When Rural Veterans Get Meds From VA, They Need ERs Less: Study
The study tracked more than 13,000 veterans with a mental health history and found they made fewer visits to Emergency Departments for any health reason when meds were available from the VA. Meanwhile, the high suicide rate of active-duty soldiers in Alaska is causing concern.
Modern Healthcare:
Rural Veterans Have Fewer ED Visits, More Psychotherapy With VA Tablets
Rural veterans who received tablets from the Department of Veterans Affairs had more telehealth psychotherapy appointments and fewer suicide-related emergency department visits, according to a new study published Wednesday. Study authors from the VA Health Economics Resource Center located at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California tracked more than 13,000 veterans with a mental health history over the first year of the pandemic, after receiving a broadband- and video-enabled tablet from the VA. The tablets enabled veterans to receive more mental healthcare than they normally would have, and they had a lower likelihood of having an emergency department visit for any reason, according to the study. (Gillespie, 4/6)
In related news from Alaska about military suicides —
Anchorage Daily News:
An Alarming Number Of Active-Duty Soldiers In Alaska Died By Suicide Last Year
The number of U.S. Army Alaska soldiers who died by suicide increased sharply in 2021 even after the military invested millions of dollars to address an identified mental health crisis at the state’s two major bases. At least 11 soldiers stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright died by suicide last year. Six more deaths are being investigated as possible suicides. Top military officials say finding solutions to the worsening problem continues to be a top priority — and that the pandemic seems to have exacerbated existing risk factors. (Berman, 4/6)
In other public health news —
The Wall Street Journal:
Pedestrians Killed By Drivers Rose 17% In First Half Of 2021
The number of U.S. pedestrians killed in motor-vehicle crashes surged 17% in the first half of 2021, according to a nonprofit safety group, which linked the increase to reckless drivers, outdated infrastructure and fewer officers patrolling the roads. In the first six months of 2021, drivers struck and killed 3,441 people, up from 2,934 in the same period in 2020, according to a report released Thursday from the Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway-safety offices that supplied the preliminary data. (Furst, 4/7)
The Hill:
Supreme Court Halts Ruling Against Trump Clean Water Act Rollback In 5-4 Decision
The Supreme Court on Wednesday halted a prior court ruling that struck down a Trump-era rule limiting state and tribal authority to veto projects that could impact their waters, including pipelines. The Trump rule in question, which was nixed by a federal court in October, limited states’ authority to block projects by giving them a strict one-year time limit to do so. If it did not meet this time limit, the government could determine that it had waived its veto power. The rule also limited the scope to only those that will impact water quality. It excluded other considerations, such as air quality or “energy policy.” (Frazin, 4/6)
NPR:
Norovirus Outbreak Linked To Raw Oysters Investigated By The FDA
The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it is working with federal and local authorities on a multistate outbreak of norovirus illnesses linked to raw oysters. The oysters were harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, and have been distributed to restaurants and businesses in the following states, the FDA said: California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington state. (4/6)
Press Association:
Insomnia Could Increase People's Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Having insomnia could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. Those who have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep had higher blood sugar levels than people who rarely had sleep issues, the study of more than 336,999 UK adults found. The findings suggest insufficient sleep can cause higher blood sugars levels and could play a direct role in the development of type 2 diabetes. It is therefore thought that measures or treatments that improve insomnia could help to prevent or treat the condition. (Massey, 4/7)
Fox News:
Sugar Substitutes May Interfere With Liver’s Ability To Detoxify, Researchers Say
Two sugar substitutes, also known as non-nutritive sweeteners, may disrupt the function of a protein that plays an important role in detoxifying the liver and the metabolizing certain drugs, including blood pressure medications and antidepressants, a new study suggested. These sweeteners are commonly used in foods and even some medications to give a sweet taste while providing an alternative to table sugar with few or no calories, according to nutrition experts. "With an estimated 40% of Americans regularly consuming non-nutritive sweeteners, it’s important to understand how they affect the body," Laura Danner, a doctoral student at the Medical College of Wisconsin said in the release. (McGorry, 4/6)
NPR:
Charting Brain Development To Track Changes As We Age
The human brain starts with a bang and ends with a whimper. That's the conclusion of a project that used more than 120,000 brain scans to chart the organ's changes throughout the lifespan. The results appear in the April 6 issue of the journal Nature. Among the key findings: The brain reaches 80% of its maximum size by age 3. The volume of gray matter, which represents brain cells, peaks before age 6. The volume of white matter — a way of measuring the connections between brain cells — peaks before age 29. (Hamilton, 4/7)
