HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry |
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Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleague-
Just as we started to think things were returning to the pre-pandemic normal the Delta variant arrived in the US. This variant has aggressively attacked the non-vaccinated with many now being hospitalized and stressing our healthcare system. But, unlike the initial onset of the pandemic, we have experience to draw on and a majority of the vulnerable elder population has been vaccinated. So, the question over the next couple of months will be did we learn anything from the past year and a half. I hope the answer is yes. In this month’s newsletter you will see articles that discuss sicker cancer and cardiac patients due to missed screenings and appointments during the early stages of the pandemic. Early indications are that while there are a lot of hospitalizations now, the mortality rate is far lower than the first wave of COVID. This could be due to the patients being younger, but also from what we’ve learned with regard to treatment. At present, we are not seeing mass shutdowns of necessary testing and treatment, we understand that while COVID is very dangerous so is cancer and heart disease. We are also starting to see increased interest for those that had decided not to get vaccinated, to now get the vaccine. So, it does look like we have learned a couple lessons. Hopefully we continue learning how to beat back this horrible disease while also continuing to provide needed medical care for our communities and keep the economy going.
We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter!
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Habitual coffee consumption may lower risk for irregular heartbeat |
Increasing amounts of habitual coffee consumption were inversely linked with a lower risk for arrhythmia, according to a prospective cohort study of nearly 400,000 adults in the United Kingdom.
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Effect of a Phytochemical-Rich Diet on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 1 Diabetes |
Researchers investigated the relationship between dietary phytochemical index (DPI) and specific cardiovascular risk factors among young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). They found that DPI scores indicating a higher dietary intake of phytochemically rich foods were associated with lower probability of cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidemia and high fasting blood glucose (FBG). The results of their study were published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.
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Goji berry consumption may lower long-term CVD risk |
Goji berry, or wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) has a long tradition as a health food in Asia as it is naturally abundant in carotenoids, Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) fraction, vitamin C precursor 2-O-(β-dglucopyranosyl) ascorbic acid, phenolic acids, and flavinoids.
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‘The time is now:’ Cardiologists push for change as the battle against burnout continues |
The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), European Society of Cardiology and World Heart Federation have collaborated on a new paper urging healthcare organizations and industry societies to implement new policies that will help prevent clinician burnout.
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Arterial stiffening linked to Alzheimer's disease |
A research team from Vanderbilt University Medical Center reports in Neurology that greater stiffening of the aorta, the main artery in the human body, is associated in older adults with increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology as reflected in a range of neurochemical indicators measured in cerebrospinal fluid.
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Impaired Blood Sugar Levels In Type-2 Diabetes Tied To Poor Cardiac Function: Study |
The cardiac function gets impaired in patients with type-2 diabetes, who have poor blood sugar control, suggests a study published in the Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Journal.
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Ertugliflozin preserves kidney function in patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease |
The SGLT2 inhibitor ertugliflozin shows promise for preserving kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, results of a placebo-controlled trial suggested.
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Heart problems in children with COVID-19 resolve within months, study finds |
Most of the 45 children included in the study were clear of their heart-related symptoms caused by a rare complication called multi-system inflammatory syndrome within four months, the data showed.
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Joint team develops algorithm predicting heart disease risk through retina |
A joint research team led by Severance Hospital professors has developed an algorithm that predicts the risk of new cardiovascular diseases by observing changes in blood vessels in the retina images, the hospital said in a news release Thursday.
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Providers see sicker cancer patients after missed screenings and care during COVID-19 |
Healthcare providers across the U.S. are seeing more patients with late-stage cancer, the consequence of the pandemic's pause on screenings and routine doctor's visits.
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Frequently engaging in 'cognitively stimulating activities' may delay dementia onset |
Individuals with a “cognitively active lifestyle” delayed dementia onset up to 5 years compared with individuals who engaged in low levels of cognitive activity, according to findings from a longitudinal cohort study published in Neurology.
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Early decrease in weight loss during COVID-19 pandemic did not persist long term |
U.S. adults participating in a digital weight-management program lost less weight in the first 7 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic vs. participants from a year prior, but the changes did not persist long term, according to study data.
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Effectiveness May Decline, Data From Israel Suggests |
Earlier this month, health officials in Israel reported 64 percent of vaccinated individuals were protected against infection during a Delta variant outbreak and 94 percent were protected against severe illness. The new numbers say that the vaccine was 39 percent effective in preventing infection between late June and early July — when the Delta variant became more common in Israel — while it was 95 percent effective against preventing infection between January and early April, the Times says. It notes that, for both timeframes, the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing severe disease.
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‘Different’ Lipid Profile Seen in Patients With GBA Mutations |
Blood levels of various fat molecules — known as the lipid profile — in people with familial Parkinson’s disease caused by mutations in the GBA gene differ from those seen in people with sporadic Parkinson’s and healthy individuals, a study reported.
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BMI may affect cognitive impairment after stroke |
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Patients with higher or lower BMIs faced significantly greater risks for global cognitive function and frontal domain performances following an ischemic stroke, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
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High cholesterol in middle-age increases dementia risk when older, major study finds |
The study, the largest of its kind, monitored 1.8 million UK adults and found those with high cholesterol when they were under 65 years old were 60% more likely to develop dementia more than 10 years later.
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Isoflavone-rich Diet Boosts Gut Health, Lessening MS Severity |
In the study, mice with MS that were fed a diet rich in isoflavone — a plant-based compound — developed diverse and abundant gut bacteria, particularly isoflavone-digesting bacteria, which produced compounds that reduced inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.
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Mixed-ancestry genetic research shows a bit of Native American DNA could reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease |
Since the human genome was first mapped, scientists have discovered hundreds of genes influencing illnesses like breast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, Black people, Indigenous people and other people of color are underrepresented in most genetic studies. This has resulted in a skewed and incomplete understanding of the genetics of many diseases.
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Stage 2 hypertension increases risk for maternal, fetal, neonatal adverse outcomes |
Severe stage 2 hypertension, but not elevated BP and stage 1 hypertension, was associated with maternal, fetal or neonatal mortality or morbidity in low-resource settings, according to new research published in The Lancet Global Health.
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Micro-PET/CT shows long-term Ritalin use safe in ADHD |
Adults who started taking methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, when they were children for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be able to lay aside concerns over whether the drug has neurotoxic effects, according to authors of an animal study published July 12 in Neurotoxicology and Teratology.
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New Mutations in Six Genes Found to Increase Alzheimer’s Risk |
Their study involved the genetic analysis of 19 families in Utah with higher-than-normal occurrence of the disease. The scientists found relevant mutations in the genes PELI3, FCHO1, SNAP91, COX6A2, MUC16, and PIDD1.
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Google Cloud unveils Healthcare Data Engine for a holistic view of health data |
Google Cloud on Thursday unveiled Healthcare Data Engine, a new tool, currently in private preview, that helps healthcare and life sciences organizations harmonize data from different sources. It gives organizations a holistic view of patient information in near real-time, and it enables advanced analytics and AI in a secure and compliant cloud environment.
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Nearly 40% of radiologists and other doctors working side gigs amid pandemic |
Medscape conducted its survey between March and May, reaching 2,533 U.S. docs, including roughly 75 radiologists. About 37% said they’re working a side job compared to 63% who are not. The majority involve medical activities such as consulting, expert testimony, chart reviews and moonlighting.
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Medical imaging group calls for PACS security checks amid threat 275M exams remain vulnerable |
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance is encouraging healthcare providers to audit picture archiving and communication systems for vulnerabilities following a recent warning from federal health experts.
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Growing Length of EHR Clinical Notes Raises Clinician Burnout Concerns |
EHR clinical progress notes have grown 60 percent longer and 11 percent more redundant over the past decade, highlighting clinician burnout concerns.
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In-person requirement for telemental care draws backlash from providers, advocates |
Congress has made steps to improve Medicare's telehealth coverage, but there are still restrictions that provider groups, advocates and lawmakers across the aisle argue will impede access to mental healthcare.
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Lawmakers urge CMS to reexamine long-delayed imaging Appropriate Use Criteria program |
The Appropriate Use Criteria Program was first established in 2014, requiring docs to consult a support system before ordering MR, CT or other scans. But it has been frequently postponed in the years since, including a recent proposal to push back the penalty phase of the program another year to Jan. 1, 2023.
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SNMMI and Coalition Partners Applaud the Introduction of the FIND Act |
On July 16, Congressmen Scott Peters (D-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Greg Murphy (R-NC) introduced the Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics (FIND) Act of 2021 (H.R. 4479), legislation that would significantly expand patient access to advanced nuclear diagnostic imaging technologies. The bill, formerly H.R. 3772, aims for a legislative fix to CMS's bundling of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals in the hospital outpatient space after a 3-year pass-through period post-FDA approval.
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CMS removes exclusion for non-oncologic PET |
CMS proposes to remove the "exclusionary language" from NCD 220.6 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans. This will leave non-oncologic PET indications (unless noted by NCD 220.6.1-220.6.20) to the discretion of local Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). CMS stated, "We believe that extending local contractor discretion for non-oncologic indications of PET provides an immediate avenue to potential coverage in appropriate candidates and provides a framework that better serves the needs of the Medicare program and its beneficiaries." New FDA-approved non-oncologic radiopharmaceuticals will be covered under MAC discretion.
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Biden administration seeks higher penalties for hospitals that don't publish prices |
A proposal released Monday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would raise the maximum penalty to $2 million a year for large hospitals that don't post online the secret prices they have negotiated with insurance companies for 300 common services and procedures that can be planned in advance.
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For over 25 years, HRSI has provided Authorized User (AU) classroom and laboratory training to physicians. HRSI's training is recognized by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and fulfills the didactic training required by law. |
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com |
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