VA officials believe that the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June and the subsequent enforcement of abortion bans in several states creates a clear danger to the health of women veterans.
New Tool Estimates Age-Specific Prostate Cancer Risk
A multi-ancestry polygenic risk score (PRS) that stratifies prostate cancer risk across populations has been developed. In a recent study, the developers validated the performance of the PRS in the multi-ancestry Million Veteran Program and additional independent studies.
Survival Rates Better for Prostate Cancer With Radical Prostatectomy
Clinicians haven’t had information on the optimal upfront treatment modality for patients with nonmetastatic Gleason Score 9 and 10 prostate cancer (GS 9-10 PCa).
Second Cancer More Common With Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer
When men are diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, they are often faced with a difficult decision.
PACT Act: Hundreds of Thousands of Veterans Newly Eligible for VA Care
As of the first day this month, the VA expanded and extended eligibility for VA healthcare for specific veterans of the Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era.
High Prescribing of Antibiotics, Opioids Linked In Medical, Dental Providers
Medical and dental providers who are high prescribers of antibiotics are also likely to be high prescribers of opioids, according to a new study.
PTSD Appears to Accelerate Multiple Sclerosis Progression for Veterans
An unfortunate confluence of events puts a significant number of veterans at higher risk of both multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTSD). Agent Orange and other exposures make multiple sclerosis (MS) a presumptive condition for those who have served, while combat experience, higher rates of sexual assault and other factors increase the likelihood of PTSD among veterans.
DHA: Chlamydia Is the Most Common Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Active Duty U.S. Military Servicemembers
Chlamydia is the U.S. military’s most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) among active duty servicemembers, according to 2021 and 2022 reports on STIs by the Defense Health Agency’s Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division.
VA Receives First Doses of Vaccine to Help Combat Monkeypox Outbreak
When the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency on July 23, there were more than 4,000 reported cases in the United States. By mid-September, the number of reported U.S. cases had surpassed 24,000.
Matched Siblings Are the Optimal Allo-HCT Donors for MDS Patients
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a condition linked to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for some veterans, are the second common indication for an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Allo-HCT.)
Black MDS Patients Appear to Have Better Overall Survival Than Whites
Certain veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, have a presumptive service connection to aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes because of exposure to contaminated water.
For the Sixth Year, MDS World Awareness Day Coming Up This Month
The annual MDS World Awareness Day is designed to raise awareness of myelodysplastic syndromes. The rare group of blood cancers occurs when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow become abnormal.
HIV-Positive Veterans Have Higher Risk of Head and Neck Cancer
Thanks to the use of combination antiretroviral therapy, life expectancy is greater than it has ever been for people living with HIV/AIDS. But with that increase in life expectancy comes an increase in the number of non-AIDS-defining cancers.
Study Finds Significant Regional Variations in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Survival Rates Within Nationwide VA Healthcare System
Veteran populations have five times the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—the most common primary malignancy of the liver, which occurs largely in patients with underlying chronic liver disease—compared to the general population
Glargine, Liraglutide More Effective for Reaching, Maintaining T2D Targets
Clinicians treating Type 2 diabetes have an arsenal of medications to help lower glucose levels in patients with uncontrolled blood sugar. The key question regards which work best to lower glucose levels and keep them low.
Diabetes Genetic Risk Score Linked to Dementia in Some Veterans
Using the VA’s Million Veteran Program data, a new study has determined that a diabetes genetic risk score is associated with all-cause dementia and clinically diagnosed vascular dementia in veterans.
Rural T2D Patients Improved With Remote VA Care
How did a novel approach to provide diabetes specialty team care to rural veterans with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) affect clinical outcomes and processes of care?
T2D Drugs Didn’t Differ in Preventing CV Complications
Not many studies have looked at the comparative effectiveness of commonly used glucose-lowering medications, when added to metformin, on preventing microvascular and cardiovascular disease outcomes in Type 2 diabetes.
VA Study Calls for Greater Use of Fecal Immunochemical Testing for CRC
Backlogs in high-volume gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, such as colonoscopy, occurred during the current COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the early days.
GAO: Claims Processor Misunderstanding Often Denied Agent Orange Benefits to Which Vietnam Vets Were Entitled
VA claims processors have consistently failed to understand the department’s own regulations when it comes to Vietnam veterans presenting with certain Agent Orange-related conditions, prematurely denying benefits for thousands, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
Clostridioides Difficile Infection Increases Mortality, Costs for MHS Patients
One of the largest studies ever of healthcare-facility-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) underscored the seriousness of the infection, which causes significantly increased length of stay, higher costs, and, worst of all, greater mortality among inpatients.
Kearney Tries to Get Troubled Veterans to Talk About Suicide Concerns
Most of the career of Lisa Kearney, PhD, at the VA has revolved around reducing the stigma associated with mental healthcare and increasing access for veterans who need it.
New Studies Examine Major, Minor Risks With Colonoscopies
A Durham, NC, VA Healthcare System-led study sought to describe adverse events during follow-up in a colonoscopy screening program after the baseline examination.
Leukocytes Help Predict Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment Response
The prognosis is favorable for the majority of anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients; in 70% to 80%, tumors are highly sensitive to standard-of-care chemoradiation.
Pandemic Didn’t Delay Colonoscopies for Veterans With ‘Red Flag’ Symptoms
Concerns have been raised over the last few years that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, VHA patients with “red flag signs or symptoms” of colorectal cancer (CRC) did not receive prompt colonoscopy work-ups.
New Center at NYU Will Focus on How Social Factors Might Affect Veterans Using Telehealth for Cancer
As part of a larger initiative, a center will be established at New York University to determine how social factors might affect the delivery of telehealth for cancer care.
VA Adds Abortion Counseling, Limited Abortion Access to Health Services
The VA has expanded its health services to include access to abortion counseling and, in limited cases, abortion to veterans and VA beneficiaries, even when restricted by state laws.
Federal Medicine Leads the Battle Against MS from Cause to Vaccine
Researchers with the DoD provided a breakthrough in resolving the mystery surrounding the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS).
VA Research Finds Disease-Modifying Therapies Protective Against COVID-19
For veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS), the COVID-19 pandemic increased anxiety. Would the demyelinating disease increase the risk of hospitalization or death in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2?
VA Partners with PVA, National MS Society to Support Veterans with MS
The VA’s Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence (MSCoE) offer a wide range of services for veterans affected by the neurological condition and ensures veterans have access to high quality care wherever they are.
