Diabetes Elevates Risk of Staph Blood Infection

Patients with diabetes may have a higher risk of contracting Staphylococcus aureus infection than patients without diabetes, according to research published in the European Journal of Endocrinology.1

To investigate the risk of community-acquired S. aureus, researchers in Denmark tracked the medical records of 30 000 people over 12 years. They found that people with any form of diabetes were almost three times more likely to develop a community-acquired staph blood infection compared with people without diabetes. Individuals with other diabetes-related complications (eg, heart and circulation problems, diabetic ulcers) were also at increased risk.

The researchers said their results emphasize the importance of improved preventive care for patients with diabetes, including optimized glycemic control and infection surveillance for patients with long duration of diabetes and its complications.

 

1. Smit J, Søgaard M, Schønheyder HC, et al. Diabetes and risk of community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a population-based case-control study [published online ahead of print March 10, 2016]. Eur J Endocrinol.

Physician Empathy Affects Patient Satisfaction

A study at Massachusetts General Hospital examined the relationship between patient-rated physician empathy and patient satisfaction.1,2 As part of the study, 112 patients rated personal interaction with their surgeon, completed a health literacy test, provided sociodemographic information, and answered questions about pain, upper extremity function, and depression after a single new hand surgery office visit.

Patient satisfaction was strongly tied to patient-rated physician empathy (65%) but was not affected by wait time for an appointment, wait time in the office, time with the surgeon, resident or fellow involvement, whether patients were seeking a second opinion, health literacy, or treatment choice. Older patient age was also associated with satisfaction.

 

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Physician empathy a key driver of patient satisfaction [press release]. http://newsroom.aaos.org/media-resources/Press-releases/physician-empathy-a-key-driver-of-patient-satisfaction.htm. March 1, 2016. Accessed March 22, 2016.

2. Menendez ME, Chen NC, Mudgal CS, et al. Physician empathy as a driver of hand surgery patient satisfaction. J Hand Surg Am. 2015;40(9):1860-1865.e2.

Diabetes Prevention Program Proposed

The Obama administration announced plans to propose expanding Medicare to cover programs that prevent diabetes in people at high risk of developing the disease, according to an article in The New York Times.1 Although the proposal does not require congressional approval, it must go through a public comment period, and approval is likely, according to the article. Once the program is in effect, Medicare would fund certain so-called lifestyle change programs in which trained counselors would coach individuals either in person or online on how to eat healthier and increase their physical activity. In 2012, the value of a diabetes prevention program was tested in eight states and was shown to reduce health care costs and to help prevent diabetes.

Once it is decided how the proposed services will be funded, Medicare officials will share details in a proposed regulation that will be open to public comment.

 

1. Pear R. The New York Times. Medicare takes aim at diabetes. www.nytimes.com/2016/03/23/us/politics/medicare-proposal-takes-aim-at-diabetes.html?ref=health&_r=0. March 23, 2016. Accessed March 23, 2016.

Statin, Antihypertensive Drug Adherence Critical for Heart Patients

Findings from a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicate that people with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension increase their risk of dying from a stroke if they do not take their statin and antihypertensive medications as prescribed.1 The risk of fatal stroke also increased in patients who took one type of medication but not both. n

 

1. Herttua K, Martikainen P, Batty GD, Kivimäki M. Poor adherence to statin and antihypertensive therapies as risk factors for fatal stroke. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;67(13):1507-1515.

 

Section Editor David S. Boyer, MD
• clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, department of ophthalmology, in Los Angeles, Calif.
• member of the Retina Today editorial advisory board
• +1-310-854-6201; vitdoc@aol.com