Articles
Cervical Cancer Screening
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-stage…
Cervical Cancer: Evaluation and Management
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
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…
Editorials
Putting Choosing Wisely into Practice
It is our responsibility as physicians to help our patients avoid interventions that are not helpful or, worse, potentially harmful.
AFP News Now - AFP Edition
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
Cochrane for Clinicians
Use of Niacin for Primary or Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular or Cerebrovascular Events
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
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…
Medicine by the Numbers
Pneumococcal Vaccines in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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.
Photo Quiz
Digital Clues
An older man presented with increasing fatigue and fingernail deformity.
Close-Ups
Helping Patients Live with Chronic Pain
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.
POEMs
Clinical Diagnosis of Lyme Disease Frequently Misses the “Bull's Eye”
Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Increase Adverse Events in Children with Acute Respiratory Infections with Minimal Benefit
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
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…
Practice Guidelines
Syncope Evaluation and Treatment Guidelines from ACC, AHA, and HRS
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.
FPIN's Help Desk Answers
Duration of Bisphosphonate Therapy
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 less…
Short-Term Antipsychotics for Alzheimer Disease
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.
