HCN Essentials: ACS Risks w. COVID, Public Health Measures Effectiveness, 2 Vax Doses Not Enough?, Gender MedicineNovember 30, 2021 | Trending in Healthcare Cardiology ACS Risk Biomarkers Significantly Increase After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine This study involved 566 men and women between the ages of 28 and 97 years, who were patients in a preventive cardiology practice. The PULS Cardiac Test measures multiple protein biomarkers, including hepatocyte growth factor, soluble Fas, and IL-16, and uses the results to calculate a five-year risk score for new ACS. All factors more than doubled their prior above the norm level. The 5-year ACS PULS risk score more than doubled as a result. Read full article Family Medicine/General Practice Effectiveness of Public Health Measures in Reducing the Incidence of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 Transmission, and COVID-19 Mortality Only 8 of 35 studies could be included in the meta-analysis. Combined, these indicate a 25% risk reduction for physical distancing, 53% for mask-wearing, and 53% for hand washing. The accompanying BMJ editorial explores the possible reasons for the findings and the oddity that so little quality research is available on such an important topic. Read full article Allergy & Immunology Two Doses of mRNA COVID Vax Not Enough for the Immunosuppressed A study published in Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) argues that immunosuppressed patients and people with compromised immune systems need more than two vaccine doses to achieve adequate protection against COVID-19. After two vaccine doses, immunocompromised patients saw 77% vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization, versus 90% for immunocompetent individuals. Read full article Dermatology FDA to Make Isotretinoin Prescribing Gender Neutral For patients being prescribed isotretinoin, there used to be three risk categories: women of reproductive potential, women not of reproductive potential, and males. The new risk classifications are two: those who can become pregnant and those who cannot. This change was based on stakeholder feedback that gender-specific language can be a barrier to access for patients who do not identify with the previous gender-specific patient categories. Read full article