Clinical Inquiries
Clinical Inquiries
Is osteoporosis screening in postmenopausal women effective?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No single study evaluates the effectiveness of osteoporosis screening. However, screening women over the age of 65 years—or...
Clinical Inquiries
Do glucosamine or chondroitin cause regeneration of cartilage in osteoarthritis?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No direct evidence suggests glucosamine or chrondroitin cause regeneration of cartilage in osteoarthritis. Use of...
Clinical Inquiries
Does microalbuminuria screening in diabetes prevent complications?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Screening diabetic patients for microalbuminuria identifies those who may benefit from treatments that delay progression to...
Clinical Inquiries
Is MRI useful for evaluation of acute low back pain?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rarely helpful in the evaluation of acute low back pain. Limited evidence suggests...
Clinical Inquiries
Do calcium supplements prevent postmenopausal osteoporotic fractures?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Calcium supplementation (1000–1200 mg daily) decreases menopause-related bone loss and reduces the rate of vertebral and...
Clinical Inquiries
Which postmenopausal women should be offered combined HRT?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Recent studies have demonstrated a small but significant risk of adverse effects from combined hormone replacement therapy...
Clinical Inquiries
Is pneumococcal vaccine effective in nursing home patients?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Evidence from clinical trials supports the use of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for prevention of pneumonia in...
Clinical Inquiries
Does cranberry juice prevent or treat urinary tract infection?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Cranberry juice (200 mL daily to 250 mL 3 times daily) or cranberry concentrate tablets (at least 1:30 parts concentrated...
Clinical Inquiries
Are drug therapies effective in treating Bell’s palsy?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Early use of corticosteroid therapy results in less autonomic synkinesis and possibly improved rates of recovery in adults...
Clinical Inquiries
Bell’s palsy
Clinical Inquiries
How accurate is the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No element or combination of elements from the clinical history and physical examination are sufficiently sensitive or...