News Archives
Self-Reported Daily Exercise Associated with Lower Blood Pressure, Glucose Readings in Adults
December 18, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – Self-reported moderate to vigorous exercise was associated with lower blood pressure and blood glucose levels in a Kaiser Permanente study published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease. Data collected from Kaiser Permanente’s Exercise as a Vital Sign (EVS) program, in which medical office staff asks patients about their exercise habits at every
Study Finds Significant Increase in Rates of Type 1 Diabetes Among U.S. Non-Hispanic White Youth
October 23, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – The rate of non-Hispanic white youth diagnosed with type 1 diabetes increased significantly from 2002 to 2009 in all but the youngest age group of children, according to a new study published today in the journal Diabetes. The study included data from more than 2 million children and adolescents living in diverse geographic regions
Shingles Vaccine Remains Effective After Chemotherapy
August 6, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – The herpes zoster vaccine continues to be effective in protecting older adults against shingles, even after they undergo chemotherapy, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Researchers examined the electronic health records of more than 21,000 Kaiser Permanente patients in Southern California who were 60
Both Overtreatment and Undertreatment of Patients with High Blood Pressure Linked to Kidney Failure and Death
August 6, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – The mantra for treatment for high blood pressure has been the lower, the better, but that goal can potentially put patients at risk of kidney failure or death, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers examined the electronic health records of
National Cancer Institute Awards $7.3 million to Kaiser Permanente
August 1, 2014Read more...OAKLAND, Calif. – A new 5-year, $7.3 million award from the National Cancer Institute will allow Kaiser Permanente to expand its innovative cancer clinical trials program. The award, part of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), will help Kaiser Permanente focus on enrolling patients in the NCI National Clinical Trials Network, testing cutting-edge
New Perspectives on the Current Clostridium difficile Epidemic
July 23, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – More than 80 percent of hospitalized patients who tested positive for Clostridium difficile were tested outside the hospital or within the first 72 hours of hospitalization, suggesting that settings outside of the hospital may play key roles in the identification, onset and possible transmission of the disease, according to a new Kaiser
For Gastric Bypass Patients, Percent of Excess Weight Loss Differs by Race and Ethnicity
July 1, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – Non-Hispanic white patients who underwent a gastric bypass procedure lost slightly more weight over a three-year period than Hispanic or black patients, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. The study also examined two types of bariatric surgery and found that patients who
Electronic Surveillance Program Targets Care Gaps in Outpatient Settings
July 1, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – An innovative framework for identifying and addressing potential gaps in health care in outpatient settings using electronic clinical surveillance tools has been used to target patient safety across a variety of conditions, according to a study published today in the journal eGEMs. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California Outpatient Safety Net Program (OSNP)
New Study on Cardiac Catheterization Offers Insight into Reducing Risk of Complications
July 1, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – When physicians conduct heart-related procedures on patients, they commonly include a process called cardiac catheterization, which allows physicians to learn about the condition of the heart. In some instances, dye is used to help physicians visualize a patient’s blood vessels. Among the potential complications associated with using dye in these procedures is
Physical Activity Associated with Lower Rates of Hospital Readmission in Patients with Pulmonary Disease
April 9, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who participated in any level of moderate to vigorous physical activity had a lower risk of hospital readmission within 30 days compared to those who were inactive, according to a study published today in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Researchers examined the electronic health
Research Finds Association Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Premature Births
March 26, 2014Read more...
EHR-Based Screening Program for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Cuts the Number of Unscreened At-Risk Men by More than Half
February 10, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – A screening program for abdominal aortic aneurysms, integrated into an electronic health record (EHR), dramatically reduced the number of unscreened at-risk men by more than 50 percent within 15 months, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the Journal of Vascular Surgery. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a balloon-like
Sedentary Behavior and Low Physical Activity Linked to Heart Failure in Men
January 27, 2014Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – Men who reported being sedentary with low levels of physical activity were at a significantly higher risk for heart failure than those who were more active, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure. The study shows the increased risk of heart failure with prolonged sedentary