Issues

Brian L. Sprague, PhD; Natasha K. Stout, PhD; Clyde Schechter, MD, MA; Nicolien T. van Ravesteyn, PhD; Mucahit Cevik, MS; Oguzhan Alagoz, PhD; Christoph I. Lee, MD, MSHS; Jeroen J. van den Broek, MS; Diana L. Miglioretti, PhD; Jeanne S. Mandelblatt, MD, MPH; Harry J. de Koning, MD, PhD; Karla Kerlikowske, MD, MS; Constance D. Lehman, MD, PhD; Anna N.A. Tosteson, ScD

This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of adding supplemental ultrasonography to breast cancer screening with mammography screening for women with dense breasts. The analysis found that adding supplemental ultrasonography screening would result in limited health gains at substantially increased cost.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):157-166. doi:10.7326/M14-0692

Emanuele Cereda, MD, PhD; Catherine Klersy, MD, MSc; Marcella Serioli, RD; Aldo Crespi, MD; Federico D'Andrea, MD; for the OligoElement Sore Trial Study Group

Pressure ulcers can be costly and difficult to treat, and evidence about interventions to promote healing is limited. This randomized trial evaluated whether supplementation with arginine, zinc, and antioxidants within a high-calorie, high-protein formula improves healing of pressure ulcers. It found that the enriched formula improved healing in malnourished patients receiving nutritional support.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):167-174. doi:10.7326/M14-0696

Adam E. Singer, MPhil; Daniella Meeker, PhD, MS; Joan M. Teno, MD, MS; Joanne Lynn, MD, MA, MS; June R. Lunney, PhD, RN; Karl A. Lorenz, MD, MSHS

Despite end-of-life care receiving increased attention in recent years, it is not known whether dying patients' symptoms have improved. This cohort study describes changes in pain intensity and symptom prevalence reported by patients and their proxies during the last year of life from 1998 to 2010. Findings suggest that serious pain and other troubling symptoms remain prevalent among patients near the end of life.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):175-183. doi:10.7326/M13-1609

Johan Sundström, MD, PhD; Hisatomi Arima, MD, PhD; Rod Jackson, MBChB, PhD; Fiona Turnbull, MBChB, MPH (Hons), PhD; Kazem Rahimi, MD; John Chalmers, MD, PhD; Mark Woodward, PhD; Bruce Neal, MBChB, PhD; on behalf of the Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists' Collaboration

This meta-analysis of several large trials suggests that persons with mild hypertension (140-159/90-99 mm Hg) and no known cardiovascular disease who had blood pressure reductions of about 3.6/2.4 mm Hg with pharmacologic therapy had reduced risk for stroke and death.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):184-191. doi:10.7326/M14-0773

Margaret A. Piper, PhD, MPH; Corinne V. Evans, MPP; Brittany U. Burda, MPH; Karen L. Margolis, MD, MPH; Elizabeth O'Connor, PhD; Evelyn P. Whitlock, MD, MPH

This systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force evaluates the benefits and harms of screening for high blood pressure (BP) in adults and summarizes evidence on screening intervals and the diagnostic and predictive accuracy for cardiovascular events of different BP measurement techniques. Evidence supports ambulatory BP monitoring as the reference standard for confirming elevated office BP screening results to avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):192-204. doi:10.7326/M14-1539

Richard M. Kaufman, MD; Benjamin Djulbegovic, MD, PhD; Terry Gernsheimer, MD; Steven Kleinman, MD; Alan T. Tinmouth, MD; Kelley E. Capocelli, MD; Mark D. Cipolle, MD, PhD; Claudia S. Cohn, MD, PhD; Mark K. Fung, MD, PhD; Brenda J. Grossman, MD, MPH; Paul D. Mintz, MD; Barbara A. O'Malley, MD; Deborah A. Sesok-Pizzini, MD; Aryeh Shander, MD; Gary E. Stack, MD, PhD; Kathryn E. Webert, MD, MSc; Robert Weinstein, MD; Babu G. Welch, MD; Glenn J. Whitman, MD; Edward C. Wong, MD; Aaron A.R. Tobian, MD, PhD

Platelet transfusions are administered to prevent or treat bleeding in patients with quantitative or qualitative platelet disorders. The AABB (formerly, the American Association of Blood Banks) developed this guideline on appropriate use of platelet transfusion in adult patients.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):205-213. doi:10.7326/M14-1589

David K. Kim, MD; Carolyn B. Bridges, MD; Kathleen H. Harriman, PhD, MPH, RN; on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) presents the 2015 recommended immunization schedule for adults. This schedule has been approved by the ACIP, American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):214-223. doi:10.7326/M14-2755

Scott D. Halpern, MD, PhD; Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD

This commentary discusses the recent report from the Institute of Medicine Committee on Approaching Death, particularly the committee's recommendation to reimburse physicians for engaging patients in advance care planning.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):224-225. doi:10.7326/M14-2476

Debra L. Ness, MS; Beverley H. Johnson, BSN

This commentary discusses the recent report from the Institute of Medicine Committee on Approaching Death, which the authors believe will drive constructive conversations that advance a rational debate that is the essential foundation for better policy and practice.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):226-227. doi:10.7326/M14-2537

Philip A. Pizzo, MD

The co-chair of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Approaching Death discusses changes needed in the care of patients approaching death and argues that treating physicians should remain fully present even after their patients enter palliative care or hospice programs.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):228-229. doi:10.7326/M14-2399

Jaya K. Rao, MD, MHS, Deputy Editor

This commentary discusses the recent report from the Institute of Medicine Committee on Approaching Death, noting that it is the first Institute of Medicine report on the end of life to explicitly mention public health as having a role in this arena and discusses the promise of this approach.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):230-231. doi:10.7326/M14-2479

Deborah Cotton, MD, MPH, Deputy Editor

End-of-life care is the topic of this issue's discussion from the Annals archives.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):232. doi:10.7326/M14-2865

Jackson T. Wright Jr., MD, PhD

In this issue, Sundström and colleagues assess evidence on the effects of blood pressure reduction on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with stage 1 hypertension and Piper and associates evaluate methods used to identify persons with elevated blood pressure. The editorialist discusses the implications of these 2 systematic reviews.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):233-234. doi:10.7326/M14-2836

Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD

In this issue, the ACIP presents the recommended immunization schedule for adults 2015. The editorialist discusses the single change to this year's schedule: expansion of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine coverage to all adults aged 65 years or older.

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):235-236. doi:10.7326/M14-2547

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):237. doi:10.7326/L15-5043

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):237-238. doi:10.7326/L15-5043-2

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):238. doi:10.7326/L15-5048

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):238-239. doi:10.7326/L15-5049

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):239-240. doi:10.7326/L15-5049-2

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):240. doi:10.7326/L15-5049-3

Marc Mora, MD

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):166. doi:10.7326/M14-2324

Megan McNamara; Pelin Batur; Kristi Tough DeSapri

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):ITC1. doi:10.7326/AITC201502030

Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(3):I-28. doi:10.7326/P15-9003