Articles related toPublic Health and Primary Care

External auditory canal exostoses (EACE) are bony formations that develop insidiously in the auditory meatus from chronic exposure to cold water and, in severe cases, require surgery. This condition has been understudied in the whitewater kayakers and not yet studied in the riverboarding population. This article aims to determine the prevalence of EACE in Colorado whitewater athletes and their attitudes about wearing ear protection before and after an educational intervention directed at increasing awareness and prevention of EACE.

This review will define the components of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), consider the impact of MAT in the primary care setting, and identify barriers to effective MAT.

Diabetes-related distress (DRD) is experienced by nearly 50% of people with diabetes at any given time in their diagnosis. The effects of low socioeconomic status and lacking access to resources can increase DRD. In addition, cardiovascular (CV) complications associated with diabetes are associated with higher DRD scores. This study evaluated the associations between DRD and predicted CV risks in participants with type 2 diabetes.

This study aims to explore primary care providers' experiences and practice patterns regarding low back pain in females compared to males in healthcare settings within the United States.

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of mask mandates in small US counties and places where the population density may not be as high as in larger urban counties and to determine the efficacy of countywide mask mandates in reducing daily COVID-19 infection.

The authors evaluated whether a screening tool would be able to accurately screen individuals for movement system disorders (MSDs), explore comorbidities that may predict the prevalence of MSDs, and identify why people do not discuss these problems with their primary care provider.

Corticosteroids, specifically dexamethasone, have become the mainstay of treatment for moderate to severe COVID-19. This study aims to analyze the association between corticosteroids and COVID-19–related outcomes in patients admitted to the medical ICU for COVID-19 pneumonia.

The authors present a case of a patient who was found to have hereditary spherocytosis (HS) after developing nephrotic range proteinuria. The patient had diabetes that was previously thought to be well controlled, but his HS was masking his poor glycemic control. This case highlights the importance of understanding the limitations of the hemoglobin A1c in managing patients with diabetes.

Diabetes has become a global noninfectious pandemic with rates rapidly rising around the globe. The major drivers of this increase in type 2 diabetes are obesity, an increase in processed foods, and a decrease in physical activity. In the United States, the National Diabetes Prevention Program has proven to be an effective lifestyle intervention to delay or prevent new-onset type 2 diabetes. However, there is limited evidence that such a lifestyle program will work in a South American community. This pilot program aims to determine if a modified version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diabetes Prevention Program would be feasible in an Ecuadorian population.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 15% of the US population and is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this article, the authors define CKD staging, review new hypertension and diabetic guidelines for CKD patients, and discuss major trials for new potential therapies in CKD, particularly diabetic kidney disease. They also provide practical guidance for primary care physicians to diagnose CKD and implement these agents early in the disease course to prevent the progression of disease and reduce the morbidity and mortality of this vulnerable population.