s immune cells to destroy cancer cells.
Cancer Vaccines in Lung Cancer: A New Strategy to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) resistance can be caused by tumor evasion mechanisms that prevent T cells from recognizing or killing cancer cells. Cancer vaccines are designed to address those challenges by stimulating the immune system to recognize tumor-specific antigens. Unlike preventive vaccines, these therapeutic approaches can “induce de novo or amplify pre-existing tumor-specific immune responses, thereby enhancing long-term immunological memory while maintaining a favorable safety profile,” according to a new study.
Acalabrutinib Gains Ground as Preferred BTK Inhibitor for CLL/SLL in Veterans Likely to Have Co-Morbidities
Veterans with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic leukemia tend to be very different than typical clinical trial populations, presenting with diagnoses of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions. That is why VA’s oncology clinical pathways now prefer a first-line therapy that has demonstrated efficacy across high-risk genomic subgroups, has a lower rate of adverse effects and is compatible with the complex comorbidity profile common among older veterans.
More Genetic Testing, New Drug Combinations Hold Promise for Prostate Cancer With Germline Variants
Pathogenic germline variants might be found in a relatively small percentage of prostate cancer patients, but they can make the prognosis much, much worse. Now, the future is looking brighter, with the VA and other healthcare systems spearheading more testing. At the same time, drug combinations involving PARP inhibitors are showing some success in lengthening survival.
B-Cell Lymphomas in Veterans: Expanding the Role of Next-Generation BTK Inhibition
The PACT Act marked the largest single expansion of veterans’ benefits for toxic exposure in the history of the VA. Among its most consequential provisions for hematology-oncology care, the legislation established lymphomas of any type as presumptive service-connected conditions for veterans who served in qualifying locations during the Gulf War era or in the post-September 11, 2001, conflicts.
Veterans With ALS Report High Satisfaction With VA Care Compared to Outside Care
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurogenerative disease that has devastating symptoms. It is 1.5 times more common in military veterans than those who never served. A recent survey found that veterans with the disease gave high marks to VA’s highly comprehensive and coordinated system to manage their care.
Availability of Women’s Health PCPs Can Stem Female Veterans Attrition From VA Care
In the VA healthcare system, which has predominantly male patients, new women veteran patients who receive care from a women’s health primary care practitioner have a much lower risk of discontinuing VA care.
Minor Amputation Signals Ongoing Risk for Limb Loss in Veterans With Diabetes and PAD
Veterans with diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at substantial risk for limb loss—even after undergoing procedures that are often considered limb-sparing.
Ultrasound Guided by MRI Effective Therapy for Parkinson’s Symptoms
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy, a noninvasive, incision-free and radiation-free therapeutic technology that uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy specific tissue, guided by real-time MRI for precision, is increasingly used for managing symptoms in patients with essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Limited Evidence on Medications to Treat Post-TBI Headaches
Headache following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common disabling disorder, but, because of diverse mechanisms and treatment needs that remain poorly defined, how to treat the condition is not clear-cut.
Social Determinants of Health and 1-Year Buprenorphine Initiation Among Justice-Involved Veterans
Justice-involved veterans (JIVs), with incarceration history or other legal involvement, tend to have high rates of high opioid-use disorder (OUD) but low uptake of medications for OUD (MOUD).
