July 2024

As many as 17% of women and 34% of men in the United States have obstructive sleep apnea, with rates steadily increasing. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with several comorbid conditions and independently increases the risk of coronary and cerebrovascular events such as…

People with cancer are considered survivors from the moment of diagnosis through end-of-life care. Family physicians are uniquely positioned to oversee a coordinated care plan for cancer survivors and help assure that they receive recommended surveillance.

Prostatitis is a spectrum of syndromes including lower urinary tract symptoms, pelvic pain, and systemic features. It is important to identify whether a patient with prostatitis has an infectious etiology to enable timely and appropriate use of antibiotics.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity. This article provides a brief summary of the best available patient-oriented evidence for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bleeding emergencies present with clinical symptoms and laboratory results such as thrombocytopenia, elevation of the international normalized ratio, or anemia with evidence of hemolysis. Blood product transfusions, including plate-lets, packed red blood cells, cryoprecipitate…

This article is the 13th installment of the annual series and summarizes the 20 most clinically relevant POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters) of 2023 for primary care physicians.

The AFP photo competition encourages students and residents to share their stories through photographs about how they use the AFP journal.

This editorial introduces AFP's new fellow and representative, thanks peer reviewers, and includes updates, statistics, and a call for videos.

People of South Asian ancestry have a disproportionately higher burden of aggressive and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) when compared with other racial and ethnic groups.

Key clinical questions and their evidence-based answers directly from the journal’s content, written by and for family physicians.

For 25 years, the Graham Center has played a pivotal role in informing policy and primary care practice by producing high-quality evidence about the value, dimensions, and needs of primary care. In this article, past and current leaders of the Graham Center reflect on its…

Given the promising effectiveness data and low risk of harms associated with the treatment, we have assigned a color recommendation of green (benefits are greater than harms) to this intervention. Additional research is necessary to ascertain the optimal dosage and form of…

There is moderate evidence that women who receive breastfeeding support interventions are more likely to continue breastfeeding up to 6 months postpartum; these interventions also appear to increase exclusive breastfeeding (i.e., breast milk is the only form of nutrition).

Cognitive rehabilitation improves participant self-ratings of goal attainment, informant ratings of goal attainment, and self-ratings of satisfaction with goal attainment at the end of treatment and at 3 to 12 months of follow-up. Cognitive rehabilitation likely has a small…

Midodrine can treat recurrent vasovagal syncope in adults and children. It reduces the recurrence rate by at least 30% compared with placebo). Midodrine may also delay syncope recurrence compared with placebo.

Bupropion is an effective therapy for adolescents with major depressive disorder and may decrease rates of hospitalizations for depression and medication discontinuation.

A 50-year-old man presented with an intensely pruritic rash on his extremities and trunk.

A 40-year-old woman presented with a painful lesion on her thigh.

The modified two-tiered protocol offers greater or similar sensitivity compared with the traditional testing protocol for acute phase or early disseminated Lyme disease, although it is still only 35% to 54%. The modified two-tiered testing is less expensive than traditional…

In many medical practices, older adults already comprise a large proportion of the patient population. Best serving the health needs of these patients requires an intentional approach to the care of older individuals, free of ageist assumptions.

POEMs

POEMs

POEMs

POEMs

The USPSTF recommends screening for anxiety in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years, and concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for anxiety in children 7 years or younger.

Targeted school-based cognitive behavioral therapy programs to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms (https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/mental-health-targeted-school-based-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-programs-reduce-depression-anxiety-symptoms).

This PPIP quiz is based on the recommendations of the USPSTF.

These guidelines from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense (VA/DoD) update their previous recommendations and reflect a more rigorous development approach. Recommended options represent strong evidence and a distinct likelihood of benefit…

Postdural puncture headache is caused by low cerebrospinal fluid pressure that occurs within 5 days of an accidental or intentional lumbar puncture. A multisociety, international working group released guidelines on the evaluation and treatment of postdural puncture headache.

Reply: Sarah Inés Ramírez

Reply: Keith B. Quencer

Home sleep apnea testing monitors your breathing during sleep. It checks blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing effort, and air movement from the nose. Most home sleep apnea tests do not monitor brain waves and cannot tell the exact amount of time someone is asleep. Home…