CP, January 2018, Vol 10, No 1

Older adults at risk of medication-related dry mouth

In a meta-analysis of 26 studies, researchers found that medication use was significantly associated with dry mouth…

Statin therapy in obese patients and the risk of diabetes

Study highlights importance of people at high risk of diabetes being monitored during statin therapy…

Revisiting NICE’s approval of ‘breakthrough’ drugs palbociclib and ribociclib

Claims of cancer drugs’ survival benefits must be accurate. To avoid fashion and fads, we must carefully examine the clinical and economic implications of newly approved cancer drugs before we seat them on the ‘breakthrough’ throne. In November 2017, the National Institute fo…

Insulin pumps lead to better clinical outcomes compared with injection

Observational study compared rates of severe hypoglycaemia in diabetes patients using insulin pump and injection therapy.…

Multivitamins during pregnancy could lower risk of some types of autism

Maternal multivitamin use with or without additional iron or folic acid was associated with lower odds of autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability in the child.…

Reducing hepatitis C virus transmission

Combined needle provision and opioid substitution therapy could cut hepatitis C virus transmission risk.…

Lack of evidence that cancer drugs approved by the EMA improve survival

BMJ published a study investigating the effectiveness of 48 drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency.…

PPI use not linked to osteoporotic fractures in Barrett’s oesophagus

Fractures are not uncommon in patients with the condition, but the rate is not higher than in the general population and is not associated with use of PPIs, researchers concluded.…

Smoking cessation after myocardial infarction

Low adherence to early-use smoking cessation medications after myocardial infarction.…

Telemedicine as effective for Parkinson’s disease patients as face-to-face consultation

Providing specialist care through video conferencing was no less effective than in-person visits and was more convenient, study finds.…