Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in OBGYN & Women’s Health for November 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Several Risk Factors More Strongly Linked to MI in Women
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) is higher in men than women, but several risk factors are more strongly linked to MI in women, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in The BMJ.
Increase Seen in Amphetamine, Opioid Use in Pregnant Women
FRIDAY, Nov. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of amphetamine and opioid use has increased among pregnant women, especially in rural counties, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Genetic Analysis Shows Higher BMI May Up Risk for Depression
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Being overweight likely plays a causal role in the development of depression, even in the absence of other health problems, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Climate Change Ups Heat Deaths, Especially Among Elderly
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Risk for heat-related disease and death is rising worldwide due to climate change, according to a report published online Nov. 28 in The Lancet.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Age-Related Vaginal Symptoms Tied to Worse Quality of Life
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Severe vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) symptoms are associated with worse quality of life in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in Menopause.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Large at Birth, Maternal Diabetes Up Child’s Risk for Obesity
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Large for gestational age (LGA) is a stronger marker than maternal diabetes for subsequently being overweight or obese in early childhood, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in Diabetologia.
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FDA: Kratom Products Have High Levels of Heavy Metals
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In addition to many other health risks, kratom products can have high levels of heavy metals, according to Scott Gottlieb, M.D., commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Healthy Lifestyle Tied to Less Atherosclerosis for Women
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A healthy lifestyle during midlife is associated with less subclinical atherosclerosis among women, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
FDA: Safe to Eat Romaine Lettuce Again, but Check Labels
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a statement released late yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., announced that the agency was lifting its advisory against eating romaine lettuce, first put in place last Tuesday. At that point, the agency had not been able to narrow down the source of the tainted lettuce. But now the source seems to be “end-of-season” lettuce harvested somewhere in the Central Coast regions of central and northern California. And “harvesting of romaine lettuce from this region has [already] ended for the year,” Gottlieb noted.
More Information: FDA
More Information: CDC
FDA to Update Medical Device Approvals Process
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A major update of the United States’ system for approving medical devices was announced yesterday by the Food and Drug Administration.
CBS/AP News Article
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Four Principles Underlie Patient and Family Partnership in Care
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patient and family partnership in care should include treatment of patients and families with dignity and respect, their active engagement in all aspects of care, and their contribution to the improvement of health care systems and education of health care professionals, according to a position paper published online Nov. 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Position Paper
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Involving Opioids Up
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2007 to 2016, there was a sharp increase in pregnancy-associated mortality involving opioids, according to a research letter recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
ACA Coverage Substantial, but Did Not Impact Labor Markets
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Millions of workers gained insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without adverse effects on labor markets, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute.
Report: How Have Workers Fared Under the ACA?
Newborns Infected With Ebola in Congo Outbreak
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ebola infections in newborns are being reported in the current outbreak of the deadly disease in Congo, the World Health Organization says.
AP News Article
More Information: CDC
USPSTF Suggests Universal HIV Screening, PrEP for High-Risk Patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV screening for individuals aged 15 to 65 years, including all pregnant women, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should be offered to those at high risk of HIV. These findings form the basis of two draft recommendation statements published online Nov. 20 by the USPSTF.
Draft Evidence Review – Adolescents/Adults
Draft Recommendation Statement – Adolescents/Adults
Comment on Recommendation Statement – Adolescents/Adults
Draft Evidence Review – Pregnancy
Draft Recommendation Statement – Pregnancy
Comment on Recommendation Statement – Pregnancy
Draft Evidence Review – PrEP
Draft Recommendation Statement – PrEP
Comment on Recommendation Statement – PrEP
Insulin Needed for T2DM Tx Set to Increase >20 Percent by 2030
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2018 to 2030, the insulin required to treat type 2 diabetes is expected to increase more than 20 percent, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Obesity Tied to Increased Risk for Early-Onset CRC in Women
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is associated with an increased risk for early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) among women, according to a study recently published in JAMA Oncology.
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CDC: U.S. Abortion Rate Declined 24 Percent From 2006 to 2015
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The abortion rate in the United States fell 24 percent between 2006 and 2015, according to research published in the Nov. 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Switching to High-Deductible Insurance Delays Diabetes Care
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with diabetes, those switching from low-deductible to high-deductible insurance have increased delays in seeking care and diagnostic testing for macrovascular symptoms and for first procedure-based treatment, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA: Another E. coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce
TUESDAY, Nov. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with health officials from various states are asking American consumers to avoid romaine lettuce due to an outbreak of Escherichia coli illness.
FDA Fast Facts
CDC Food Safety Alert
Prenatal Nitric Oxide Exposure Linked to Higher Risk for Autism
TUESDAY, Nov. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prenatal exposure to nitric oxide (NO) is associated with an increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published online Nov. 19 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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FDA Warns Against Giving Honey-Filled Pacifiers to Infants
MONDAY, Nov. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Pacifiers filled with or dipped in honey should not be given to infants, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Opioid Misuse Varies With Sexual Orientation
MONDAY, Nov. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Opioid misuse varies with sexual orientation, with increased misuse among female bisexuals, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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MS Relapse Drops During Pregnancy but Rises After
MONDAY, Nov. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse decrease during pregnancy but increase postpartum, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
HIV Transmission Risk Small With Antiretroviral Compliance
MONDAY, Nov. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk for sexual transmission of HIV is negligible when an HIV-positive sex partner adheres to antiretroviral therapy and maintains viral suppression, according to research published in the November issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Higher Risk for Amputation, DKA With SGLT2 Inhibitors for T2DM
FRIDAY, Nov. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors is associated with an increased risk for lower-limb amputation and diabetic ketoacidosis compared with use of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) receptor agonists, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in The BMJ.
CDC: 8.8 Percent Uninsured in U.S. in First Half of 2018
FRIDAY, Nov. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In the first six months of 2018, 8.8 percent of U.S. individuals of all ages were uninsured, which was not significantly different from 2017, according to a report published Nov. 15 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Name-Brand Medications Driving Spike in U.S. Drug Spending
THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rising drug spending in the United States is being fueled by expensive name-brand prescription medicines, a new study shows.
NBC News Article
Blue Cross Blue Shield Report
CDC: Many Americans May Have Prediabetes and Not Know It
THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than one-third of Americans have prediabetes, but 90 percent of them do not know they have it, medical experts say.
Do I Have Prediabetes
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Breast Cancer Recurrence Rate Not Up With Autologous Fat Transfer
THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with breast cancer, reconstruction with autologous fat transfer (AFT) seems not to increase the rate of locoregional recurrence versus conventional breast reconstruction, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in JAMA Surgery.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Patient Experiences Shed Light on Diagnostic Errors
THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Data from patient- and family-reported error narratives indicate that problems related to patient-physician interactions are major contributors to diagnostic errors, according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
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AMA to Collect Data on Suicide Among Doctors-in-Training
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — By collecting data on suicides by medical students, residents, and fellows, the American Medical Association hopes to identify ways to reduce suicides among doctors-in-training. The data collection policy was approved at a meeting yesterday.
Heart Disease Leading Cause of Death in Low-Income Counties
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The leading cause of death varies with income in the United States, with heart disease still the leading cause of death in low-income counties, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Short Interpregnancy Intervals Tied to Adverse Outcome Risk
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Short intervals between pregnancies are associated with increased risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes for women of all ages, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
USPSTF Recommends Screening Adults for Unhealthy Alcohol Use
TUESDAY, Nov. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care clinicians screen all adults, including pregnant women, for unhealthy alcohol use and provide brief behavioral counseling to reduce unhealthy alcohol use. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Nov. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Final Recommendation Statement
Evidence Report
Editorial 1
Editorial 2
Editorial 3 (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial 4 (subscription or payment may be required)
Denosumab Promising for TDT-Induced Osteoporosis Treatment
TUESDAY, Nov. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Denosumab (DNM), a fully human monoclonal antibody against the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), may be beneficial for managing transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT)-induced osteoporosis, according to a study published online Oct. 31 in Blood Advances.
Many Women Have Not Heard of Ovarian Cancer Before Dx
FRIDAY, Nov. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many women are not knowledgeable about ovarian cancer before diagnosis despite most women experiencing prediagnosis symptoms, according to a report published online Oct. 18 by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
Urinary Incontinence Common in Women Over 50 Years
FRIDAY, Nov. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of women older than 50 years report having urinary incontinence, according to the results of the National Poll on Healthy Aging, published on Nov. 1.
National Poll on Healthy Aging
Progress Toward Goals in Global Health Is Slowing
AMI, Stroke Risk Elevated for Women With Preeclampsia Within 20 Years 
Sexual Dysfunction Common Among Young Women With Cancer 
Self-Cut Mesh Noninferior for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Procedure 
How PCOS Diagnosis Is Communicated May Affect Later Well-Being 
2013 to 2024 Saw Decrease in Benzodiazepine Prescribing 
Childhood Cancer Survivors Often Have Mental Distress in Adulthood 
Air Pollution Tied to Higher Risk for Suicide 
Psychiatrists Only Agree 55 Percent of the Time on Diagnoses 
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