Annals of Internal MedicineSpotlight on 2024

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The January 2025 edition of Annals of Internal Medicine presents a comprehensive review of influential research published throughout 2024. The journal’s commitment to evidence-based medicine spans multiple critical areas, including long COVID diagnostics, molecular cancer screening advances, metabolic health medications, clinical practice guidelines, and the integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The collection addresses pressing healthcare challenges while maintaining scientific rigor and clinical relevance.

Key Points:

• Diagnostic advances in 2024 focused on defining and identifying long COVID through standard clinical laboratory measurements in the RECOVER cohort, providing clinicians with more concrete diagnostic criteria for this complex condition. The research aims to improve identification and management of post-COVID sequelae.
• Novel molecular screening methods for colorectal cancer underwent cost-effectiveness analysis compared to established testing protocols. This research provides essential data for clinicians making evidence-based recommendations for cancer screening methodologies.
• Metabolic health saw significant advancement through research on GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide. Notable findings included unexpected benefits beyond glycemic control and weight management, including potential effects on tobacco use disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes. The American College of Physicians released updated clinical practice guidelines for pharmacologic therapy in type 2 diabetes.
• Mental health research revealed important correlations between antidepressant medications and weight changes, providing clinicians with valuable data to guide medication selection and patient counseling. This research addresses a significant challenge in depression treatment adherence.
• Healthcare technology and environmental impact studies demonstrated the practical applications of AI in clinical settings, particularly in colonoscopy polyp detection, while climate change research established direct correlations between heat exposure and cardiovascular function.

“As health-related misinformation increasingly circulates online and elsewhere, Annals of Internal Medicine is committed to publishing research that reflects the best available evidence that clinicians, their patients, and the public can trust.”
– Christine Laine, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief, Annals of Internal Medicine

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