News Archives
Bariatric surgery reduces costs for patients with type 2 diabetes
March 11, 2025Read more...A Kaiser Permanente found that bariatric surgery reduced health care costs for adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in February 2025. “The study shows that both Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) help reduce health care costs for people with type 2
Many U.S. teens may be eligible for weight loss surgery
March 1, 2025Read more...In a Kaiser Permanente Southern California study, 1 in 23 adolescents met the eligibility criteria for metabolic and bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery. The findings suggest that about 1 million adolescents across the United States could be eligible for the procedure. “Understanding the population of adolescents who qualify for weight loss surgery
Research leads to finding ways to improve outcomes for heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease
February 18, 2025Read more...Research by physicians at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center is helping patients with heart failure to transition more smoothly and safely to dialysis if they develop chronic kidney disease. “We wanted to look at whether patients with heart failure have any differences in how they transition to dialysis compared to those patients without
Medicaid enrollees less vaccinated during pregnancy across US
February 18, 2025Read more...Most individuals in the United States who are pregnant are not getting the vaccines that could protect them — and their babies — from COVID-19, flu, and whooping cough, a new study shows. This is especially true among those who are on Medicaid. The nationwide study on vaccination during pregnancy was published in the American
Intensive blood pressure control and patients with chronic kidney disease
January 16, 2025Read more...The benefits of intensive blood pressure shown in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) also helps patients with chronic kidney disease, according to new research led by Kaiser Permanente and Stanford University. The study was published in January 2025 in JAMA Network Open. The SPRINT clinical trial included adults with hypertension and elevated cardiovascular
Study highlights the impact of electronic media use on young people
January 6, 2025Read more...Young people who frequently used electronic media, such as computers, television, and social media, had less physical activity, more stress, and modest cognitive challenges. The study was published in January 2025 in Preventive Medicine. “Our research found an association between electronic media use and a negative impact on youth,” said the study’s lead author, Deborah
New study sheds light on incidence of IgA nephropathy
January 6, 2025Read more...A recent Kaiser Permanente study described the incidence of IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune kidney disease, nationally, as well as among people of different race and ethnicities. The study was published in the American Journal of Nephrology in November 2024. “IgA nephropathy is a rare disease. Attempts to determine its incidence in the United States have
RSV vaccine protects older adults against severe illness
December 16, 2024Read more...A new study by Kaiser Permanente has shown that the ABRYSVO respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is very effective in reducing emergency room visits and hospital stays due to RSV among older adults. “This Kaiser Permanente research demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of RSV vaccination among those 60 and over,” said lead author Sara Y. Tartof, PhD,
Study finds air pollution may increase risk of preterm birth
December 2, 2024Read more...Exposure to a specific kind of air pollution, fine particulate matter, during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of spontaneous preterm birth, which can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in JAMA Network Open. “Consistent with other study findings, this current study has demonstrated that
5 questions for … Dr. Javed Sheikh
November 22, 2024Read more...Javed Sheikh, MD, was recently named 2024 Physician Researcher of the Year by the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Sheikh is the vice area research chair for the Los Angeles area on the Regional Research Committee. He is chief of the Department of Allergy and Immunology at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
Kaiser Permanente’s vaccine side-effect monitor bolsters safety
November 22, 2024Read more...After COVID-19 vaccines became available in December 2020, several smartphone-based reporting systems were developed to monitor vaccine side effects. They included V-safe from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, like most large surveillance systems, they had imperfections. Kaiser Permanente Southern California collaborated with the CDC and others to create a new system in
Five questions for … Dr. Kristi Reynolds
November 22, 2024Read more...Kristi Reynolds, PhD, MPH, is a chronic disease epidemiologist and the director of the Division of Epidemiologic Research for the Department of Research & Evaluation. Her research focuses on the prevention and treatment of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. She also studies medication adherence, drug safety, and cardiovascular quality of care and outcomes. Dr. Reynolds has more than
No link between COVID-19 vaccines and cardiac-related death
November 22, 2024Read more...Research conducted at Kaiser Permanente has provided reassurance to the public and lawmakers by refuting claims that COVID-19 vaccines may increase the risk of cardiac-related death. “Our work reaffirms the previously established safety of COVID-19 vaccines,” said lead author Stanley Xu, PhD, of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation. The study addressed
People with new-onset heart failure benefit from testing for coronary artery disease
November 22, 2024Read more...A new Kaiser Permanente study explores factors that might influence whether people with new-onset heart failure get tested for coronary artery disease. Published November 1, 2024, in JACC: Advances, it suggests that physician perceptions of the risks and benefits of testing, patient preferences, and socioeconomic challenges may all come into play. The study follows research
Younger adults respond to colorectal cancer screening outreach
October 24, 2024Read more...The updated national colorectal cancer screening guidelines that recommend screening begin at age 45 — rather than 50 — can benefit younger adults, a new Kaiser Permanente study found. The study was published October 22, 2024, in Annals of Internal Medicine. It included 267,732 Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California, Washington, and Colorado ages 45
Opioid use among breast cancer survivors can increase risk of falls and fractures
October 16, 2024Read more...Breast cancer survivors commonly continue to use opioid pain killers after their cancer treatment is complete. A new Kaiser Permanente study shows that this can increase their risk of falls and bone fractures, lung problems, and cardiovascular conditions. The study was published in October 2024 in The Oncologist. A cancer epidemiologist partnered with a breast
Five questions for … Dr. Heidi Brown
September 24, 2024Read more...Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, is a urogynecologist and a dissemination and implementation scientist who joined the Department of Research & Evaluation in August 2023. Her research focuses on improving access to effective solutions for pelvic floor disorders such as bladder and bowel incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. She uses community engagement, user-centered design, and iterative
No increased risk associated with flu vaccines given in closely spaced pregnancies
September 19, 2024Read more...Monitoring of about 45,000 pregnant people receiving flu vaccines in each of 2 successive pregnancies showed no increased risk of side effects or health issues, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published September 19, 2024, in JAMA Network Open. “Our study’s findings support recommendations to give flu vaccinations to pregnant persons even if they received
Beta blockers not all the same for patients with heart failure and CKD
September 16, 2024Read more...A Kaiser Permanente Southern California study showed that 1 heart-failure medication worked best among the 3 most commonly used to prevent illness and disease among patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure. “Beta blockers save lives in heart failure patients, but we wanted to see how this worked among patients who also had chronic
Gay men may be aging faster
September 13, 2024Read more...Gay men had shorter age-adjusted telomere length, which is a biomarker of aging, than straight men, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. “While everyone ages at the same rate chronologically, studies have shown that we do not age at the same rate biologically,” said the lead author on
High-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines provided better protection for seniors
August 21, 2024Read more...High-dose and adjuvanted influenza (flu) vaccines boosted protection against flu symptoms and hospitalization for people 65 years and older during the 2022-2023 flu season compared to the standard flu vaccine. The study was published on August 21, 2024, in Clinical Infectious Diseases. “Our research showed that there were advantages for older people to receive high-dose
Five questions for … Dr. Robert Sallis
August 13, 2024Read more...Robert Sallis MD, FAAFP, FACSM, is a family medicine and sports medicine physician practicing at the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center, where he serves as director of the sports medicine fellowship program. He is a clinical professor of Family Medicine at both the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and the University
Soda tax may impact children’s weight
July 31, 2024Read more...After 4 California cities began taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, young people in those cities had lower body mass index (BMI) compared to young people living in cities without the tax, a new study shows. “The findings of our study demonstrate that SSB (sugar-sweetened beverage) excise taxes may be associated with lower BMI percentile among youth,”
Reduced death rates from colorectal cancer with FIT screening
July 26, 2024Read more...An analysis of Kaiser Permanente patients in California found a 33% reduced risk of dying from colorectal cancer among those completing at least one at-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. In 2007, Kaiser Permanente Southern California began an organized colorectal cancer screening program that includes automated outreach
Five questions for … Dr. Michael Kanter
July 1, 2024Read more...Dr. Michael Kanter is an associate investigator with the Department of Research & Evaluation and the chair of Clinical Science and a professor for the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. He has been a quality care leader for Kaiser Permanente at both the regional and national levels for many years and was responsible for
Eating raw vegetables may improve bladder cancer outcomes
June 26, 2024Read more...Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients whose treatment included the immunotherapy Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) after surgery were less likely to have their cancer recur if their diet included raw cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, a new Kaiser Permanente study found. The research, published in the Journal of Urology, analyzed data from patients enrolled in the Bladder Cancer
Research showing value of exercise before a COVID-19 diagnosis earns special recognition
June 25, 2024Read more...Being active can lower your risk of getting seriously ill with COVID, regardless of your race or the chronic conditions you may have, according to research published last year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California findings were important, impactful, and influential. As a result, the journal editors chose the
Some patients take 2nd at-home fecal test to delay colonoscopy
May 22, 2024Read more...A study of 316,443 patients shows that 7.4% of patients repeated fecal testing rather than proceeding directly to colonoscopy as guidelines recommend, and of those who repeated home tests, over half did not have a colonoscopy within one year. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer-related cause of death in the United States, but
Study suggests waning protection from Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccine
May 15, 2024Read more...Emerging COVID-19 variants continue to cause serious COVID-19 disease, but most people have not received any COVID-19 vaccine for more than a year. Kaiser Permanente Southern California researchers assessed the effectiveness of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines against the recently circulating variants or sublineages to inform policymakers and the potential need for updated vaccines. One of the latest studies
Study sheds light on needs of young people who survive cancer
May 3, 2024Read more...Emergency department use was common for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors within 5 years of a cancer diagnosis, and differences in use were associated with social and demographic factors and cancer type, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study. The American Cancer Society reports that more young people are being diagnosed with cancer. Understanding