geoffrey modest medical blogs

  A Swedish study found that short-term exposure to air pollution was associated with increased Covid incidence (see   covid air pollution inc risk JAMA2022 in dropbox, or  10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.8109 )   Details: -- the p ro spective BAMSE birth cohort database in Sweden was linked to their national infectious disease r egistry to identify PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 cases from May 2020 to March 2021     -- BAMSE is a population-based birth cohort including 4089 newborns in 1994-1996, with followup at ages 1,2,4,8,12,16 and 24 ( the 2270 participants at the 24-year follow-up were the ones in this study); in August 2020 the study expanded to include Covid-19 follow-up with web questionnaires and a clinical exam. -- 54% women, median age 25.6 (interquartile range IQR 24.9-26.3), 33% educated to university level , 48% student s /45% employed, 23% current smoker, 23% overweight, 31% asthma, -- covid characteristics: 54% had “any symptoms...

  The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) just published their 2022 update on the use of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), an update of their 2016 recommendation (see  aspirin prim prev USPST F2022 in dropbox, or doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.4983 ).  For full report and evidence, see  aspirin prim prev USPSTF full doc2020  in dropbox, or  doi:10.1001/jama.2022.3337   2022 recommendations:  -- the decision to initiate low-dose aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults aged 40 to 59 who have a 10% or greater 10 - year CVD risk should be an individual one. Evidence of benefit is small  in  this group, and it might benefit those who are not at increased risk of bleeding and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily ( Grade  C recommendation: USPSTF recommends selectively offering or providing the service based on professional judgment and patient preferences; there is at least moderate...