Healthcare Spotlight

06/17/2026

The coronavirus vaccine reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events linked to covid-19 by about 40 percent, according to a new study.

The findings suggest that such benefits observed in earlier studies have persisted for years. https://wapo.st/4a4nX3a

06/17/2026

A test-negative, case-control study estimated the effectiveness of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines against medically attended COVID-19 outcomes in US adults using multisite electronic health record data.

Among over 333 000 emergency department/urgent care (ED/UC) encounters and 97 000 hospitalizations in immunocompetent adults, vaccine effectiveness (VE) was 26% against COVID-19–associated ED/UC encounters, 35% against COVID-19–associated hospitalization, and 41% against critical illness during the 7–299 days after vaccination. Effectiveness estimates waned over time, with highest VE observed 7–59 days post vaccination and lowest by 180–299 days. Among immunocompromised adults, VE against COVID-19–associated hospitalization was 24%.

These findings demonstrate that 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccination was associated with reduced risk of COVID-19–related acute and severe outcomes across adult populations, but protection declined with time since vaccination. https://ja.ma/4vFcYFQ

06/15/2026

Low back pain is defined as pain located below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal folds, with or without leg pain and is the leading cause of years lived with worldwide, affecting people of all ages.

Approximately 1 in 4 US workers report low back pain, with mean lifetime prevalence of approximately 40% in adults. Approximately 90% of cases presenting in clinical settings are classified as nonspecific low back pain, with no identified pathoanatomical cause. Initial management emphasizes advice, education, and continued activity.

For acute nonspecific low back pain, first-line therapies include nonpharmacological treatments such as heat application, spinal manipulation, massage, and acupuncture, along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and skeletal muscle relaxants.

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is less likely to resolve but is managed with exercise, psychological therapies (such as cognitive behavioral therapy), and multidisciplinary approaches, with NSAIDs considered as second-line therapy.

📝This JAMA Review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, prognosis, and treatment of nonspecific low back pain in the outpatient setting.

https://ja.ma/43AFjkE

06/15/2026

This narrative review suggests mental disorders are statistical clusters of biopsychosocial properties, not sharply defined categories, mirroring concepts in species classification and supporting dimensional frameworks. https://ja.ma/3PWrppO

06/15/2026

06/14/2026

is a leading cause of pain and disability that affects nearly one-third of older US adults, many have inflammatory arthritis.

💡 This Clinical Insights discusses inflammatory arthritis in older adults and offers practical guidance. https://ja.ma/4a6Cf3p

06/14/2026

In adults at risk for chronic low back pain, clinician-supported biopsychosocial self-management was more effective than care at reducing LBP impact and chronicity, while manipulation showed no added benefit.

https://ja.ma/4fDuN3b