COVID-19

Outside of the loss of human life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the past two years have greatly affected hospitals, health systems and the way providers deliver care. Healthcare executives are grappling with federal monetary assistance, growing burnout rates, workforce shortages and federal oversight of vaccines and testing. This channel is also designed to update clinicians on new research and guidelines regarding COVID patient treatment strategies and risk assessments.

FDA approves expanded use of Xenoview for lung imaging

FDA approves expanded use of 'powerful' lung imaging tool

The approval will make around 1 million more patients eligible to receive the specialized contrast, which enhances the evaluation of lung ventilation. 

Rishi Wadhera, MD, MPP, MPhil, associate director of the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Explains a report showing socioeconomic factors are driving increased cardiovascular death rates, especially in younger adults, and urges action to address these health disparities.

Death from heart disease more common in rural areas—what can cardiologists do?

Rishi Wadhera, MD, detailed new data that show how socioeconomic factors are driving cardiovascular death rates, especially in younger adults.

Study: 19% of home care providers discontinued telehealth post-pandemic, citing limited reimbursement

A lack of Medicare reimbursement is just one issue. In a national survey, home healthcare agencies report dropping telemedicine offerings because elderly patients tend to prefer in-person care. 

COVID-19 vaccine vaccination myocarditis heart damage inflammation RSNA imaging radiology cardiology

CDC drops COVID vaccine recommendation for children and pregnant women

The shift follows a paper published by the FDA in the New England Journal of Medicine last week, outlining a stricter framework for approving annual COVID-19 boosters and future vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccine vaccination myocarditis heart damage inflammation RSNA imaging radiology cardiology

FDA wants new heart damage warnings added to COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines are associated with a very low risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis, primarily in young adults. The long-term impact of this risk has been the subject of many studies and debates over the years. One side says that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, and the other side says that even the smallest risk of heart damage is too high.

U.S. FDA Sign

FDA outlines stricter ‘evidence-based approach’ to COVID vaccinations

The FDA is revising its approach to COVID-19 vaccine approvals, moving away from the previous trend of treating boosters like annual flu shots. Health researcher Vinay Prasad and Commissioner Martin Makary argue in the New England Journal of Medicine for more rigorous data requirements and additional clinical studies to justify future inoculations for those under 65. 

COVID causes increase risk of clotting. Example of a pulmonary embolism. CT pulmonary angiograms in a 77-year-old man with COVID-19 and a saddle embolus to pulmonary arteries (black arrow in A) extending into right and left pulmonary arteries (white arrows) in (A, B) axial and (C) coronal planes. Arrowheads show pulmonary changes associated with COVID-19 and possible lung infarction (black arrow in C). (D) Axial image at the level of the ventricles shows right-sided heart strain. RSNA. COVID PE

PE CT studies have risen nearly 50% in recent years

The diagnostic yield of the exam, however, has remained largely unchanged, prompting experts to question whether CT pulmonary angiography is being overused in the ED.

PET imaging reveals long-term heart and lung damage from COVID-19

New data highlight the long-lasting effects of the coronavirus, revealing changes that are not detectable by standard medical assessments.