The American journal of medicine
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The long-term symptomatology of COVID-19 has yet to be comprehensively described. The aim of the study was to describe persistent COVID-19 symptoms in a cohort of hospitalized and home-isolated patients. ⋯ Long-term sequelae are present in a remarkable number of long COVID patients and pose a new challenge to the health care system to identify long-lasting effects and improve patients' well-being. Multidisciplinary teams are crucial to develop preventive measures, and clinical management strategies.
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While factors associated with long COVID (LC) continue to be illuminated, little is known about recovery. This study used national survey data to assess factors associated with recovery from LC. ⋯ Significant variations in LC recovery were noted across age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, and severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Further work is needed to elucidate the causes of these differences and identify strategies to increase recovery rates.
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From the time of Galen, examination of the pupillary light reflex has been a standard of care across the continuum of health care. The growing body of evidence overwhelmingly supports the use of quantitative pupillometry over subjective examination with flashlight or penlight. At current time, pupillometers have become standard of care in many hospitals across 6 continents. This review paper provides an overview and rationale for pupillometer use and highlights literature supporting pupillometer-derived measures of the pupillary light reflex in both neurological and non-neurological patients across the health care continuum.
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Observational Study
Physician financial incentives to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions: A propensity score weighted cohort study.
Unplanned hospital readmissions are associated with adverse patient outcomes and substantial healthcare costs. It remains unknown whether physician financial incentives for enhanced discharge planning can reduce readmission risk. ⋯ A physician financial incentive that encouraged enhanced hospital discharge planning did not reduced the risk of readmission or death, and did not significantly decrease direct healthcare costs. Policymakers should consider the baseline prevalence and effectiveness of enhanced discharge planning, the magnitude and design of financial incentives, and whether auditing of incentivized activities is required when implementing similar incentives elsewhere.
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Most adults ingest alcoholic beverages. Alcohol shows strong and positive associations with blood pressure (BP). We hypothesized that intake of red wine, white wine, beer, and spirits and dessert wine show similar associations with BP in the general population. ⋯ Alcohol intake is associated with highly significant increased SPB and DBP. The effect is similar for red wine, white wine, beer, and spirits.