Good morning. After a snowy winter that kept me off my bike, I’m thrilled to be cycling to the office again. Spring has officially arrived, and warmer weather is on the horizon!
Epic reveals discovery of patient data fraud
The U.S. system for sharing patient health information relies heavily on trust, embodied in the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). This network requires providers to send patient records free of charge to any legitimate provider who requests them for treatment purposes.
However, the legitimacy of healthcare providers is increasingly questioned. Brittany Trang from STAT reports that a court filing by Epic Systems, a major electronic health records company, claims that some businesses are impersonating providers to access medical records. More details can be found in Trang’s report, which discusses the potential governmental response to these claims.
A study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology suggests that alcohol-related liver disease in the U.S. may be nearly three times more prevalent than previously estimated. While prior studies suggested 1% to 2% of adults are affected, the new findings indicate a rate of approximately 4.6%.
Researchers reviewed over 30 years of national survey and examination data, adjusting for underreported alcohol consumption. Binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks in one sitting, was identified as a major contributor to liver disease deaths, especially among individuals with type 2 diabetes or hypertension.
The authors emphasize the need for public health strategies to reduce alcohol consumption, improve assessment tools, and ensure more accurate reporting of alcohol use.
57.9
A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science reveals that women have had 57.9% of their NIH grants terminated in the past year, compared to 48.2% for men. STAT’s Anil Oza notes that gender disparities in NIH funding have existed before the Trump administration. The data indicates that last year’s terminations have further exacerbated the existing issues affecting women, younger researchers, and people of color.
When influencers endorse prescription drugs
A friend mentioned starting Nurtec for migraines, a drug I recognized as the one often associated with Lady Gaga. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly collaborating with celebrities and social media influencers to promote medications. A systematic review of 12 academic articles, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights concerning patterns in influencer drug promotion.
This type of promotion often involves misinformation due to the influencer’s and audience’s limited expertise, blurred lines between personal testimony and paid promotion, and insufficient oversight of online advertising.
The study underscores the urgent need for enhanced regulatory guidance and standard disclosure requirements. For more on influencers shaping health information, see Alexa Lee’s detailed story from earlier this year.
The intersection of Covid amnesia and science skepticism
Every pandemic tends to follow similar stages, as described in a First Opinion essay by two public health and policy experts. The stages generally include:
- Ignorance and denial
- Panic
- Weariness and resistance
- Anger and scapegoating
- Amnesia
The Covid pandemic began as expected, but at the later stages, an unprecedented skepticism towards science emerged, which could have significant repercussions. The experts agree that more pandemics are inevitable. Their analysis suggests that societal and governmental responses to the Covid pandemic might leave us less equipped to handle future health crises.
What we’re reading
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My season of Ativan, New Yorker
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Youth eating disorder admissions return to pre-pandemic levels, MedPage Today
- The potential flaw in Trump’s plan to get other countries to pay more for drugs, STAT
- How the term ‘neurodivergent’ moved from activists to pop culture — and politics, The 19th
- What growing up in an end-times church taught a science communicator about dispelling misinformation, STAT
What’s the word? Test your knowledge with today’s STAT Mini crossword.
