The 2 Minute Update

Does decreasing smoking frequency decrease mortality?

June 10, 2020 • journal review • journal study • mortality outcome • smoking

We know that quitting smoking decreases mortality. But what if someone decreases frequency, transitioning from smoking daily to smoking less frequently than every day? Does that save lives?

Does pulmonary rehab decrease mortality?

May 23, 2020 • COPD exacerbation • hospital guidelines • Hospital medicine • journal review • journal study • mortality outcome • pulmonary rehab

Mortality is greatly decreased if pulmonary rehab is started within 90 days of a COPD-related hospital admission. But only 1.5% of Medicare patients start pulmonary rehab shortly after being admitted for COPD.

Does paracentesis timing matter?

April 15, 2020 • hospital guidelines • Hospital medicine • journal review • journal study • mortality outcome • paracentesis

Paracentesis is recommended in patients with cirrhosis and ascites, but timing is not addressed. This study shows that early paracentesis - in the first 24 hours of admission - saves lives and prevents readmissions, especially in patients with encephalopathy of AKI.

Low-dose colchicine after MI?

February 18, 2020 • Colchicine • hospital guidelines • Hospital medicine • journal review • journal study • MI • mortality outcome

Low-dose colchicine reduces further cardiovascular events after myocardial infarction. The rates of stroke, after an initial MI, were dramatically lower.

Hospitalized at home?

January 31, 2020 • hospital care at home • hospital guidelines • Hospital medicine • hospitalized at home • journal review • journal study

A randomized trial evaluated treating inpatients inside their home instead of inside a hospital, with doctor and nurse visits, IV med, oxygen, etc. There were fewer readmissions, and costs were lower.