A longitudinal cohort study, published in the Annals of Epidemiology, determined if risk for accidental death overall, or the most common types of accidental deaths, varied over time in relation to when a soldier returned from a combat deployment.
News
Bright Light Therapy Remains Underused Within VA Healthcare System
Since the 1980s, when seasonal affective disorder was first identified, one of the first-line treatments has been Bright Light Therapy.
Current Issue
VA Healthcare Found to Generally Be More Efficient Than Private Care
Several recent studies have shown that VA healthcare is consistently as good as—or better than—non-VA healthcare. Now a study shows VA healthcare is also more efficient.
VA Trying to Pick Up Slack for Rural Veterans Losing Community Healthcare
VA has long struggled to provide care to veterans in rural areas of the country. Veterans living there are frequently required to drive long distances to VA hospitals, and smaller VA clinics are not always available.
Oncology
Shields Helped Implement Program to Bring Infusion Closer to VHA Patients
The idea for VA’s Close To Me Infusion Service has its roots in many places, One of them a veteran that Jenna Shields, PharmD, BCOP, saw weekly at the Pittsburgh VAMC.
Military Healthcare Beneficiaries Have Better NSCLS Survival.
Does the universal healthcare provided by the U.S. military health system (MHS) mean better lung cancer survival for patients? A new study suggested that is the case.
Real-World Pneumonitis Rates After Chemotherapy Plus Durvalumab
ANN ARBOR, MI – While adjuvant durvalumab after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is...
Editor-In-Chief, Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, MD, COL (ret.), MC, USA
Misinformation or distrust of vaccines can be like a contagion that can spread as fast as measles
Theresa Tam serves as Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer. Like many public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tam was the focus of considerable criticism of her recommendations as the virus spread. Health officials worldwide tried to guide the public on responding to the virus based on few facts. At the time, the virus was new and barely understood. There was no vaccination and little science regarding the COVID-19 virus. Fortunately for all of us, much has improved regarding our understanding and treatment of COVID and other respiratory viruses.
Enlarged Prostate Drug Has Potential as Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
A class of medication used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, or non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, shows potential as a treatment to delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study.
More Research Needed on High Melanoma Rates in AI/AN People
Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people have the second-highest rate of melanoma in the United States after non-Hispanic white people.
Cause of Kidney Injury After Procedures Not Always Contrast Media
The administration of iodinated contrast media is not responsible for all changes in creatinine levels in patients undergoing the procedures.
Black Veterans Get CKD Younger, Have Lower Death Rates
The younger age of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Black patients can help explain some of the differences and disparities compared to white patients with CKD, according to a new study.
Much More Dual Testing for CKD Needed Within VHA
A new study that included VA researchers made the case for much more dual testing for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in high-risk patients to improve disease management and patient outcomes.
Processing of ICE Medical Claims by VA Sparks Controversy in Congress
Republican legislators butted heads with VA officials last month over the question of whether department resources were being spent on immigrants who have been placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Issues With Pharmacy Module in VA EHR Could Cause Medication Errors
Ongoing problems with the pharmacy module in VA’s new Oracle electronic health record (EHR) have the potential to lead to medication errors, increasing lawmakers’ concern about plans to expand the new system.
VA Has Low Rates of Preoperative Life-Sustaining Treatment Documentation
Surgery is a significant healthcare event that necessitates timely planning for goals of care (GOC), involving discussions about one’s current values, aspirations and treatment preferences.
Mortality Rises in VHA Inpatients With COVID-19 Plus HAI Infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), an opportunistic pathogen commonly associated with healthcare-associated infections, has a high mortality rate. The organism’s high virulence and ability to rapidly acquire resistance to antibiotics make PA infections a treatment challenge.
New Study Defines Clinically Important Measures of Diabetes Distress
The term “diabetes distress” is used to describe the emotional response to living with diabetes, a life-threatening illness that requires chronic and demanding self-management.
Vet Centers Don’t Always Appropriately Document, Address Veteran Suicide Risk
VA’s Vet Centers are repeatedly falling short when it comes to properly assessing and documenting veterans’ suicide risk, according to department watchdogs.
Some Veterans With Dementia Might Have Treatable Cirrhosis Brain Effects
Could 1 in 10 veterans diagnosed with dementia actually have reversible cognitive decline caused by advanced liver disease?
Bramhall Works to Resolve Common Hearing Loss in Military Veterans
It’s such a common ailment among veterans that it’s almost a given: If you served any time in the military, you’re walking out with some type of hearing problem. That usually presents as hearing loss or tinnitus—a persistent ringing sound in the ears.
Smaller Brainstem Volumes Found in Gulf War, Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans
Gulf War and Iraq/Afghanistan veterans have significantly smaller brainstem volumes compared to healthy civilians, and damage to the brainstem structure of these veterans could potentially lead to sleep disturbances and chronic pain, according to a recent study.
New Research Suggests Use of Benzodiazepine Alternatives for COPD Insomnia
The safety and long-term effects of hypnotic medications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been called into question by a new study.
Cold, Heat Waves Can Present Extra Danger for COPD Patients
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are adversely impacted by extreme weather conditions, and the effects vary by gender and ethnic backgrounds.
Legislators Told AI Both Promising, Scary for Improving VA Healthcare
The speed at which artificial intelligence (AI) is being embraced at the VA has legislators both hopeful and concerned, optimistic that it can improve veterans’ health but worried about data privacy and the possibility of software superseding human decision-making in clinical settings.
Study: Vietnam War-Era Veterans Not at Increased Risk of Suicide Mortality
Veterans who served in the Vietnam War era, either in theater or not deployed, are not at increased risk of suicide mortality compared with the U.S. population, although the number of suicides among these veterans is noteworthy and merits the attention of mental health professionals and policymakers, according to a recent study.
Groups Funded to Help Prevent Veterans Suicides Overwhelmed by Paperwork
For the past two years, VA has overseen the distribution of grants to community organizations whose work is designed to help prevent veteran suicide.
HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis in MHS Not Linked to Higher STI Risk
Consistent use of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to reduce the risk of sexual risk of HIV acquisition by 99% among men who have sex with men (MSM).
DoD Grant Supports Innovative Treatment for Orthopedic Conditions
In September, the Department of Defense granted a small Maryland-based company up to $7.4 million to develop a targeted therapeutic that could have a big impact on the care of military personnel and veterans with orthopedic injuries and degenerative diseases.
Significant U.S. Military Response to Catastrophic Lahaina Wildfires in Hawaii
Devastating wildfires have been burning in Western Maui since the evening of Aug. 8, with Lahaina—the original capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom—being the area most affected on the island.
Surgery for Cervical Disc Disease Can Be Safely Performed in Overseas MTFs
Surgical procedures for cervical degenerative disc disease, including anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA), are safe and effective therapies for active duty servicemembers in overseas military medical facilities, according to a recent study.
Better Survival Rates for Lymphoma With Military vs. Civilian Healthcare
U.S. military servicemembers diagnosed with lymphoma have superior overall survival compared with their civilian counterparts, according to a recent study.
How Lung Volumes Change During Progression of Spirometric COPD
Abnormal lung volumes representing air-trapping identify the subset of smokers with preserved spirometry who develop spirometric chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adverse outcomes can be identified by abnormal lung volumes representing air-trapping.
VA Researchers Find Biomarkers for Potentially Serious Parasitic Infections
Asymptomatic Leishmaniasis Infected Nearly 20% of Soldiers in Iraq BETHESDA, MD—New research has identified three chemokines as potential biomarkers for asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a chronic infection caused by Leishmania (L.) donovani or L. infantum....
VA Facilities Plagued by Security Lapses, Serious Incidents
By their nature, VA healthcare facilities are meant to be easily accessible, but open-campus layouts also make them difficult to secure.
Folasade P. May Works to Remove Obstacles Keeping Minorities From CRC Screening
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable of cancers, despite being one of the most prevalent, ranking as the second-leading cause of cancer death in adults.
VA Secretary McDonough: PACT Act Claims Numbers Still Too Small
VA has had more than a half-million claims filed under the new PACT Act legislation, which expands care and benefits for former servicemembers exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their service.
Military Surgeons Deployed to Combat Environments Face Moral Injury, Distress
A new VA study may be the first to examine moral injury and distress at the intersection of these populations—that is, military healthcare professionals, specifically surgeons
Misinformation or distrust of vaccines can be like a contagion that can spread as fast as measles
Theresa Tam serves as Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer. Like many public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tam was the focus of considerable criticism of her recommendations as the virus spread. Health officials worldwide tried to guide the public on responding to the virus based on few facts. At the time, the virus was new and barely understood. There was no vaccination and little science regarding the COVID-19 virus. Fortunately for all of us, much has improved regarding our understanding and treatment of COVID and other respiratory viruses.
VA Study: Microbial Contamination Continues in Hospitals, Even When Recommended Cleaning Protocols Are Followed
Microbial contamination—including pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria—persisted on high-touch hospital surfaces despite compliance with recommended disinfection protocols, according to a study performed at the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System.
Psychological Distress Complicates Remote mTBI
Recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress, which are prevalent in military servicemembers, is complicated because the conditions share objective and subjective cognitive symptoms.
Women Veterans With Epilepsy Have More Psychiatric Diagnoses
Women Veterans with epilepsy (WVE) might have unique psychiatric comorbidities that affect presentation, treatment and outcomes.
How Veterans With TBI, GWI Present With Frontotemporal Disorders
Frontotemporal lobe disorders (FTD), which affect personality, behavior and language, are among the most common brain neurodegenerative disorders.
Cannabis-Use Disorder Riskier in Veterans With Mental Health Conditions
Veterans with psychiatric disorders, especially those with serious mental health issues, are especially vulnerable to cannabis-use disorder, according to a new study warning of an increase in the condition.
Study Spotlights Barriers to Best Lung Cancer Care Within VHA
While it is well known that veteran populations have higher lung cancer incidence and worse overall survival compared with non-veteran populations, it is not clear how VA lung cancer patients perceive their care.
Patient Selection for Lung Cancer Screening Is Less Than Optimal
Clinician judgment, not patient characteristics, often is the deciding factor in which VA patients are screened for lung cancer, according to a new study.
Military Healthcare Beneficiaries Have Better NSCLS Survival.
Does the universal healthcare provided by the U.S. military health system (MHS) mean better lung cancer survival for patients? A new study suggested that is the case.
Even Mild COVID-19 Infections Caused Impaired Fitness in Military Personnel
Healthy, young members of the military who have had COVID-19 may experience impairments in fitness up to a year after their acute illness has resolved
Deployment Status Plays a Role in Epilepsy Development After TBI
Deployment history appears to play a role in the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and epilepsy in recent veterans—but not always in an obvious way.
White Patients Much More Likely to Receive Knee Arthroplasty In MHS
The U.S. Military Health System is touted as an equal-access medical provider, and scores of studies have demonstrated that few racial inequities exist in the treatment it provides for many conditions.
Critics Strongly Condemn New VA/DoD Guideline on PTSD Treatment
The new VA/DoD posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) clinical practice guideline, published late last year, has drawn strong criticism from some experts in the field.
Despite Little Down Time, New Oracle-Cerner EHR Not Popular With Staff
According to VA, at least one aspect of its new Oracle-Cerner electronic health record (EHR) system is showing demonstrable improvement–a reduction in the number of times the system as a whole has been offline and inaccessible.
Concurrent Steroids Do Not Reduce Cancer Drugs’ Effectiveness
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have played a crucial role in the field of immuno-oncology over the past decade, substantially improving the prognosis of different cancers.
Nearly 20% of Veterans Showed Decline During Pandemic
While most U.S. veterans maintained or improved physical and mental function a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 20% showed a decline, according to a new study.
Higher Dose Flu Vaccines Don’t Reduce Cardiopulmonary Events
Higher dose influenza vaccines don’t appear to reduce risk of cardiopulmonary events during periods of increased, local flu activity, according to a recent study.
Immune Suppressive Drugs Increase Risk for Severe COVID-19
The risk of severe COVID-19 despite vaccination is substantial in patients taking immune-suppressive drugs, and their risk is much greater than patients with inflammatory diseases.
Prostate Cancer Outcomes Not Affected by FSH Levels
The standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer (PC) is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), usually delivered via a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist.
Toxicities From PARP Inhibitors for Prostate Cancer
Poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are an important class of therapeutics for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC),
Black Veterans 50% Likelier to Get Prostate Cancer Diagnosis on First Biopsy
Black men are more likely than non-Hispanic white men to develop and die from prostate cancer, yet not much data exists that is specific to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening protocols by race.
With High Awareness of Long COVID, Researchers Put Spotlight on Long Flu
Clinicians are well aware of long COVID, the enduring health conditions caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ ability to attack multiple organ systems.
Oral Antiviral Drug Paxlovid Reduced Only Some Post-COVID-19 Conditions
Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, an oral antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, only appears to reduce some post-COVID-19 conditions, such as combined thromboembolic events, according to a recent study.
War on Terror Created High Rates of Ocular Trauma in U.S. Servicemembers
The rate of combat ocular trauma in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom exceeded that of any past U.S. conflict. A new study looked at the long-term effects of the devastating battlefield injuries.
Homeless Veterans More Likely to Receive Risky Benzodiazepine Prescriptions
Despite an elevated risk of mental illness and substance use disorder in most homeless populations, a scarcity of research exists on the use of psychiatric medications and understanding of prescribing practices among providers for these populations.
Multilevel Intervention Aligns Colorectal Cancer-Screening Use With Benefit
Each year, the VA diagnoses some 4,000 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) in veterans. Colorectal cancer screening can help detect cancer early, when it is most treatable. But the benefits of screening in older adults varies by individual, according to a new study.
Legislators Raise Concerns About Lack of Background Checks at VA
VA apparently lacks the personnel needed to complete timely background checks on all new staff, resulting in employees going to work at VA hospitals without ever being fully vetted, according to a legislator.
Knowing Seasonality of Wartime Wound Infections Can Aid Effective Treatment
Battlefield-related wound infections complicate recovery from combat casualties. A new study described what pathogens are more likely to cause morbidity at what times of the year to help better manage the infections.
New Factbook Reveals Veteran Trends, Including Mental Health, Labor Market
U.S. military veterans are declining as a percentage of the population and are, on average, older, more likely to be male and less racially or ethnically diverse than the overall nonveteran population, reports a new factbook that sheds light on demographics, mental health and labor market outcomes.
Surgery Is Better Treatment for Primary Aldosteronism
Even though primary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension, the comparative outcomes of targeted treatment often are unclear.
Consensus Documents Answers Some Questions on Carotid Stenosis
Many national/international guidelines provide recommendations on management of patients with asymptomatic (AsxCS) and symptomatic (SxCS) carotid stenosis. Several questions remain unanswered, however, according to a new report.
SMART2 CABG Risk Score Performs Well in Racially Diverse VA Cohort
A new study tested the potential of the Secondary Manifestations of Arterial Disease (SMART2) risk score for use in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Fate of VA’s Whistleblower Protection Office Under Legislative Discussion
Should VA’s Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) be given more authority in order to better conduct investigations and track enforcement recommendations, or should it be done away with entirely?
Psychedelics to Treat PTSD Now Getting Bipartisan Congressional Support
After decades of being considered fringe science by lawmakers, research into psychedelics for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is finding bipartisan support in Congress.
VA’s Research Portfolio Suffers From Lack of Focus, Critics Maintain
VA’s research portfolio has slowly but steadily grown larger year after year. Nearly every major piece of legislation impacting VA includes provisions requiring the department to conduct research, whether it be on toxic exposure, mental health, suicide or other high-profile issues affecting veterans’ health.
Thyroid Cancer More Common Among Transgender Female Veterans
Transgender female veterans appear to have a high prevalence of thyroid cancer, according to a recent study that might be the first to demonstrate such a disparity in that cohort.
COVID-19 Cases Were Undercounted Early in Active-Duty Servicemembers
The number of reported COVID-19 cases in active-duty U.S. military members was considerably lower than true cases during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study, which used severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence data to reveal the gap
MHS Patients Receive Earlier Cancer Diagnoses Than General U.S. Population
Cancer patients treated within the MHS generally receive their diagnoses earlier than members of the general U.S. population covered by employee-provided insurance, Medicaid or without insurance.
Apixaban Suggested as Better OAC for Frail Older Adults With AF
Past research has suggested that elderly veterans who are frail are less likely to be prescribed oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation (AF). A recent study suggested a possible way to mitigate some of those challenges.
Usability Testing to Identify Deficiencies, Improve Efficiency in EHR Transition
For healthcare systems changing over from one electronic health record (EHR) system to another—such as the VA’s transition from its legacy EHR system to Oracle Cerner EHR modernization program—the transition poses many challenges, including an impact on medication safety.
A Review of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy
Barriers to maintaining viral suppression remain a challenge to ending the HIV epidemic. Among those are medication adherence.