A Kaiser Permanente study found strong adherence to HIV-prevention drug therapy soon after prescription, but inconsistent use among vulnerable groups. The study suggests that targeted strategies are needed to support the effective use of PrEP in high-risk populations.
A Kaiser Permanente study published in JAMA Health Forum found that 83% of primary care patients and 92% of mental health clinic patients answered the question about their access to firearms. The study suggests that asking about firearm access could support suicide prevention by creating opportunities to discuss safety planning, includ...
A Kaiser Permanente study of over 31,000 heart attack patients in Southern California revealed significant racial disparities in long-term survival. Black patients from lower-resourced neighborhoods were more likely to die within 5 years after a heart attack compared to white patients, regardless of healthcare access.
A new tool called CHOTS, or COVID-19 HotSpotting Score, can forecast impending surges of COVID-19 admissions as much as 6 weeks before they occur. Developed by Kaiser Permanente researchers, CHOTS uses data from routine clinical care to identify early signs of a large community spread of infectious diseases.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that hospitalization rates for heart attacks remained stable during subsequent COVID-19 surges, contrary to initial declines during the pandemic's onset. The research suggests effective public health campaigns encouraged people to seek care, resulting in a rebound of hospitalizations.
The study found that continuous glucose monitors reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations for hypoglycemia, improving blood sugar control in selected insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients. The monitors also showed comparable results to a new diabetes medication in terms of blood sugar control.
A study by Kaiser Permanente found that insured patients with cancer had better survival rates, especially among Black and Latino patients. The researchers analyzed data from the California Cancer Registry and found lower mortality rates among Kaiser Permanente members in Southern California.
Researchers tested two suicide prediction models on nearly 14 million health records and found they performed poorly on Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native patients. The study highlights the need to test how prediction models perform in all racial and ethnic groups before implementing them in clinical care.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that child vaccination rates declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with measles vaccination coverage remaining substantially reduced in many age groups. The decline was more severe and persistent in older children, highlighting concerns about vaccine-preventable diseases.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that regular physical activity significantly reduced the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization, ICU admission, and death. Even inconsistent exercise provided some protection against poor outcomes.
A Kaiser Permanente study reveals that Black middle-aged adults are at a significantly higher risk of stroke due to high blood pressure. The research highlights the importance of raising awareness among young and middle-aged Black adults about the dangers of hypertension.
A large-scale randomized trial involving nearly 24,000 women found no significant differences in health outcomes between two gestational diabetes screening methods. The study evaluated rates of gestational diabetes diagnosis, large-for-gestational-age infants, and adverse perinatal outcomes.
A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found a significant increase in mental health treatment visits, particularly for substance use and anxiety, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise is attributed to the challenges posed by shelter-in-place orders and the shift to virtual care.
A Kaiser Permanente study found racial and ethnic disparities in the likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19, with Latino patients nearly 4 times as likely to become infected as white patients. The study also found that Black patients were 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 as white patients.
A standardized tool for assessing chest pain risk was associated with comparable care for high-risk women, while low- and intermediate-risk women received consistent care with guidelines. Despite less care, women had fewer reports of heart attacks or death within 30 days compared to men.
Kaiser Permanente has found that patients are more receptive to using mental health and wellness apps when referred by a clinician. Digital therapeutics such as mental health apps can offer significant help for patients with mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, reducing stress and anxiety, and improving sleep.
The study found a 16% lower mortality rate among patients who triggered an alert from the Advance Alert Monitor system. Patients with AAM alerts had lower ICU admission rates, shorter hospital length of stay, and lower mortality within 30 days of an alert.
A large Kaiser Permanente study found that patients who underwent bariatric surgery maintained significantly more weight loss at 5 years compared to those who did not have surgery. Gastric bypass surgery showed better results than sleeve gastrectomy, with fewer participants regaining weight.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that diabetes patients who used the patient portal and mobile phone app showed significant improvements in health outcomes. The use of these online tools was associated with increased medication adherence and lower blood glucose levels, particularly among patients with higher baseline HbA1c levels.
A study published in Circulation shows that declines in heart attacks are greatest among men, with a nearly 50% decrease between 2000 and 2014. While women also experienced a decline, their rate slowed in the last five years of the study.
Kaiser Permanente research reveals that post-menopausal women with colorectal cancer who have low social support are more likely to die from the disease or any cause. The study found a significant association between high levels of emotional, informational, tangible, and positive interactional support and lower mortality rates.
Kaiser Permanente research identifies a national trend of increasing deaths due to heart failure among US seniors, with over 647,000 people dying from heart disease in 2017. The study highlights the importance of addressing heart health in older adults as the population continues to age and grow.
A Kaiser Permanente study of nearly 500,000 pregnancies found that children exposed to severe morning sickness during pregnancy were 53% more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The association was stronger among girls and certain ethnic groups.
A study found that patients with poor health were more likely to continue taking insulin after age 75, despite guidelines recommending reduced treatment intensity. Discontinuing insulin may outweigh its benefits for older adults, especially those with multiple health conditions.
A new study published in Diabetes Care found that racial and ethnic minority groups were more likely to have diabetes or prediabetes at normal or below-normal body mass index (BMI), even among those of normal weight. The research highlights the importance of screening minority patients for diabetes, regardless of their BMI.
Kaiser Permanente research finds that at-home peritoneal dialysis is safe and effective for managing advanced-stage kidney disease, improving lifestyle and quality of life. The study shows a significant increase in at-home dialysis rates over 10 years, with 80% of patients remaining on it one year after starting.
Researchers at Kaiser Permanente discovered that allowing women to eat and move sooner after surgery improves recovery, reduces opioid exposure, and enhances breastfeeding experiences. The study's Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program led to a significant decrease in opioid use without increased pain or hospital stay.
The number of pregnant women using cannabis daily before and during pregnancy is increasing, according to Kaiser Permanente research. Cannabis use has risen from 6.8% in 2009 to 12.5% in 2017, with daily use increasing most rapidly.
A large Kaiser Permanente-led study found that both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings predict cardiovascular risk, contradicting decades of previous research. The study analyzed over 36 million blood pressure readings from 1.3 million people, revealing that high blood pressure is a strong predictor of heart attack or stroke.
A machine-learning algorithm predicts high-risk patients for HIV, flagging nearly half of those who later become infected. The tool uses 44 relevant variables from electronic health records and identifies 2.2% of patients as high or very high risk within 3 years.
A Kaiser Permanente-led study found that routine varicella vaccine significantly lowers the likelihood of painful shingles disease in children. The study, which looked at over 6.3 million children, showed that vaccinated kids had a 78% lower risk of contracting HZ compared to unvaccinated children.
A large Kaiser Permanente study found that fully vaccinated children were still at risk of developing pertussis due to waning vaccine effectiveness over time. The study suggests that under-vaccination is only one factor contributing to recent outbreaks, and that a better vaccine that lasts longer between doses is needed.
A new study from Kaiser Permanente suggests that adolescents with access to SBIRT services have sustained reductions in mental health conditions and lower healthcare utilization over a period of three years. The study found that those with access to SBIRT were less likely to have mental health or chronic medical conditions after one year.
A study by Kaiser Permanente found that patients with fluctuating opioid doses were 3 times more likely to experience an overdose compared to those with stable doses. Discontinuing long-term opioid therapy for 3 or more months significantly reduced the risk of overdose.
Researchers implemented a new assessment tool, HEART, to evaluate the level of risk for cardiac events in patients with chest pain. The study found a 4.4% decrease in hospital admissions and cardiac stress testing without increasing the risk of heart damage or death.
A recent Kaiser Permanente study found that hospitalized patients who received the flu vaccine had no increased risk of outpatient visits or hospital readmission within seven days of discharge. The study also showed that vaccinating hospital patients did not increase the risk of fever or rates of laboratory evaluations for infection.
A large Kaiser Permanente study shows that 10 years after a negative colonoscopy, members had a 46% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer and an 88% lower risk of dying from it. This evidence supports the recommended 10-year rescreening interval after a normal colonoscopy finding.
Adults with severe obesity experienced greater initial and sustained weight loss with gastric bypass surgery compared to sleeve gastrectomy or adjustable gastric banding. The study, involving over 46,000 patients, found that gastric bypass led to a 19-pound weight loss difference at 5 years.
A large-scale study found that bariatric surgery significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths in individuals with type 2 diabetes and severe obesity. The study involved over 5,000 patients who underwent bariatric surgery compared to nearly 15,000 patients receiving usual medical care.
A study by Kaiser Permanente researchers has found a specific place in the human genome associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. Variations in the SIM1 locus were significantly associated with a 26 percent increased risk, independent of known risk factors.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that patients with hypertension who experience unusually low blood pressures are twice as likely to experience a fall or faint. The study suggests that physicians should weigh the risks and benefits of aggressive blood pressure lowering on an individual basis, especially in older patients.
A Kaiser Permanente study of nearly 200,000 young women found no increased risk of primary ovarian insufficiency after HPV vaccination. The research contradicts earlier reports and provides further evidence on the safety of adolescent vaccines.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that pregnant women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy were significantly more likely to have used marijuana during pregnancy. Women with severe nausea and vomiting had nearly four times greater odds of prenatal marijuana use than those without symptoms.
Researchers at Kaiser Permanente are conducting a three-year study to examine the role of opioid use in suicide risk and develop better tools for clinicians. The study aims to improve powerful prediction models that can identify patients at high risk for suicide.
A large study of over 80,000 children found no increased risk of autism spectrum disorder after prenatal Tdap vaccination. The study's lead author says pregnant women can be reassured that receiving the vaccine is not associated with an increased risk of autism.
A new study confirms that Kaiser Permanente's organized screening program has led to a 52% decrease in colorectal cancer mortality and a 25.5% decline in incidence, saving thousands of lives.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that community health center programs mailing free colorectal cancer screening tests to patients' homes increased screening rates by nearly 4 percentage points. Clinics that implemented the program had higher proportions of patients screened, with reminder letters significantly improving return rates.
Researchers found that bariatric surgery reduces the risk of nerve, kidney and eye disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study included over 3,900 patients who underwent bariatric surgery and compared them to a control group of over 11,000 patients who received usual medical care.
A Kaiser Permanente study of nearly 2,500 patients found that reducing opioid doses for chronic pain did not result in lower patient satisfaction scores. Most encounters resulting in an opioid dose reduction maintained favorable overall satisfaction.
Kaiser Permanente researchers developed new models predicting suicide risk by combining electronic health record data with standardized depression questionnaires, identifying high-risk patients more accurately. The approach could inform decisions on follow-up care, referrals, and personal safety plans.