Geriatrics Perspective

• Deprescribing Benzodiazepines: Changing Attitudes Little evidence supports long-term use of benzodiazepines or 'Z drugs,' yet many older adults are afraid to stop taking them, despite potential harms. Can new guidelines help change minds?
  Medscape Family Medicine, June 2018
• A New Guide to Deprescribing Benzos and Z-Drugs   Benzos and Z-drugs can be dangerous in the elderly but difficult to discontinue. A new deprescribing algorithm guides the way.
  Medscape Internal Medicine, June 2018
• How Hubris Impairs the Care of the Elderly Some conditions in older adults warrant treatment; some do not. The wise physician knows the difference.
  Medscape, June 2018
• The New and Improved Way to Screen for Dementia in Primary Care   A quick and easy-to-administer screening tool, along with the MMSE, helps in the identification of cognitive decline.
  Medscape Internal Medicine, June 2018
• Top Colorectal Cancer Studies at ASCO 2018 Dr David Kerr highlights three of the most important colorectal cancer trials being presented at the upcoming ASCO 2018 annual meeting.
  Medscape Oncology, May 2018
• Anticholinergics and Dementia: It's the Drugs   Are anticholinergics linked to dementia? Or is the problem the underlying condition for which they are prescribed? A new study concludes that it's the drugs.
  Medscape Internal Medicine, May 2018
• Should Doctors Help People Die Just Because They're Elderly?   A Canadian couple in their 90s recently passed away together under Canada's law that permits physician-assisted dying. An ethics expert explains why this was wrong.
  Medscape Business of Medicine, May 2018
• When Should DOACs Be Held Prior to EP/Cath Procedures? When evaluating pre-procedural DOAC use, thrombotic and bleeding risks must be carefully balanced. Read this for expert guidance from ACC.
  ACC.org, May 2018
• Supplemental Oxygen Has Limited Powers Should you reconsider writing oxygen prescriptions? Dr Holley discusses a new review on home oxygen therapy for COPD.
  Medscape Critical Care, May 2018
• 7 Ways Physicians Can Save Money Using the Patient Portal Patient portals offer many benefits, but many physicians are still unenthusiastic about them. Are they worthwhile for you? If you already have a patient portal, how can you make it more useful?
  Medscape Business of Medicine, May 2018
• Everything You Need to Know About Shingrix   Patients are asking for Shingrix. Know the important facts about storage, preparation, and administration, and what patients should be told before they receive this vaccine.
  CDC Expert Commentary, April 2018
• AGS 2018 Read clinically focused news coverage of key developments from AGS 2018.
  Medscape Internal Medicine, April 2018
• Should Older Patients With Pancreatic Cysts Have Surgery? Dr Lowenfels comments on a meta-analysis examining whether older patients with high-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms should be subjected to surgery.
  Medscape General Surgery, April 2018
• Would You Recognize Acute Delirium? An older woman presents with acute onset of mental status changes. Is it delirium, depression, dementia, or a mix?
  Medscape Internal Medicine, March 2018
• Deprescribing Antipsychotics: New Algorithm Antipsychotics should only be used in very limited circumstances in elderly patients. Getting patients for whom they are not indicated off them is an important task. Here's how to do it.
  Medscape Family Medicine, March 2018
• Frailty in the Older Adult: A Surgical Deterrent? Surgeons are starting to take frailty seriously, in an effort to thwart surgical complications the elderly.
  Medscape Nurses, March 2018
• His Bundle Pacing 'Very Viable' Alternative to RV Pacing   Learn about late-breaking registry data from ACC 2018, comparing patients who underwent His bundle or right ventricular pacing with study authors and HBP pioneers Drs Dandamudi and Vijayaraman.
  theheart.org on Medscape, March 2018
• AAGP 2018 Read clinically focused news coverage of key developments from AAGP 2018
  Medscape Psychiatry, March 2018
• Statins in the Elderly: Evidence-Based or Not? What does the evidence show, and is it enough to guide decisions about statins for older adults?
  Medscape Nurses, March 2018
• Benzodiazepine Prescribing: A Warning Unheeded   Dr Arefa Cassoobhoy highlights the risks of benzodiazepine prescribing in older adults.
  Medscape Internal Medicine, March 2018