News & Updates

Valve surgery or percutaneous mechanical aspiration, in combination with medical therapy, fall short of providing survival benefits to patients with isolated tricuspid valve infective endocarditis, results of a study have shown. However, addiction medicine consultation appears to be protective against the risk of death at 1 year in this population.

In Singapore, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage remains stubbornly low. Results of two separate analysis of a cross-sectional survey shed light on this concerning trend, highlighting the roles of vaccine knowledge and attitude, healthcare professionals, and social support in influencing vaccination decisions.

COVID-19 variants delta and omicron BA.1 or BA.2 do not pose a substantial threat of long-term autoimmune complications, except for a modest elevation in inflammatory bowel disease and bullous skin disorders among hospitalized patients during the omicron predominance in Singapore, as shown in a study.

Adding sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to usual care in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 does not necessarily lead to improved survival, according to the results of a meta-analysis.

In a nationwide French cohort study, myocarditis attributed to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination causes fewer cardiovascular (CV) events at 18 months of follow-up than that attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection or myocarditis of conventional aetiologies.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is often associated with severe illness in young children, but its impact on older adults is a growing concern. In older adults, RSV can lead to serious consequences, including hospitalization and death. [BMC Infect Dis 2017;20;17:785] Unlike other viruses, immunity to RSV infection is incomplete and short-lived, making reinfection common throughout life. [Respiratory Syncytial Virus. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442240/] Despite this, RSV in adults remains underrecognized and underestimated. Addressing this overlooked risk requires a focused approach, with vaccination playing a crucial role in preventing severe RSV-related complications in older populations.