Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1. Blood pressure (BP) in noisy vs. loud settings

In this RCT, BP was assessed in a private quiet office (private quiet), noisy public space (public loud), and a noisy public space with earplugs (public quiet).  Public-loud and public-quiet BPs had minimal, non–clinically important differences from private quiet BPs. These findings support the reliability of BP assessments even outside traditional quiet settings.

2. Severity and long-term mortality in COVID, RSV, and influenza

This cohort study of 140K US veterans compared the severity of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons. While COVID-19 was associated with higher 30-day hospitalization and long-term mortality compared to influenza and RSV, differences were less pronounced in the later season, with RSV remaining the mildest illness. Vaccination significantly reduced disease severity and eliminated mortality differences between COVID-19 and influenza. 

3. Trop testing trends

In this cross-sectional analysis of 731 million ED visits, 7% of visits had cardiac biomarker testing, with no significant trend changes over time. Testing was more frequent in older adults, men, and those with abnormal vital signs. Notably, two-thirds of patients undergoing testing had no chest pain, with ACS identified in fewer than 2% of these cases. Conversely, 75% of patients with chest pain did not undergo testing.

ADHD Survival

 Why more needs to be done to support those diagnosed with ADHD

What happened: A British study has found that people with ADHD are dying earlier than their neurotypical counterparts.

Why it’s interesting: More than 30,000 people diagnosed with the disorder were studied, and researchers found that men were dying 7 years earlier and women 9. The authors of the study say their findings are concerning and need to be addressed in an urgent matter.

In the US, about 15 million people have ADHD, while 25% of the population believe they are undiagnosed. The study didn’t identify the possible causes of death but found they were twice as likely as the general public to smoke or abuse alcohol. One doctor said adults with ADHD have a harder time managing their impulsive or risky behaviours.

While the study didn’t provide the cause of death for the participants, a psychologist said it would’ve been essential to know so that doctors could help patients prevent specific issues like depression or diet and exercise.

So, what needs to be done? Doctors hope that this new information will get healthcare systems to adjust their protocols to better aid folks with ADHD who may have sensory sensitivity or time management and communication issues. They would also like to see treatments for substance abuse or depression be changed for patients with the disorder.

Bottom line: ADHD shouldn’t be treated as a childhood disorder but instead as a lifelong diagnosis. Those affected should be supported so they can learn how to manage their struggles and live healthy, long lives.

Hot Off The Press

1: 🇺🇸 On his first day back in office, President Trump capped Medicare copayments, reversed Obamacare policies, and scrapped prescription drug pricing rules, calling them “deeply unpopular” and “radical.” Experts say these changes likely won’t change anything for most Americans, but these moves signal a clear break from his predecessor’s work.

2: 👾 Chinese tech startup DeepSeek is disrupting the industry with a low-cost, open-source model rivalling top US players. Its AI assistant quickly became the most popular free app on Apple’s US App Store, sparking a sharp sell-off in chip stocks — Nvidia dropped 17%, dragging markets down. The shake-up raises questions about the future of tech investment and US market dominance.

3:👃🏻The FDA has approved the Johnson & Johnson nasal spray, Spravato, as a treatment to help patients with severe depression. A study found that more than a fifth of patients who took Spravato went into remission as the drug works by targeting a neurotransmitter glutamate, which affects the brains functions. Doctors can now prescribe the drug along with oral antidepressants.

4: 🤳🏼TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain as Apple and Google keep the app off their stores, even though an executive order temporarily stopped its ban. TikTok’s back in action, but there’s still a lot of legal confusion about whether its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has to sell off part of the business. Without updates or new downloads, the app could stop working, raising doubts about its future in the US.

5: 🔬Trump's sweeping moves to freeze health agency work and cut ties with the WHO have medical researchers worried. A lot of them are bracing for a return to anti-science policies — everything from pausing NIH trials to going after health equity programs. The stage has been set for a showdown over the politicization of science.

Notable Numbers 🔢

67: the number of active tuberculosis cases since 2024 in Kansas. Officials say it’s the largest outbreak on record in US history. While it’s possible for anyone to contract the disease, the CDC said folks who live in homeless shelters or are incarcerated, and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

61: days since an Alabama women received a pig organ transplant. She is the longest living recipient of the organ and is healthy and full of energy! Researchers are excited about the results and are continuing to monitor the woman for any changes.

200,000: the number of people included in a recent study on GLP-1 drugs, which suggested benefits beyond diabetes and obesity, including lower risks of Alzheimer's and addiction. However, researchers warn of potential risks like pancreatitis and arthritis, cautioning against broader use until more clinical trials confirm these findings.

Postcall Picks

Laugh: at this meme about neurogenic bladder problems!

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🤑Save: with Valentine’s Day just around the corner Wired has got you covered with a wide range of gifts sure to make the special people in your life smile. Our favorite is LEGO flower bouquet!

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