geoffrey modest medical blogs

  A recent study found that moderate-intensity statins plus ezetimibe in the elderly was associated with similar LDL reduction to a high-intensity statin but decreased adverse effects (see   lipids elderly mod statin plus ezetimibe JIntMed2025  in dropbox, or doi: 10.1111/joim.20029)   Details : -- 561 patients who were at least 70yo with documented atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in South Korea were randomized to high-intensity statin therapy (rosuvastatin 20mg) vs moderate-intensity statin along with ezetimibe (rosuvastatin 5mg with ezetimibe 10mg) for 6 months in the SaveSAMS trial, a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized comparison at 11 sites -- mean age 77, 67% male, 62kg, BMI 24 -- hypertension in 74%, diabetes in 46%, chronic kidney disease in 21% (none of these were further defined: no info on actual BP, A1c, level of CKD) -- coronary artery disease in 92%, comprising  prior MI in 9%, percutaneous coron...

  A population-based observational study found that gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) were associated with severe COPD exacerbations (see   gabapentin assoc severe COPD AnnIntMed2024  in dropbox, or  doi:10.7326/M23-0849)   Details: -- a large data-mining study from Québec access ed  three computerized healthcare databases, collecting information on demographics, medical services,  and  dispensed outpatient prescriptions. this included information on medical services for all Québec residents (though one of the databases only included those who did not have private medication insurance, 43% of the population ). These researchers also accessed   information on  all hospitalizations, procedures, and vital statistics including date, cause, and place of death -- there were  some  differences in the demographics and comorbidities of those  individuals  on gabapentinoids ,  based on whether they were used ...