Debbie Rigby takes a look at the latest in research news
In this population-based cohort study (n=1993) long-term opioid therapy among patients with polyneuropathy appears to increase the risk of adverse outcomes without benefiting functional status. Those receiving long-term opioid therapy (>90 days) were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with depression, opioid dependence, or opioid overdose than those receiving shorter durations of opioid therapy.
JAMA Neurol. Published online May 22, 2017.
A 800 mg/day pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate has been shown to be superior to placebo and similar to celecoxib 200mg daily in reducing pain and improving function over 6 months in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients in prospective trial.
Ann Rheum Dis 2017;0:1–7. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860.
Chocolate intake and risk of clinically apparent atrial fibrillation
A Danish cohort study (26 400 men and 29 102 women aged 50–64 years), has shown that the rate of AF was lower for people consuming 1–3 servings/month (hazard ratio (HR) 0.90), 1 serving/week (HR 0.83), 2–6 servings/week (HR 0.80) and ≥1 servings/day (HR 0.84), compared with chocolate intake less than once per month, with similar results for men and women.
Heart 2017;0:1–5.
Primary Prevention With Statin Therapy in the Elderly
A meta-analysis of age-specific outcome data from 2 recent primary prevention statin trials, JUPITER (Justification for Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) and HOPE-3 (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) support the use of statins in primary prevention among those ≥70 years of age. The benefit in people aged 80 years and older should be weighed against the potential for a modest impact on longevity.
Circulation. 2017;135:1979-1981
