Self-management for chronic conditions . . . and other stories

Home blood pressure monitoringSince most patients with diabetes look after their own treatment successfully, it’s surprising that self-management plays such a small part in other chronic conditions. A randomised trial from Spain compared usual care for patients with hypertension with an intervention involving home blood pressure monitoring and self-titration of medication. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lower at 24 months in the group allocated to self-management. A focus group found that doctors felt positively about home monitoring and patient decision making but, inexplicably, patients weren’t asked for their views (JAMA Netw Open doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10063).Zinc for coldsAlthough in vitro experiments show that zinc interferes with viral replication, which is the rationale behind zinc based lozenges, sprays, and syrups for the treatment of colds, a Cochrane review of 34 trials in humans found little in the way of clinical benefit. Low certainty evidence suggested that zinc reduced the duration of symptoms…
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