Clinical Inquiries
Clinical Inquiries
What is the optimal frequency for dental checkups for children and adults?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It is unclear, but studies suggest that it should be based largely on individual risk. The American Academy of Pediatric...
Clinical Inquiries
Are oral emergency contraceptives a safe & effective form of long-term birth control?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes, but not as effective as some other methods. Annual pregnancy rates in women using pericoital levonorgestrel 150 mcg to...
Clinical Inquiries
What is the most effective treatment for scabies?
Topical permethrin is the most effective treatment for classic scabies, but oral ivermectin may reduce . . .
Clinical Inquiries
What effects—if any—does marijuana use during pregnancy have on the fetus or child?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The effects are unclear. Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with clinically unimportant lower...
Clinical Inquiries
Do oral decongestants have a clinically significant effect on BP in patients with hypertension?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It is unclear. Pseudoephedrine causes an average increase of 1.2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (BP) in...
Clinical Inquiries
Do ACE inhibitors or ARBs help prevent kidney disease in patients with diabetes and normal BP?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, no for angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
Clinical Inquiries
Can mobile technology improve weight loss in overweight and obese patients?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes, this technology can help in the short term. Mobile technology compared with minimal or no intervention increases short...
Clinical Inquiries
Do pedometers increase activity and improve health outcomes?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes. In overweight and obese patients, exercise interventions using a pedometer increase steps by about a mile per day over...
Clinical Inquiries
Does breastfeeding affect the risk of childhood obesity?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes. Ever having breastfed during the first year of life is associated with a 15% lower risk of overweight or obesity over...
Clinical Inquiries
Does vitamin D without calcium reduce fracture risk?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No. Supplemental vitamin D without calcium—in doses averaging as much as 800 IU per day—doesn’t reduce the risk of hip,...
Clinical Inquiries
Which patients with metabolic syndrome benefit from metformin?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Patients at highest risk for progression to diabetes benefit from metformin.