TOP MEDICAL NEWS 26/JULY/2022

Depression in pregnant and postpartum people is a serious problem. Rather than using a screening tool with a cut-off score to detect depression in every pregnant and postpartum patient, clinicians should ask patients about their well-being as part of usual care, recommends a new guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

However, there is little evidence that universal screening for depression using a standard questionnaire and cut-off score improves longer-term outcomes for these patients, indicating more research is needed.

researchers were disappointed to find insufficient evidence of benefit to universal screening with a questionnaire and cut-off score; rather, it's best for primary care clinicians to focus on asking patients about their well-being at visits,the emphasis is on an individualized rather than one-size-fits-all approach.

Reference: "Regular enquiry about well-being vs. universal screening recommended to detect depression in pregnancy and after birth" CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL; DOI-10.1503/cmaj.220290.

2. Early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma face a higher risk of death cardiovascular disease than from cancer

Treatment advances have improved the survival of individuals with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)—a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system—but therapies can increase patients' risk of developing heart problems. A recent study published online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, reveals that people with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma are now at higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than from cancer.

The multicenter study included 15,889 children and adults in the United States who were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma between 1983 and 2015. Researchers conducted this study because cardiovascular disease may be the most common non-malignant long-term complication and a prevalent cause of non-malignant death following treatment in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors.

Reference: "People with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma face a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than from cancer"; WILEY, JOURNAL Cancer; DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34375.

3. Genetic link between frequent naps and high blood pressure

Napping on a regular basis is associated with higher risks for high blood pressure and stroke, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

Researchers in China examined whether frequent naps could be a potential causal risk factor for high blood pressure and/or stroke. This is the first study to use both observational analysis of participants over a long period of time and Mendelian randomization – a genetic risk validation to investigate whether frequent napping was associated with high blood pressure and ischemic stroke.

Reference: "Study shows link between frequent naps and high blood pressure"; AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, JOURNAL- Hypertension; DOI:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.122.19120.