Physical Drivers of Health
Study Reveals Risks of COVID-19 Infection in Children
Because there is significant interest but little rigorous data on the association between COVID-19 infection and health outcomes in children, Elevance Health researchers studied the impact of COVID infection in unvaccinated children. The goal was to understand whether infection can have longer-lasting (after the infection period) health effects on children.
Understanding Maternal Hypertension and Pre-eclampsia to Improve Outcomes
Elevance Health researchers conducted an analysis on hypertensive (high blood pressure) disorders, which affect 1 in 10 pregnancies in the United States. The study evaluated risk factors associated with progression of hypertensive disorder severity during pregnancy. It also evaluated the association of hypertensive disorders with outcomes such as pre-term delivery, low birth weight, stillbirth, c-section, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) use, and maternal readmissions.
Long COVID Found to Increase Risk for Heart and Lung Conditions
While most people who develop COVID recover after several weeks, there has been considerable attention paid to the subset of individuals who have symptoms that last longer than four weeks. This is known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) or long COVID.
No Economic Disparities Found in Telehealth Usage Among Insured People
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States brought a rapid increase in telehealth availability and usage. Understanding who used these services can inform future policies that aim for equitable access in telehealth.
What Consumers Want from Virtual Primary Care
As digital health technology continues to advance and the healthcare industry evolves, many consumers want the ability to use more digital methods when it comes to managing their health.
Acupuncture Found to Reduce Opioid Use and Emergency Department Visits
In response to the need for pain relief therapies that don’t involve opioid medications, acupuncture is one recommended alternative in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) announced in January 2020 that it would cover acupuncture for chronic low back pain in Medicare beneficiaries, citing the potential for acupuncture to reduce overuse of and addiction to opioids.
Low Back Pain Treatment Moving From Low Value Services to Holistic Solutions
As one of the most common and disabling conditions among adults, low back pain can be treated in numerous ways. However, many treatments have proven ineffective and potentially harmful. Published guidelines have been updated to avoid low-value services like overuse of diagnostic imaging, opioids, spinal injections, and surgery. Researchers examined trends over nine years to see how quickly providers were moving away from these low-value services. Understanding treatment trends is helpful when designing holistic programs for low back pain.
