Specialty Diseases

Whether vaccinated or not, having at least four disease risk factors put adults hospitalized due to COVID-19 at higher risk for critical outcomes, according to a 10-state study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) VISION Network. The study describes the characteristics of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 from June 2021 through March 2023 and enumerates their risk factors for critical outcomes, defined as intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or in-hospital death.

By Sheila Olley Anyone who has battled cancer knows the physical and emotional impact of the disease is life changing. For women who undergo mastectomy as part of their treatment for breast cancer, there is an added psychological toll because of the dramatic change in the look and feel of their bodies. Regaining their sense of wholeness is an important aspect of the recovery process, and reconstructive surgery is an option that can help improve confidence and quality of life for patients.

Annual hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Canada increased 69% since 2002, especially in females and people under age 65, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). COPD affects the lungs and progresses, resulting in frequent hospitalization, burdening patients, families and health care systems. It has been viewed as a condition usually associated with male smokers.