News From The Annals Of Internal Medicine, Sept. 16, 2008, Issue

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma;  Diabetes
Article Date: 17 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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1. American College of Physicians Issues Guideline for Drug Treatment of Men and Women with Osteoporosis or Low Bone Density

Osteoporosis is a serious disease that affects an estimated 44 million Americans. In addition, nearly 34 million Americans have low bone mass and are at an increased risk of developing the disease. The American College of Physicians released a new clinical practice guideline recommending that physicians offer drug treatment to men and women who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or a previous fracture not caused by substantial trauma. The guideline also recommends that doctors and their patients consider drug treatment to prevent fracture for men and women who are at risk of developing osteoporosis. The authors did not find evidence to prove that one drug is definitively better than another medication. They recommend that physicians make individual treatment decisions based on the risks, benefits, and side effects profile of available drug options.

2. Commonly-prescribed Respiratory Medications Linked to Increased Death Risk in Veterans Newly Diagnosed with COPD

A large-scale, case-control study examined associations between commonly-prescribed respiratory medications and risk for death in veterans with newly diagnosed COPD. Researchers followed a cohort of patients enrolled in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration health care system to assess mortality rates at one year. Inhaled corticosteroids were associated with decreased risk for death, while theophyline and ipratropium were associated with increased risk for respiratory and cardiovascular death, respectively. Ipratropium was associated with an 11 percent increase in the risk for death, raising researchers' concerns about the potential harm associated with the drug rather than simply a lack of effectiveness. Researchers urge more research to weigh the benefits of these medications against the risk for death.

3. Early Release Article: A Review of Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Premixed Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes

According to a National Health Interview Survey, 28 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes use insulin alone or in combination with oral antidiabetic agents to control their glucose levels. Because of the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, the number of patients who use insulin for glycemic control, and the importance of glycemic control in decreasing mortality and morbidity, researchers wanted to establish the weight of evidence for the safety and effectiveness of premixed insulin compared with other antidiabetic agents. Researchers at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that premixed insulin provides tighter glycemic control than long-acting insulin and non-insulin antidiabetic agents. However, researchers cautioned that studies with longer follow-up are needed to determine long-term outcomes. Full text of the article will be available at http://www.annals.org/on September 16. The article will be published in the October 21 issue Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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About the American College of Physicians and Annals of Internal Medicine

Annals of Internal Medicine (http://www.annals.org/) is one of the five most widely cited peer-reviewed medical journals in the world. The journal has been published for 81 years and accepts only 7 percent of the original research studies submitted for publication. Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American College of Physicians (http://www.acponline.org/), the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States.

ACP members include 126,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illness in adults.

Source: Angela Collom
American College of Physicians