Pandemic Readiness: Disparities Among New York City Residents Living in the Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak.

BACKGROUND: Queens County was identified as the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in United States, representing a significant proportion of racial and ethnic minorities. As the pandemic surged and new variants emerged, one factor that has not been explored is the level of pandemic readiness (preparedness) in urban communities. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using a survey to assess pandemic readiness among residents in Queens County, New York, which was disseminated online by means of elected officials. The survey included basic demographics, health status, essential supplies (such as food, water, and prescription medication), social support, spatial capacity, and access to COVID-19 health information. RESULTS: A total of 306 participants completed the survey (59% response rate). Eighty-two percent of participants were not pandemic ready with only 11.4% at beginner-level and 7% advanced-level readiness. Beginner- and advanced-level readiness was more common among participants with college experience. Regarding employment, 85% of participants who were employed were not ready for the pandemic, compared with 68% of those who were not employed. More strikingly, over 60% of participants learned something new by completing the survey. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the existing literature on pandemic preparedness and highlights the need for greater outreach and education among racial and ethnic minorities.

Addressing Clinical and Therapeutic Inertia Through Comprehensive Medication Review.

Avoiding clinical and therapeutic inertia, through pharmacist-led medication therapy management, can lead to avoidance of inappropriate medication use and adverse medication events. Clinical and therapeutic inertia are terms that have been used indistinctly. One definition is inertia that appears when clinicians do not initiate or intensify therapy appropriately when therapeutic goals are not reached. Another definition is failure to advance or deintensify treatment, and in a broader sense beyond escalation or deintensification of therapy; definitions include failure to screen, make appropriate referrals, manage risk factors, and complications. Failure of clinicians to address clinical and therapeutic inertia in office or hospital visits can contribute to patients using inappropriate medications, and lead to avoidable serious adverse events. Addressing therapeutic inertia may also be a means to minimize prescription costs and improve quality of life. This case illustrates the importance of identifying and addressing the therapeutic appropriateness of medications for an older person who has been prescribed numerous medications over a long period but now has complaints of dizziness as well as the inability to afford all medications.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Allergen Powder-dnfp: The First FDA-approved Oral Immunotherapy for Desensitization of Peanut Allergy in Children.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Allergen Powder-dnfp (Palforzia, Aimmune™ Therapeutics, Inc.; Brisbane, CA) is the first FDA-approved oral immunotherapy indicated for the mitigation of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in patients with peanut allergy. It may be initiated in individuals 4 to 17 years of age and continued for maintenance in those 4 years of age and older. Initiation and dose titration require a stepwise approach and the supervision of a health care professional. Patients taking Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Allergen Powder-dnfp should also follow a peanut-avoidant diet. In addition, patients should have an injectable epinephrine product in case of drug-related anaphylaxis. Commonly reported adverse reactions include gastrointestinal, respiratory, and dermatologic manifestations that are frequently associated with allergic reactions.

Lofexidine: A Novel Treatment Option for Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms.

Substance misuse in adults 60 years of age and older is one of the fastest-growing health issues in the United States. Alcohol and prescription drugs are among the most commonly misused agents. With growing concern for opioid-overdose deaths and the use of opioids in the treatment of persistent pain in older adults, it is imperative that practitioners are aware of emerging therapies used to manage the symptoms that may result after discontinuation of opioid medications. This review highlights the first nonopioid treatment plan for the management of opioid withdrawal symptoms with a novel pharmacologic mechanism.

Empathy or Empath? increasing Self-Awareness for Healthy Patient-Provider interactions.

Dr. Olga Hilas, associate professor from St. John's University, reflects on her Pain Management Traineeship with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Review of Available Systems.

Continuous glucose monitoring offers patients with diabetes a new option for monitoring their glucose levels on a regular basis, without the need for perpetual finger-sticks and myriad supplies.

Zarxio (Filgrastim-sndz): The First Biosimilar Approved by the FDA.

Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz), a biosimilar for the treatment of severe chronic neutropenia.

Zinc and Taste Disturbances in Older Adults: A Review of the Literature.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, 35% to 45% of adults 60 years of age or older had zinc intakes below the estimated average requirement of 6.8 mg/day for elderly females and 9.4 mg/day for elderly males. Zinc deficiency may lead to loss of appetite, impaired immune function, weight loss, delayed healing of wounds, eye and skin lesions, and smell and taste disturbances. Older adults are especially affected by changes in taste sensations because of age-related gustatory dysfunction, use of multiple medications, increased frailty, and zinc deficiency. This article reviews the finding of clinical studies investigating the use of zinc supplementation for improvement with taste disturbances in older adults.

Edoxaban: an investigational factor xa inhibitor.

Edoxaban: an investigational factor Xa inhibitor.

Gabapentin for the treatment of persistent hiccups.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of persistent hiccups successfully treated with gabapentin in an elderly male. SETTING: An acute care unit for elders within a large teaching hospital. CASE SUMMARY: An 86-year-old male was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a urinary tract infection. In addition to his infection, the patient complained of bothersome hiccups with an onset several days prior to admission. He received metoclopramide for two days without improvement. Based on his medical history and a probable neurogenic etiology, gabapentin was recommended for his hiccups. Symptoms improved within several hours, with complete resolution after a dose titration to 200 mg twice daily on the second day of gabapentin treatment. The patient was ultimately discharged back to his long-term care facility, but was readmitted three days later for the treatment of pneumonia. His hiccups recurred and were treated unsuccessfully with metoclopramide in the emergency department. Gabapentin was reinitiated by the geriatric medicine team, and the patient's hiccups resolved once again. CONCLUSION: Randomized, controlled trials evaluating the use of gabapentin in the treatment of hiccups associated with neurogenic etiologies are lacking; however, case reports suggest that this agent may be an effective treatment option.

α-adrenergic blockers for the treatment of lower-urinary-tract symptoms and dysfunction in women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of α-adrenergic blockers in the treatment of female lower-urinary-tract symptoms and dysfunction. DATA SOURCES: Literature searches were conducted using EMBASE (1974 to January 2014), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to January 2014), and MEDLINE (1946 to January 2014) to identify clinical trials evaluating the effects of α-adrenergic blockers in the treatment of women with lower-urinary-tract dysfunction. Bibliographies from relevant research articles were also reviewed for inclusion. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All original research articles available in the English language were identified from the data sources. Primary literature evaluating outcomes related to urinary dysfunction and associated symptoms in women were included in this review. Articles describing the use of α-adrenergic blockers in other medical conditions or in men were excluded. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 15 clinical studies were identified and evaluated. Many studies showed an improvement in female lower-urinary-tract symptoms and dysfunction using α-adrenergic blockers. Most studies also reported adverse drug events of α-adrenergic blockers such as dizziness and hypotension. However, limitations of the studies conducted to date include small sample sizes, inconsistent study designs, and short duration of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The role of α-adrenergic blockers in the treatment of urinary dysfunction and associated symptoms in women remains unclear. The majority of evidence suggests that these agents may have a place in therapy for female lower-urinary-tract symptoms and/or bladder outlet obstruction; however, data are conflicting. Clinicians should be aware of the potential clinical benefits but also recognize the potential adverse drug effects of α-adrenergic blockers.

Potential role of mirtazapine in underweight older adults.

Changes in body weight can affect the overall health of an older patient and should not be considered a normal part of the aging process. In particular, weight loss can lead to numerous adverse health outcomes affecting daily activities, loss of functional status, and increased mortality. Approximately 15% to 20% of older adults experience unintentional weight loss and require intervention to maintain quality of life. Currently, there are no pharmacologic agents indicated to treat unintentional weight loss in older adults; however, several medications may aid by stimulating appetite and/or promoting weight gain. In recent years, mirtazapine has gained attention not only for its antidepressant effects, but also for its potential benefits in underweight patients. This agent has been found to increase appetite and weight in adults compared with placebo and other antidepressants, but further clinical investigation is necessary to determine the role of mirtazapine in the older underweight population.

Antidepressant use in underweight older adults.

Mirtazapine is an antidepressant approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder. It has been reported to also stimulate appetite and/or increase body weight, which may be beneficial in certain patient populations such as the elderly. To evaluate the use of mirtazapine and other antidepressants in underweight older adults, a retrospective chart review of patients (60 years of age or older and with a body mass index < 22 kg/m2) who were prescribed an antidepressant during hospitalization was conducted over a six-month period at a large university teaching hospital. Results demonstrated that underweight older patients were more likely to receive mirtazapine than any other antidepressant, prompting a systematic literature review to assess its potential role in appetite stimulation and weight gain. In addition, educational inservice training for health care professionals within the institution was provided to discuss the management of weight loss and appetite suppression in the elderly as well as the potential benefits and risks of antidepressant therapy in older adults.

Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a wide range of clinical presentations resulting from its effect on multiple organ systems. There are four main types of lupus: neonatal, discoid, drug-induced, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the type that affects the majority of patients. Patients with lupus experience a loss of self-tolerance as a result of abnormal immunological function and the production of autoantibodies, which lead to the formation of immune complexes that may adversely affect healthy tissue.Although the precise etiologic mechanism is unknown, genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors, as well as immune abnormalities, have been identified. Associations between lupus onset and age, sex, geography, and race have also been established. Management of this disease should be individualized and should include both pharmacological and nonpharmacological modalities for symptom relief and resolution as well as improved quality of life.

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone associated with tolterodine therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) associated with the use of tolterodine. SETTING: An acute-care unit at a university hospital with a comprehensive program for elders. CASE SUMMARY: In this case report, we present a 99-year-old female who was admitted to our unit for suspected gastrointestinal bleeding who subsequently developed hyponatremia. After the initiation of tolterodine for urinary incontinence, the patient's sodium dropped to 121 mEq/L (from a usual baseline that ranged between 128 mEq/L and 134 mEq/L). Laboratory and urinary findings revealed a serum osmolality of 220 mOsm/kg, a urinary osmolality of 340 mOsm/kg, and a urinary sodium of 101 mmol/L, suggesting a euvolemic hyponatremic state consistent with SIADH. Tolterodine therapy was promptly discontinued, and patient sodium levels normalized. CONCLUSION: Although the etiology of SIADH is often obscure and multifactorial, clinicians should be aware that it is a major cause of hyponatremia among hospitalized elderly patients, and drug therapies must always be evaluated to prevent further complications.

Disease modifying agents for multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize major clinical trials which evaluate the efficacy and safety data of approved disease modifying agents for the treatment of various types of multiple sclerosis. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE (1966 to August 2008) search of clinical trials using the terms multiple sclerosis, interferon, glatiramer, mitoxantrone and natalizumab was performed. A manual bibliographic search was also conducted. English-language articles identified from the searches were evaluated. New agents under investigation in phase 3 clinical trials were identified using www.clinicaltrials.gov. STUDY SELECTION #ENTITYSTARTX00026; DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant information was identified and selected based on clinical relevance and evidence-based strength. Prescribing information leaflets were used to provide usual dosage, contraindications, precautions, monitoring parameters and other relevant drug-specific information. DATA SYNTHESIS: Interferon beta products are more efficacious for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Interferon beta 1-b also delayed the time to diagnosis of definite multiple sclerosis and reduced brain lesion burden in patients with clinical isolated syndrome. Glatiramer and natalizumab have both established efficacy in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; whereas mitoxantrone is more commonly used in patients with advanced disease. There are limited data the comparative efficacy among different disease modifying agents. New agents currently under investigation have showed promising results and may offer more treatment options in the future. CONCLUSIONS: MS is a complex and devastating disease with challenging treatment considerations and approaches. Interferon beta products continue to be the mainstay of therapy in many patients, however, other treatments are proving to be at least as effective in the management of various types of MS. Newer compounds are being developed and studied with much anticipation and promise for the clinical management of the disease.