Clinical Inquiries
Clinical Inquiries
What are the most effective interventions to reduce childhood obesity?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Efforts to increase physical activity or decrease sedentary activities have shown some short-term benefit, and adding...
Clinical Inquiries
What medications are effective for treating symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Vitamin B6 (50–100 mg/d) and elemental calcium (1200 mg/d) are safe, inexpensive, and moderately effective (Table) (grade...
Clinical Inquiries
When should patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis be evaluated for valve replacement?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: For patients whose echocardiograms show advanced calcification of the aortic valves, a jet velocity of > 4.0 m/s, or a...
Clinical Inquiries
What are effective treatments for panic disorder?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), benzodiazepines (BDZs), and cognitive...
Clinical Inquiries
Is there a role for theophylline in treating patients with asthma?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: With adults, oral theophylline may help lower the dosage of inhaled steroids needed to control chronic asthma. It offers no...
Clinical Inquiries
Should we treat elevated cholesterol in elderly patients?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, have been shown to decrease all-cause mortality in individuals aged 65 and older...
Clinical Inquiries
What are the treatment options for SSRI-related sexual dysfunction?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Substituting bupropion, nefazodone, or mirtazapine is beneficial. (Grade of recommendation: B, randomized controlled trials...
Clinical Inquiries
What is the best therapy for constipation in infants?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The best treatment for minor, self-limited constipation (infant dyschezia) may be observation and parental education about...
Clinical Inquiries
Does a low-salt diet reduce morbidity and mortality in congestive heart failure?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have addressed the independent role of sodium restriction in the morbidity or...
Clinical Inquiries
How effective are nasal steroids combined with nonsedating antihistamines for seasonal allergic rhinitis?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: For treating seasonal allergic rhinitis, inhaled nasal corticosteroids are superior to nonsedating antihistamines (Grade of...
Clinical Inquiries
What environmental modifications improve pediatric asthma?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Reducing environmental tobacco smoke exposure decreases health care utilization among poor asthmatic children. Dust mite...