Joint Letter to Congressional Leadership to Include the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act in the Next COVID-19 Legislative Relief Package

Joint Letter to Congressional Leadership in Support for Increased Investment in Primary Care

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Support of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Passage of H.R. 3838/S. 2415, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Opposition to Efforts to Restrict Access to Gender-Affirming Care

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Funding for CHIP and Workforce Programs

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Supporting Maternal Health Provisions in Build Back Better Act

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Supporting Implementation of G2211

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Supporting FDA Regulation of Synthetic Nicotine Products

Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Supporting E/M Increases in 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

Review: In adults with sleep apnea, positive airway pressure does not reduce cardiovascular events or death

Source Citation Yu J, Zhou Z, McEvoy RD, et al. Association of positive airway pressure with cardiovascular events and death in adults with sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017;318:156-66. 28697252

Guideline: An expert panel found that calcium intake is safe from a cardiovascular perspective

Source Citation Kopecky SL, Bauer DC, Gulati M, et al. Lack of evidence linking calcium with or without vitamin D supplementation to cardiovascular disease in generally healthy adults: a clinical guideline from the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology. Ann Intern Med. 2016;165:867-8. 27776362

In chronic severe functional constipation, electroacupuncture increased complete spontaneous bowel movements

Source Citation Liu Z, Yan S, Wu J, et al. Acupuncture for chronic severe functional constipation: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Sep 13. [Epub ahead of print]. 27618593

Review: Dietary or supplemental calcium increase BMD by ≤ 1.8% in persons > 50 years of age

Source Citation Tai V, Leung W, Grey A, Reid IR, Bolland MJ. Calcium intake and bone mineral density: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2015 Sep 29;351:h4183. 26420598

Review: Calcium supplementation and risk for fracture in persons > 50 years of age

Source Citation Bolland MJ, Leung W, Tai V, et al. Calcium intake and risk of fracture: systematic review. BMJ. 2015;351:h4580. 26420387

1-step screening approach detected more GDM than 2-step approach but did not improve clinical outcomes

Source Citation Hillier TA, Pedula KL, Ogasawara KK, et al. A pragmatic, randomized clinical trial of gestational diabetes screening. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:895-904. 33704936

In non–low back musculoskeletal injuries, NSAIDs and acetaminophen reduce acute pain

Source Citation Busse JW, Sadeghirad B, Oparin Y, et al. Management of acute pain from non-low back, musculoskeletal injuries: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173:730-8. 32805127

In COVID-19, adding lopinavir–ritonavir to usual care did not shorten time to clinical improvement

Source Citation Cao B, Wang Y, Wen D, et al. A trial of lopinavir–ritonavir in adults hospitalized with severe Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1787-99. 32187464

Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Tobacco Use in Children and Adolescents: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement*

Chinese translation Description: Update of the 2003 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on primary care interventions to prevent tobacco use in children and adolescents. Methods: The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the effectiveness of primary care interventions on the rates of initiation or cessation of tobacco use in children and adolescents and on health outcomes, such as respiratory health, dental and oral health, and adult smoking. The USPSTF also reviewed the evidence on the potential harms of these interventions. Population: This recommendation applies to school-aged children and adolescents. The USPSTF has issued a separate recommendation statement on tobacco use counseling in adults and pregnant women. Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians provide interventions, including education or brief counseling, to prevent initiation of tobacco use in school-aged children and adolescents.

Screening Tests for Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Background: A 50-g oral glucose challenge test (OGCT) is a widely accepted screening method for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but other options are being considered. Purpose: To systematically review the test characteristics of various screening methods for GDM across a range of recommended diagnostic glucose thresholds. Data Sources: 15 electronic databases from 1995 to May 2012, reference lists, Web sites of relevant organizations, and gray literature. Study Selection: Two reviewers independently identified English-language prospective studies that compared any screening test for GDM with any reference standard. Data Extraction: One reviewer extracted and a second reviewer verified data from 51 cohort studies. Two reviewers independently assessed methodological quality. Data Synthesis: The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for the OGCT at a threshold of 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) were 70% to 88%, 69% to 89%, 2.6 to 6.5, and 0.16 to 0.33, respectively. At a threshold of 7.2 mmol/L (130 mg/dL), the test characteristics were 88% to 99%, 66% to 77%, 2.7 to 4.2, and 0.02 to 0.14, respectively. For a fasting plasma glucose threshold of 4.7 mmol/L (85 mg/dL), they were 87%, 52%, 1.8, and 0.25, respectively. Glycated hemoglobin level had poorer test characteristics than fasting plasma glucose level or the OGCT. No studies compared the OGCT with International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) diagnostic criteria. Limitations: The lack of a gold standard for confirming GDM limits comparisons. Few data exist for screening tests before 24 weeks’ gestation. Conclusion: The OGCT and fasting plasma glucose level (at a threshold of 4.7 mmol/L [85 mg/dL]) by 24 weeks’ gestation are good at identifying women who do not have GDM. The OGCT is better at identifying women who have GDM. The OGCT has not been validated for the IADPSG diagnostic criteria. Primary Funding Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.