Frontline: Drug for Menopause Symptoms; Knee Osteoarthritis; Alcohol Abuse
New Drug for Menopause Symptoms Produces Promising Results
Hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms (VSM), including night sweats and flushing, are common among menopausal women, but many women won’t use hormone therapy because it’s been linked with higher risks of breast cancer, stroke, and heart attack. But there may be hope on the horizon: Researchers studying a new, nonhormonal medication, fezolinetant, are optimistic that it may be an effective option for treating VMS in the future. The researchers conducted a 12-week study that compared the effectiveness of fezolinetant to placebo in women who reported experiencing moderate to severe VMS at least 50 times per week. At the study’s conclusion, a reduction in VMS of at least 50 percent was reported by 81 percent to 95 percent of the women who received fezolinetant and by 59 percent of the women taking placebo. The study results were published in the April 2020 issue of the journal Menopause. The researchers noted that fezolinetant needs further testing to determine its efficacy and safety.
Physical Therapy More Effective Than Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis
Physical therapy (PT) and injections of steroid drugs, such as cortisone and prednisolone, are common treatment options for patients who have pain, stiffness, and reduced function due to knee osteoarthritis (OA). Researchers who compared the effectiveness of PT versus injections in 156 patients found that, after one year, patients who received PT reported less pain and better function than those who received steroid injections. During the 12-month study period, patients in the PT group had a mean of 12 treatment visits, and patients in the injection group received a mean of 2.6 injections. The results were based on the subjects’ scores on a scale that assesses pain and function while doing activities of daily living, such as getting out of bed, getting in and out of a car, and going shopping. The study was published April 9, 2020, in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Suicide Risk Higher Among People Who Abuse Alcohol
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant risk factor for suicide, according to a study published online March 12, 2020, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 2 million Swedish citizens born between 1950 and 1970. The overall suicide rate was 0.76 percent in men and 0.29 percent in women, but in people with AUD, suicide rates increased to 3.94 percent in men and 3.54 percent in women. The term “alcohol use disorder” includes alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Criteria for AUD include whether drinking or being sick from drinking has interfered with the ability to function at home, work, or school, or has caused problems with family and friends. The study authors called AUD a “potent risk factor for suicide” and said that the risk for alcohol-related suicide was highest following an alcohol-related medical or legal problem.
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