Internal Medicine Alert – January 30, 2024
January 30, 2024
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H. pylori Infection – A Potential Modifiable Risk Factor of Alzheimer’s Dementia
A large nested case-control cohort study of subjects aged 50 years and older found that clinically apparent Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with a moderately increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
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Do Patients with Heart Failure Feel Better on Dapagliflozin?
An analysis of the DETERMINE studies of dapagliflozin vs. placebo in patients with heart failure showed some improvement in self-reported symptoms in those with reduced ejection fraction on dapagliflozin but not in the six-minute walk test. No improvements in symptoms or physical activity levels were found in those with preserved ejection fraction on dapagliflozin.
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Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation
A United Kingdom Biobank study of new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) has shown strong associations with hypertension and obesity at all ages and acute illnesses/surgery in older individuals. Genetics was less important, but in those at low genetic risk, obesity and hypertension were strong predictors of AF.
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Metformin Use Is Associated with Decreased Diabetes-Associated Dementia
In two recent cohort studies, metformin use was found to decrease the risk of developing dementia in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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Iptacopan Capsules (Fabhalta)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first oral drug to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Iptacopan is a first-in-class oral selective inhibitor of complement factor B (C3 pathway). It is distributed by Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation as Fabhalta.