Rajesh Aggarwal MD PhD FRCS FACS’ Post

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 (𝗖𝗞𝗗). The ENDORSE project, published in the scientific journal ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research, demonstrated the effectiveness of a targeted training program for general practitioners, aimed at increasing awareness and early diagnosis of CKD. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: - 128.9% increase in CKD screenings in 6 months - 62% increase in CKD diagnoses among high-risk patients (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure) - Predicted economic savings of 1.7 million euros over 5 years for the healthcare system - Estimated national savings of 106.6 million euros Early diagnosis allows for timely treatment, slowing disease progression and improving clinical outcomes. This model could be implemented on a larger scale, enhancing patient care and reducing healthcare costs. An innovative approach to addressing an underdiagnosed chronic condition with significant benefits for public health and the economy. Read the whole article by clicking on this link: https://lnkd.in/dXr4jtnk 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼: info@savestudi.it Francesco Pesce, MD PhD Giacomo M. Bruno Giorgio Lorenzo Colombo Sergio Di Matteo Anna Rita Maurizi Valentina Mongelli Silvia Mele Lavinia Narici Stefano Bianchi, Mario Bonomi, Giuseppe Castellano Luca De Nicola Giovanni Gambaro Giuseppe Grandaliano Gaetano La Manna Antonello Pani Andrea Ranghino Loreto Gesualdo #healthcare #chronickidneydisease #earlydiagnosis #generalmedicine #healthcaresavings #dovepress #scientificjournal #economicanalysis

Being able to participate more in social life and a better quality of life – these are some of the effects reported by dialysis patients treated on hemodiafiltration, as seen in the CONVINCE Study. When researchers initiated the CONVINCE Study, they aimed to quantify the benefits patients could receive from high-dose hemodiafiltration (HDF) compared to the standard treatment, hemodialysis. The results were not only promising regarding HDF as a treatment method for reducing mortality rates, but they also highlighted the unique role that patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can play in medical studies for people with kidney disease and others. Krister Cromm, Fresenius Medical Care’s Director of Person-Centered Outcomes Research, played a critical role in gathering and analyzing data from the CONVINCE Study. According to Cromm, PROs provide valuable insights into how someone feels living with a chronic disease, leading to meaningful conversations about optimizing care and choosing the right treatment. “The CONVINCE study showed that it’s possible to achieve a higher quality of life and live longer with hemodiafiltration. For example, the study showed higher social participation, better physical function, better cognitive function and lower pain interference of participants. These are very promising prospects and a light at the end of the tunnel for many patients.” Read the full article to learn how these findings are shaping patient-centered care and improving outcomes in kidney health: https://lnkd.in/degPSfgE #ProudtobeFME #TogetherAhead #Healthcare #Dialysis

Perhaps the best anti depressent is being in nature and exercizing. People are concerned with gaining weight as results of taking antidepressants, which will further deteriorate their sense of value and leads to more depression. However exercising and being in nature can help with both, weigh gain an depression. Great insights on the reason they may not adhere to precribed treatment. I look forward seeing more holistic approach to healthcare, and pharma R&D.

☣ ☣ PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY: Individuals with obesity are often excluded from clinical trials. ☣ ☣ 🙏🏽 THANKS Courtney Southwick, MS - Health Science Writer for your great article in HealthCentral Corporation. 💡 💡 MY TWO CENTS: WHY? 💊 Researchers might be disincentivized to include patients with obesity in their trials because of how their weight and weight-related health complications could affect the intervention 💊 Obesity is associated with over 200 complications, some of which may disqualify someone from participating in clinical trials. 💊 Weight bias, stigma, and discrimination likely play a big role. Even when individuals with obesity are eligible for a clinical trial, they might not be inclined to participate for a variety of reasons related to their disease. THE DANGER 🚨 This is a huge problem. 🚨 It’s challenging for clinicians to treat patients with obesity with certain medications if we don’t know which dose or frequency to prescribe. 🚨 Standard dosage and titration regimens could lead to underdosing or overdosing individuals with obesity. CALL TO ACTION 🙋🏽♀️ Raising awareness in a variety of ways is important. 🙋🏽♀️ Health care providers need to be armed with inclusive research, or knowledge of research limitations, so we can treat patients as effectively and safely as possible. 🙋🏽♀️ And patients need to be aware of these research limitations so they can advocate for themselves when medications do not seem to be working or when they develop potential side effects. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SMART PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM 🌟 Ted Kyle 🌟 Barbara Senich 🌟 Christina Chow, PhD 🌟 Sundar Srinivasan 🌟 Brandon Fremd 🌟 Christopher Bruno 📰 READ the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e9YAt_Ua Emerald Lake Safety - Obesity Action Coalition - The Obesity Society Weill Cornell Medicine - Krystle Lopez #obesity - #publichealth - #safety - #medications

#contingencymanagement #chronicdisease #drugcosts #behavioraleconomics While healthcare costs and BMI continue to rise, we should recall this old (c.2020) data: contingency management is effective, when the incentives are maintained. It's exciting to see innovators such as wellth nudging the field forward. https://lnkd.in/eWB3WcXR

GLP-1s have a vice-like grip on the imagination of the healthcare and life sciences industries. The scope and magnitude of benefits, including in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular, and kidney disease makes this class of drug arguably the closest thing medicine has to a silver bullet for a range of conditions. This level of disruption will inevitably create winners and losers. Our Kearney report offers a bottom-up approach that bridges the best available research data to the commercial implications of GLP-1s. Along with Betty Pio and Fernando Perez-Hickman Escolar, we identify 21-23% of annual revenue at risk ($6.5-7.2 billion) across several therapeutic areas. We conclude with the 5 strategic steps that executives can take to win in this exciting new era for healthcare. Please read our report here! https://lnkd.in/e9GTwRRc #healthcare #lifesciences

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 📊 -> GLP-1: tackling its main problematics with AI. 💉 💊 GLP-1 RAs are redefining the landscape of obesity and diabetes treatment. By mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1, these medications regulate insulin, control hunger, and slow stomach emptying. With obesity rates climbing globally and economic burdens increasing, GLP-1 RAs are set to make a monumental impact, potentially reaching $100 billion in sales by 2030, according to HealthXL® article "GLP-1 Beyond The Hype." Its popularity has increased unprecedentedly due to celebrity endorsements and social media trends, driving demand and leading to supply shortages and off-label use. What challenges face GLP-1 industry in the near future? Adherence Issues: Despite the benefits, many users discontinue GLP-1 RAs within a year due to high costs and side effects, often resulting in weight regain and deteriorating metabolic health. Misinformation: Social media platforms like TikTok have popularized off-label use of GLP-1 RAs for weight loss among those who are neither overweight nor diabetic, straining supply and posing safety risks. Some insights on solutions... 🤖 AI-Powered Support: AI-driven healthcare agents can revolutionize patient care by providing continuous support and monitoring. By accessing electronic health records (EHRs), these agents ensure proper follow-up and help maintain adherence, addressing patient concerns in real-time. Educational Campaigns: Targeted educational campaigns can dispel myths and spread reliable information about GLP-1 RAs. Empowering patients with accurate knowledge helps them make informed decisions and curbs the spread of misinformation. Looking Ahead 🔎 The rise of GLP-1 RAs underscores both the potential and challenges in modern healthcare. These medications present a powerful tool against obesity and diabetes, but adherence and misinformation must be tackled head-on. By leveraging AI for continuous support and spearheading accurate educational campaigns, we can enhance treatment effectiveness and foster a well-informed public. Together, we can ensure that GLP-1 RAs fulfill their potential, contributing to a healthier future for everyone. #HealthcareInnovation #GLP1 #AIPoweredHealth #PatientCare #ObesityTreatment #DiabetesManagement #HealthTech #AIinHealthcare

I came across this interesting article by Blue Health Intelligence, a data analytics company, which evaluated 170,000 GLP-1 users for weight loss and noted that discontinuation of the medicine within 3 months was very frequent. 👉Less than half of those prescribed stay on the medication for 12 weeks or more. 👉Discontinuation was highest among younger adults (18-34), whereas those who were prescribed the medication by an endocrinologist or obesity medicine specialist were more likely to continue for longer. 👉30% of patients dropped out of treatment after the first four weeks, and 58% at 12 weeks. Certain inferences can be extrapolated from this data: A) Patients who are started on GLP-1 RAs are likely not being followed up soon enough to assess access issues, adherence, and side effects. B) Side effects are probably not being appropriately managed effectively, therefore deterring the patients from staying on GLP-1 RA. C) Patients are likely not being educated on the lifestyle interventions needed to go in combination with safe and effective weight loss with GLP-1 RA as a supportive measure. D) We need to be more responsible when prescribing anti-obesity meds to younger patients. We shouldn’t shy away from prescribing these meds, but we must maximize the support provided to younger adults with obesity as we run the risk of losing young patients to the painful yo-yo cycling of weight loss and weight gain and related mental health challenges if we don’t ensure safe and effective use of GLP-1 RA. We want to avoid them getting deterred from the use of anti-obesity meds and feeling hopeless. E) More endocrinologists and obesity medicine physicians are needed to match the growing need for obesity care in communities. In my practice, this is becoming a common occurrence. Patients had tried GLP-1s RA in the past but were not guided on the safe use of these medications. #obesity #weightloss #wegovy #saxenda #obesitymedicine

A new study by Mark Fendrick et al. explores more affordable obesity care with GLP-1, and here are our takeaways: 💸 Switching to cheaper weight maintenance programs after initial weight loss with expensive medications like GLP-1 can reduce lifetime healthcare spending. 🏋️ These cheaper programs might not be as powerful as full-dose GLP-1 treatments, but they still help keep the weight off and improve heart health. 👥 This approach makes sure that more people can benefit from initial weight loss treatments without spending too much. The study shows that cheaper weight maintenance programs save money but give fewer health benefits. This makes us ask: should we sacrifice efficacy for affordability, or try to make GLP-1 more affordable? It's also crucial to tailor these alternative programs to each person since everyone responds differently to weight loss treatments. Plus, we should focus on building lasting healthy habits for long-term health, reduced medication reliance and better obesity management. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gUjKMuVu #Obesity #ObesityManagement #Innovation #WeightLoss #AntiObesityMedications #HealthEquity #ComprehensiveCare #LongTermHealth #ObesityProgram #GLP1 #Wegovy #Ozempic #Victoza #Saxenda #Mounjaro #Diabetes #Cardiology #Heart #HeartHealth #Lifestyle #Weight #ObesityCare Oxford University Press University of Oxford #Healthcare

Back in 2010, the Institute of Medicine (now National Academies of Medicine) stated the annual cost of chronic pain in the U.S. is estimated to range between $560 billion and $635 billion. This staggering figure includes both direct medical expenses and in direct costs, such as lost productivity due to missed work or reduced work capacity. More recent studies and reports estimate the annual economic burden of chronic pain in the U.S. to be between $635 billion and $900 billion. This includes costs related to healthcare expenditures, lost productivity, and other indirect costs. The increase in estimates reflects not only inflation but also a growing recognition of the broader economic impact of chronic pain, including its effects on quality of life, medical treatments, disability payments, and a significant loss in workforce productivity. These figures highlight that chronic pain imposes a greater overall economic burden than other major health conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Effective (and accessible) integrative and multidisciplinary pain care has been shown to reduce hospital admissions by 60% and save pharmaceutical costs by 85% - saving employers thousands of dollars per employee each year in productivity and direct medical and pharmaceutical costs. Sources: https://lnkd.in/gkMkh8Q2. Sources: https://lnkd.in/gdCH7ESp Sources: https://lnkd.in/gXiwEfEB #ChronicPain #RightCareAtTheRightTime #SolvePainTogether #WholeHealth #IntegrativePainManagement #IntegratedPainManagement #PainAwarenessMonth #IntegratedHealthCare #CostOfPain