Cervical Cancer Screening

Caitlyn M. Rerucha, Rebecca J. Caro, Vernon L. Wheeler

Precancerous cervical lesions and cervical carcinomas are strongly associated with sexually-transmitted high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which causes almost all cervical cancers. Screening with cytology can detect early cervical cancer precursors and early...

Cervical Cancer: Evaluation and Management

Jennifer Wipperman, Tara Neil, Tracy Williams

Most cervical cancer risk factors relate to increased exposure to human papillomavirus or decreased ability to clear the virus immunologically. Cervical cancer may be detected after a Papanicolaou test result is abnormal, a lesion is visualized on pelvic examination, or...

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Common Questions About Diagnosis and Management

Amy Wasserman

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis typically present with pain and stiffness in multiple joints, often the wrists, proximal interphalangeal joints, and metacarpophalangeal joints. Some patients may experience extra-articular manifestations affecting the eyes, skin, lungs, and...

Putting Choosing Wisely into Practice

Jennifer L. Middleton

It is our responsibility as physicians to help our patients avoid interventions that are not helpful or, worse, potentially harmful.

AAFP News: AFP Edition

AAFP Warns Labor Department Against Expanding Association Health Plans | AAFP Gives CMS Feedback on Prior Authorizations, Opioid Epidemic | Initial ABFM Certification Window Closing for Some Family Physicians | New Tool Guides Family Physicians Looking to Open a Practice

Use of Niacin for Primary or Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular or Cerebrovascular Events

Joseph R. Yancey, Jeanmarie B. Rey

Prescription niacin (nicotinic acid, vitamin B3) does not reduce myocardial infarctions, strokes, or overall mortality when used for primary or secondary prevention.

DPP-4 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Complications

Dustin K. Smith, Matthew J. Wessner

There is only limited-quality evidence that at-risk patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists are less likely to progress to diabetes (number needed to treat [NNT] = 23). Serious adverse events were more likely in patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists than in patients taking...

Pneumococcal Vaccines in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Zachariah Clark, Douglas Maurer

Pneumococcal vaccines had no significant effect on mortality from cardiorespiratory disease when compared with control and had no significant effect on all-cause mortality. Find out more.

Digital Clues

Rob Danoff, Julia Todd

An older man presented with increasing fatigue and fingernail deformity.

Helping Patients Live with Chronic Pain

Justin Van Hoorebeke, Adriel Kramer, Justin Van Hoorebeke, Adriel Kramer

Providing high-quality, patient-centered care for those living with chronic pain includes developing a good understanding of the many ways the pain affects their lives are affected by their symptoms and validating their concerns and feelings.

Clinical Diagnosis of Lyme Disease Frequently Misses the “Bull's Eye”

Allen F. Shaughnessy

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Increase Adverse Events in Children with Acute Respiratory Infections with Minimal Benefit

David Slawson

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are no more effective than narrow-spectrum antibiotics for treating acute respiratory tract infections in infants and children, and adverse events are significantly more common in children treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Early PT for Acute Low Back Pain Is Cost-Effective, but Gain in Quality of Life Is Likely Too Small to Notice

Mark H. Ebell

At $30,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, early PT for acute low back pain in primary care is cost-effective by the usual criteria of $50,000 to $100,000 per QALY. However, the magnitude of improvement in quality of life is small and is probably not clinically...

Syncope Evaluation and Treatment Guidelines from ACC, AHA, and HRS

Lisa Hauk

The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) have released guidelines to assist physicians in evaluating and treating syncope.

Duration of Bisphosphonate Therapy

Helen C. Lam, Christie M. Thomas, Julia M. Shaver

Oral bisphosphonates significantly reduce clinical fracture risk at four years in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (T-score less than -2.5). Treatment beyond five years is associated with further reductions in fractures in women with persistent femoral neck T-scores...

Short-Term Antipsychotics for Alzheimer Disease

Alice Zhang, Robert Martin

Physicians should consider not using antipsychotics in patients with dementia. Patients with dementia, including Alzheimer disease, who are treated with antipsychotics for any length of time have a higher mortality rate than those not taking antipsychotics.