Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 4 May 2026
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Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine . The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent.
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1. Lower volume bowel preparation as effective and safe as higher volume regimen for inpatient colonoscopy
Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-05005
URL goes live when the embargo lifts
A randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of different volumes of polyethylene glycol (PEG) regimens for bowel preparation for inpatient colonoscopy. The study found that a 1 L PEG-ascorbate regimen provided effective and high-quality bowel cleansing and was associated with a greater willingness to repeat the regimen than 2 L PEG and 4 L PEG regimens. The findings support adopting a low-volume regimen to improve completion rates and patient tolerability while preserving cleansing quality. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine .
Researchers from the University of Bologna and colleagues conducted the INTERPRET trial (INpatienTs bowEl pReParation RandomizEd Trial) to better address the evidence gap around adequate bowel preparation among hospitalized patients undergoing elective colonoscopy. Between June 2021 and January 2025, the researchers randomly assigned 665 patients across seven hospitals in Italy to receive a 1 L, 2 L, or 4 L PEG solution before their procedure, and endoscopists assessed bowel cleanliness without knowing which preparation was used. While all three regimens produced similar rates of adequate cleansing, the 1 L regimen resulted in higher-quality cleansing overall, including in the right side of the colon, where inadequate preparation increases the risk of missed lesions. The findings suggest that lower-volume preparation may be an effective and acceptable option for inpatient colonoscopy. Whether these findings are generalizable to outpatients warrants future research.
Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Gabby Macrina at gmacrina@acponline.org. To contact corresponding author Lorenzo Fuccio, MD, FESGE please email Beatrice Iaquinta at beatrice.iaquinta@aosp.bo.it and ufficiostampa@unibo.it.
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2. 70% of veteran hospitalizations for alcohol use disorder do not include medication treatment
Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-26-00089
A retrospective cohort study examined recent patterns of initiating medication for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) in a national cohort of veterans hospitalized for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study found that 30% of AUD hospitalizations among veterans resulted in medication initiation, with substantial variation across hospitals, patient demographics, and clinical factors. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine .
Researchers from the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and colleagues reviewed records from more than 29,000 hospitalizations for AUD across 142 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals in 2022 and 2023 to understand how often hospitals start MAUD and what factors are associated with initiation. The primary outcome was initiation of MAUD, which included medication received during hospitalization or within seven days of hospital discharge. They found that MAUD was started in 30.8% of cases, most often during the hospital stay, and usually continued after discharge. Initiation of MAUD was more common when patients received addiction or psychiatric care, but less common in older veterans, American Indian or Alaska Native veterans, and those treated in intensive care units. The findings suggest that while hospitals can play an important role in starting treatment, more consistent approaches are needed to ensure more patients receive evidence‑based care. The findings suggest a need to identify and disseminate successful hospital-based strategies to increase prescribing of MAUD.
Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Gabby Macrina at gmacrina@acponline.org. To contact corresponding author Timothy S. Anderson, MD, MAS please email Shelley Kay Nulph at shelley.nulph@va.gov.
3. Amputations among opioid-related hospitalizations increased rapidly between 2016 and 2022
Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-05273
A cross-sectional analysis estimated national and regional changes in amputation rates among opioid-related hospitalizations in adults. The study found that amputation rates in opioid-related hospitalizations have increased nationally and in the Northeast and West census regions between 2016 and 2022. The findings suggest that multiple factors, including severe injection‑related infections and changes in the illicit drug supply, may be contributing to these trends. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine .
Researchers Massachusetts General Hospital and colleagues analyzed U.S. hospital discharge data from 2016 to 2022 to compare rates of amputations during opioid‑related hospital stays with those during non‑opioid‑related stays. They found that amputation rates increased nationally and regionally in both groups over time, but the rise was significantly greater among opioid‑related hospitalizations, particularly in the Northeast and West. The findings underscore the need for prevention and early wound care among people who use opioids.
Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Gabby Macrina at gmacrina@acponline.org. To contact corresponding author George Karandinos, MD, PhD please email gkarandinos@mgh.harvard.edu.
4. Newer migraine prevention medications offer modest benefit for chronic migraine
Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-02221
Summary for Patients: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-02221-PS
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of pharmacologic prophylaxis for chronic migraines in adults. The review found that most calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) targeted medications reduce migraine days by about two per month. The review is published in Annals of Internal Medicine .
Researchers from McMaster University and colleagues reviewed 43 randomized clinical trials involving more than 14,700 adults comparing various pharmacologic interventions for chronic migraines with placebo. They found that several newer drugs that target CGRP reduced monthly migraine days by about two days on average and were generally well tolerated. Evidence for older treatments, including botulinum toxin and some traditional oral medications, was weaker or showed higher rates of side effects. The authors conclude that most CGRP‑targeted therapies are likely effective options for preventing chronic migraine, however, there are important limitations to consider. Effects of CGPR-targeted therapies are largely driven by industry-sponsored studies, warranting replication by independent investigators. Additionally, more high-quality studies, including those assessing long-term safety, cost-effectiveness, and adherence, are needed for other treatments.
Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Gabby Macrina at gmacrina@acponline.org. To contact corresponding author Behnam Sadeghirad, PharmD, MPH, PhD please email Megan Groves at grovem2@mcmaster.ca.
Also new this issue:
What FDA Clearance Does, and Does Not, Mean for Artificial Intelligence
Kyra L. Rosen BA and Kenneth D. Mandl MD MPH
Ideas and Opinions
Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-26-00362
Annals of Internal Medicine
News article
People
Low-Volume Polyethylene Glycol for Bowel Preparation in Hospitalized Adults: A Multicenter Randomized Trial
5-May-2026