News
Advanced Dementia Is a Terminal Illness with High Morbidity and Mortality
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: Does understanding the expected clinical course of advanced dementia influence end-of-life decisions by proxy decision-makers? Background: Advanced dementia is a leading cause of death in the United States, but the clinical course of advanced dementia has not been described in
News
Adding Basal Insulin to Oral Agents in Type 2 Diabetes Might Offer Best Glycemic Control
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: When added to oral diabetic agents, which insulin regimen (biphasic, prandial or basal) best achieves glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes? Background: Most patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) require insulin when oral agents provide suboptimal glycemic co
News
Initiation of Dialysis Does Not Help Maintain Functional Status in Elderly
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: Is functional status in the elderly maintained over time after initiating long-term dialysis? Background: Quality-of-life maintenance often is used as a goal when initiating long-term dialysis in elderly patients with end-stage renal disease.
News
Inhaled Corticosteroids Decrease Inflammation in Moderate to Severe COPD
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: Does long-term inhaled corticosteroid therapy, with and without long-acting beta-agonists, decrease airway inflammation and improve lung function in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? Background: Guideline-recommended treatment of COP
News
Resident Fatigue and Distress Contribute to Perceived Medical Errors
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: Do resident fatigue and distress contribute to medical errors? Background: In recent years, such measures as work-hour limitations have been implemented to decrease resident fatigue and, it is presumed, medical errors.
News
Dabigatran Is Not Inferior to Warfarin in Atrial Fibrillation
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: Is dabigatran, an oral thrombin inhibitor, an effective and safe alternative to warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation? Background: Warfarin reduces the risk of stroke among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) but requires frequent laboratory monitoring.
News
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Placement Decreases Heart Failure
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: Does cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with biventricular pacing decrease cardiac events in patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF) and wide QRS complex but only mild cardiac symptoms? Background: In patients with severely reduced EF, implantable cardioverter defibri
News
Fluvastatin Improves Postoperative Cardiac Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery
October 29, 2014
Clinical question: Does perioperative fluvastatin decrease adverse cardiac events after vascular surgery? Background: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who undergo vascular surgery are at high risk for postoperative cardiac events.
News
Patients Overwhelmingly Prefer Inpatient Boarding to ED Boarding
October 28, 2014
Clinical question: When hallway boarding is required, do patients prefer inpatient units over the ED? Background: ED crowding is associated with patient dissatisfaction, ambulance diversion, delays in care, medical errors, and higher mortality rates.
News
Surgical Readmission Rate Variation Dependent on Surgical Volume, Surgical Mortality Rates
October 28, 2014
Clinical question: What factors determine rates of readmission after major surgery? Background: Reducing hospital readmission rates has become a national priority. The U.S.