Month: October 2020

2020-10-19T08:01:00

(BPT) – Flu season occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic presents a multilayered challenge that has health care experts concerned. The viruses that cause the flu weaken the immune system, making people living with chronic conditions more susceptive to severe complications related to flu or the coronavirus disease.

How can you help yourself and others stay healthy? To protect families from the seasonal flu, during the pandemic, the California Immunization Coalition (CIC) and the California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC) urge people to get their influenza (flu) shot for the 2020-2021 flu season.

“We are facing a dangerous double threat in the coming months,” said CIC Executive Director Catherine Flores Martin. “Contracting the flu and getting COVID-19 on top of it can be deadly, so don’t wait — vaccinate. Make plans to get a flu shot now to keep you and your family protected from influenza during the pandemic.”

Those at most risk for developing complications from the seasonal flu include people living with chronic conditions such as asthma, lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, liver and kidney disorders, autoimmune disease, cancer and blood disorders. When vaccinated, the risk of getting sick with the flu and possibly being hospitalized or dying from the flu is reduced. This season, getting a flu vaccine has the added benefit of reducing the overall burden on the health care system and reserving medical resources for the care of COVID-19 patients. In addition, it is important that everyone over the age of 65 receive a flu vaccine because:

• Older adults and people with chronic conditions are more susceptible to influenza and other viruses, 90% of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 complications had at least one high-risk medical condition, and over 60% had 3 more;
• 80% of COVID-related deaths have occurred in people over 65-years-old;
• approximately 80% of older adults have at least one chronic disease and 77% live with at least two;
• between 50% and 70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations are for people over the age of 65.

Don’t wait, vaccinate now for the best chance at protection

September and October are good times to get vaccinated. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue, even in January or later. The flu season generally peaks between December and February. Unfortunately, less than half of U.S. adults receive a flu vaccine each year. Experts worry fears about being exposed to COVID-19 while visiting flu clinics may keep even more people away from getting this important immunization.

Those that are wary of venturing out to get their flu shots this year should keep in mind most medical offices and clinics are taking precautions to protect patients seeking vaccinations and well-care. These precautions include separate facilities for seeing well-patients, scheduling well visits in the morning and visits for those with symptoms in the afternoon.

If there are concerns, contact a medical provider or a local pharmacy to learn about the safety measures in place to protect patients seeking needed care, like vaccines. In California, many pharmacies are already offering flu shots and they are an excellent option for many families. Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a place nearby to get the flu vaccine.

High importance for people with chronic conditions

“The seasonal flu can be devastating on its own, particularly in those living with chronic conditions,” said CCCC President & CEO Liz Helms. “And those with chronic disease are also more vulnerable for complications if they contract COVID-19, making the coming months even more precarious, and even deadly, for so many Californians.”

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says flu vaccination can help protect people living with chronic disease avoid worsening illness:

• Flu vaccination is associated with lower rates of cardiac events among people with heart disease, especially among those who have had a cardiac event in the past year.
• Flu vaccination can reduce hospitalization for flu-related chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Flu vaccination is shown in separate studies to be associated with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes.

“Preventing cases of the flu through vaccination will not only protect seniors and those living with chronic disease from potentially the deadly impact of flu, but since COVID-19 and flu symptoms are similar every person without flu symptoms will be one less person who will worry they have COVID-19 or which would further strain our already overburdened clinics and hospitals,” said Randy Bergen, MD, CIC board president and senior physician at Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in Walnut Creek.

2020-10-19T08:31:00

(BPT) – When it comes to managing diabetes, people living with this chronic condition know it is all about blood sugar. If blood sugar levels get too high or too low, it can drastically alter mood, well-being, and even long-term health.

Checking blood sugar levels is an everyday fact of life for people living with diabetes. Now, with the Accu-Chek^® Prescription Discount Program through the pharmacy, it is easy to get, and save on, diabetes blood testing supply products. This program is especially valuable for those with high deductible plans or those who purchase their test strips over the counter.

“Reducing the costs of diabetes care, especially during these challenging economic times, not only increases access to critical supplies for people living with diabetes, but also positively influences adherence to self-management routines,” said Matt Jewett, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Roche Diabetes Care US.

The Accu-Chek Prescription Discount Program bundle includes:

• An Accu-Chek Guide Me meter
• An Accu-Chek Softclix lancing device
• 100 Accu-Chek Guide test strips
• 102 Accu-Chek FastClix lancets or 100 Accu-Chek Softclix lancets

People with diabetes can download a coupon and present it to the pharmacist along with a prescription from the doctor to receive the savings. Restrictions may apply. See coupon and details here: https://www.accu-chek.com/microsites/prescription-discount-program.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends blood sugar levels are routinely tested to aid in managing diabetes. For example, it can help identify patterns, such as how blood sugar levels are impacted by meals, medications, and activities.

“This new discount program offered through the pharmacy is one-stop, hassle-free, and costs less, a combination we hope leads to better health outcomes,” Mr. Jewett continued.

For more information, including details about refill options for repeat customers, and resources about blood sugar testing, visit www.accu-chek.com.

2020-10-19T12:31:00

(BPT) – The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant disruption in cancer care and treatment.¹ As the leading cause of cancer death in the US, the potential impact on lung cancer is especially alarming.^2,3 Recent studies predict a significant increase in the number of cancer deaths over the next five years due to missed screenings, delays in diagnosis and reductions in oncology care caused by COVID-19.^3,4

While part of this disruption is due to the reduction and suspension of screening programs and diagnostic services caused by the reallocation of medical staff and resources to fight the pandemic, there are also other important factors at play.¹ Nationwide stay-at-home orders, job and/or insurance loss and general fear of exposure to the virus during a doctor visit have resulted in people postponing care for non-COVID-19 health concerns, or foregoing it altogether.^1,6 As a result of these factors, although individuals across the US are still getting lung cancer, more people are going undiagnosed until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.⁵

“What we are seeing in our practice is that people are not coming in for anything unless they absolutely have to,” said Joyce Knestrick, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP. “They don’t want to go to any screenings. They don’t want to go to any hospital settings to be exposed to COVID.”

Many medical conditions, including lung cancer, will not “wait” for the pandemic to end. Putting off diagnosis and treatment may have significant negative effects on patient outcomes.⁵

“In my experience, if they don’t know they have a diagnosis they are not going to seek it out unless they are really sick anyway. That’s why I am really worried about the burden on the system when people come in at different levels,” Joyce continued.

Lung Cancer: There’s No Pause Button

Cancer does not discriminate, and its consequences are not pausing even if the world is.

Despite relatively stable lung cancer diagnoses rates for 13 months prior to the pandemic,^7* states with a particularly high prevalence of lung cancer where the decline is most notable and severely affected by COVID-19— New York, California, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio— have since seen a 30-60% reduction in such diagnoses as of May 2020.

This sharp decline does not mean fewer people are developing lung cancer. Instead, quite the opposite: more individuals are going undiagnosed and delay treatment until their cancers advance.⁸

While some individuals with early lung cancer can have symptoms, many do not until the disease spreads. An added challenge is some symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue may mimic those of COVID-19.^10,11

If lung cancer symptoms are noticed sooner rather than later, or people at known risk seek medical care, it might be diagnosed and treated more effectively at an earlier stage.

“I think this is a challenging time for all of us, but we are all in this together,” said Nanette Alexander, DNP, APRN, FAANP. “We want to minimize what they need for care, and early intervention does that.”

Reassuring Patients: The Time Can STILL Be Now

It is critical for people at risk for lung cancer, or with potential symptoms, to stay connected with their health care providers and learn how to best seek care given the situation. Even in the face of a global pandemic, concerns should not be put on hold.

Hospitals and clinics are doing all they can to ensure the health and safety of patients during the pandemic. Ultimately, the risk of COVID-19 must be balanced against the risk to the patient of lung cancer progression, and in most cases, lung cancer still represents a greater risk of mortality for patients.^3,12

“When your providers say it is safe to go back, go back,” Nanette concluded.

For more information on cancer and COVID-19, visit covid19cancerresources.com.

*Compared to the average lung cancer diagnosis rates from Jan ’19 to Feb ’20.

References

1. Richards M, Anderson M, Carter P, Ebert BL, Mossialos E. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care. Nat Cancer. 2020;1:565-567.

2. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed August 2020.

3. Amit M, Tam S, Bader T, Sorkin A, Benov A. Pausing cancer screening during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2pandemic: Should we revisit the recommendations? Eur J Cancer. 2020;134:86-89.

4. Maringe C, Spicer J, Morris M, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer deaths due to delays in diagnosis in England, UK: a national, population-based, modelling study. Lancet Oncol. 2020;21:1023-1034.

5. Kaufman HW, Chen Z, Niles J, Fesko Y. Changes in the Number of US Patients With Newly Identified Cancer Before and During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 [COVID-19] Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2017267.

6. Woolhandler S, Himmelstein DU. Intersecting U.S. Epidemics, COVID-19 and Lack of Health Insurance. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173:63-64. doi:10.7326/M20-1491

7. This is based on information licensed from IQVIA Oncology Real World Insights for the period of January 2019 to May 2020 reflecting estimates of real-world activity. All rights reserved. Study details and information maintained by AZ.

8. Sharpless, NE. COVID-19 and cancer. Science. 2020;368(6497):1290. doi:10.1126/science.abd3377.

9. American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html. Accessed August 2020.

10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older Adults. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html. Accessed August 2020.

11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of Coronavirus. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. Accessed August 2020.

12. Singh AP, Berman AT, Marmarelis ME, et al. Management of Lung Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JCO Oncol Pract. https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/OP.20.00286

US-44933 Last Updated 9/20

2020-10-19T13:47:00

(BPT) – Earlier this year, 55-year-old Marc Baranski, his wife, Lynn, and their two kids traveled from their home in Princeton, New Jersey, to visit family in Florida. Unfortunately, upon returning, the entire family developed symptoms of COVID-19.

While his wife and kids recovered relatively quickly, Baranski struggled. He went to an urgent care facility where it was discovered his oxygen saturation was 90%, and he was immediately sent to a local hospital where a chest X-ray confirmed he had COVID-19 pneumonia.

After diagnosis, Baranski received oxygen but his symptoms did not improve. He was also given vitamins C and D, convalescent plasma, and steroids. However, he continued to decline, requiring more oxygen, so Lynn took action and began searching for information to support his care and recovery.

Cytokine storm

During her research, Lynn learned that a majority of deaths associated with COVID-19 are caused by inflammation from cytokine (sy-toe-kine) storm, an over-reaction of the immune system (or hyper-response). As many as 89% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are at risk of cytokine storm, a leading cause of COVID-19 disease progression, including death. But there’s good news: hospitals across the U.S. are seeking patients to enroll in a Phase 3 trial evaluating an investigational treatment called lenzilumab(TM) designed specifically to target this storm.

Lynn found out that a nearby hospital in Livingston, New Jersey was one of the hospitals enrolling patients in the Phase 3 lenzilumab study, and that the duration of treatment for lenzilumab is only 24 hours.

When she learned that the goal of the trial is to determine if lenzilumab can help hospitalized COVID-19 patients recover faster, she called the trial director at that hospital, Dr. Anup Patel, to see if Marc could participate.

Marc’s care teams connected and confirmed that he met the criteria to participate and he was transferred to St. Barnabas and enrolled.

Baranski was enrolled into the study according to the clinical trial protocol (which is randomized, meaning there is a 50/50 chance he was dosed with either lenzilumab or placebo) shortly after being transferred to St. Barnabas. It is important to note that all subjects participating in this study are able to receive other COVID-19 therapies that are considered standard of care. While it is not clear which treatment group Marc was assigned to, within 24 hours after receiving the study drug, his symptoms dramatically improved and within about a week, he was discharged from the hospital and has since made a full recovery.

The importance of clinical trials

“I viewed the trial as doing everything I could to support my recovery, and a great way to contribute to the fight against COVID-19,” said Marc. “I highly encourage anyone in the same position to seek out this trial, ask about it and enroll if eligible — you are your own best advocate, so ask what your options are.”

Participating in a clinical trial can help researchers discover potential treatment options that may help patients recover faster and reduce their time in the hospital.

“To recover from this pandemic we will need therapeutics, combination approaches and vaccines,” said Cameron Durrant, MD, MBA, chief executive officer of Humanigen, the biopharmaceutical company developing lenzilumab. “When it comes to COVID-19, we believe that having a therapeutic, like lenzilumab, that may reduce the time to recovery and possibly send patients home earlier, is a near-term solution that has the potential to be a game-changer in the face of this pandemic.”

Make a difference

“Participating in clinical trials is a great way to access emerging solutions in addition to standard of care therapies. In the midst of the pandemic, it’s important for patients to ask their doctor if they are eligible for any clinical trials. I recommend having this conversation from the start and asking a few times again if your conditions change,” said Anup Patel, MD, Clinical Trial Investigator, St. Barnabas Hospital, Livingston, NJ.

“I want to encourage anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to learn about potential clinical trials before they get to the hospital, and if they are in the hospital, patients should ask about what ongoing clinical trials they might qualify for — even if the trial isn’t being conducted at the hospital where they are being treated,” says Baranski. “My story serves as a critical reminder of the importance of patient/family partnership with their health care team, and how patients can proactively participate in clinical trial conversations even in the midst of a pandemic.”

To learn more and to find out about a trial site near you, visit www.stopstorm.com.

2020-10-19T14:01:01

(BPT) – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells. It first gained national attention as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS in 1939. To date, the cause of ALS is unknown, and there is still no known cure. The disease strikes quickly, usually leading to death within 2–5 years of diagnosis. But every person with ALS has an individual story, and understanding these stories will help researchers ultimately piece together clues about this disease.

Ed Tessaro was diagnosed with ALS in 2009. As he learned to cope with this diagnosis, he reflects, “I’ve never considered myself a victim of the disease, because I believe in my heart all of us have a wheelchair. In my case, it’s quite literal, but with everything that goes on in my life, I realize that every family has had a crisis.” One of the things that helps him and others with ALS is reaching out for community support and resources. “The ongoing struggle is to encourage newly diagnosed people to come in and talk about their condition. I want to help people learn about the National ALS Registry, clinical trials, and other resources that can provide support and hope.”

The National ALS Registry helps gather information from those who are living with this disease. Researchers from all around the world can access the Registry data to help scientists learn more about what causes this disease. Everyone’s story is different, and everyone’s piece of the puzzle is essential. The Registry has found that more than 16,000 persons with ALS live in the United States. It is important to include as many people as possible living with the disease to get the most accurate information. When patients join, it helps give researchers more information. This could lead to a better understanding of the causes of ALS, because learning more about the disease is one step further in the battle to defeat it.

If you or someone you care about has ALS, please consider learning more about the National ALS Registry by visiting: www.cdc.gov/als.