TOPLINE:

There are no sex differences in the effectiveness and safety of pulsed field ablation (PFA), a novel modality that uses short, high-energy electrical pulses to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), results of a large registry study show.

METHODOLOGY:

• The study included all 1,568 patients (mean age 64.5 years and 35.3% women) in the MANIFEST-PF registry, which includes 24 European centers that began using PFA for treating AFib after regulatory approval in 2021.
• Researchers categorized patients by sex and evaluated them for clinical outcomes of PFA, including freedom from AFib and adverse events.
• All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation (Farawave, Boston Scientific) and were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months.
• The primary effectiveness outcome was freedom from atrial arrhythmia outside the 90-day blanking period lasting 30 seconds or longer.
• The primary safety outcome included the composite of acute (less than 7 days post-procedure) and chronic (more than 7 days post-procedure) major adverse events, including atrioesophageal fistula, symptomatic pulmonary vein stenosis, cardiac tamponade/perforation requiring intervention or surgery, stroke or systemic thromboembolism, persistent phrenic nerve injury, vascular access complications requiring surgery, coronary artery spasm, and death.

TAKEAWAY:

• There was no significant difference in 12-month recurrence of atrial arrhythmia between male and female patients (79.0% vs 76.3%; P = .28), with greater overall effectiveness in the paroxysmal AFib cohort (men, 82.5% vs women, 80.2%; P = .30) than in the persistent AF/long-standing persistent AFib cohort (men, 73.3% vs women, 67.3%; P = .40).
• Repeated ablation rates were similar between sexes (men, 8.3% vs women, 10.0%; P = .32).
• Among patients who underwent repeat ablation, pulmonary vein isolation durability was higher in female than in male patients (per vein, 82.6% vs 68.1%; P = .15 and per patient, 63.0% vs 37.8%; P = .005).
• Major adverse events occurred in 2.5% of women and 1.5% of men (P = .19), with such events mostly consisting of cardiac tamponade (women, 1.4% vs men, 1.0%; P = .46) and stroke (0.4% vs 0.4%, P > .99), and with no atrioesophageal fistulas or symptomatic pulmonary valve stenosis in either group.

IN PRACTICE:

“These results are important, as women are underrepresented in prior ablation studies and the results have been mixed with regards to both safety and effectiveness using conventional ablation strategies such as radiofrequency or cryoablation,” lead author Mohit Turagam, MD, associate professor of medicine (cardiology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, said in a press release.

In an accompanying commentary, Peter M. Kistler, MBBS, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and a colleague said that the study authors should be congratulated “for presenting much-needed data on sex-specific outcomes in catheter ablation,” which “reassuringly” suggest that success and safety for AFib ablation are comparable between the sexes, although the study does have “important limitations.”

SOURCE:

The study was conducted by Turagam and colleagues. It was published online in JAMA Cardiology.

LIMITATIONS:

Researchers can’t rule out the possibility that treatment selection and unmeasured confounders between sexes affected the validity of the study findings. The median number of follow-up 24-hour Holter monitors used for AFib monitoring was only two, which may have resulted in inaccurate estimates of AFib recurrence rates and treatment effectiveness.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by Boston Scientific Corporation, the PFA device manufacturer. Turagam has no relevant conflicts of interest; see paper for disclosures of other study authors. The commentary authors have no relevant conflicts of interest.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

There are no sex differences in the effectiveness and safety of pulsed field ablation (PFA), a novel modality that uses short, high-energy electrical pulses to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), results of a large registry study show.

METHODOLOGY:

• The study included all 1,568 patients (mean age 64.5 years and 35.3% women) in the MANIFEST-PF registry, which includes 24 European centers that began using PFA for treating AFib after regulatory approval in 2021.
• Researchers categorized patients by sex and evaluated them for clinical outcomes of PFA, including freedom from AFib and adverse events.
• All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation (Farawave, Boston Scientific) and were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months.
• The primary effectiveness outcome was freedom from atrial arrhythmia outside the 90-day blanking period lasting 30 seconds or longer.
• The primary safety outcome included the composite of acute (less than 7 days post-procedure) and chronic (more than 7 days post-procedure) major adverse events, including atrioesophageal fistula, symptomatic pulmonary vein stenosis, cardiac tamponade/perforation requiring intervention or surgery, stroke or systemic thromboembolism, persistent phrenic nerve injury, vascular access complications requiring surgery, coronary artery spasm, and death.

TAKEAWAY:

• There was no significant difference in 12-month recurrence of atrial arrhythmia between male and female patients (79.0% vs 76.3%; P = .28), with greater overall effectiveness in the paroxysmal AFib cohort (men, 82.5% vs women, 80.2%; P = .30) than in the persistent AF/long-standing persistent AFib cohort (men, 73.3% vs women, 67.3%; P = .40).
• Repeated ablation rates were similar between sexes (men, 8.3% vs women, 10.0%; P = .32).
• Among patients who underwent repeat ablation, pulmonary vein isolation durability was higher in female than in male patients (per vein, 82.6% vs 68.1%; P = .15 and per patient, 63.0% vs 37.8%; P = .005).
• Major adverse events occurred in 2.5% of women and 1.5% of men (P = .19), with such events mostly consisting of cardiac tamponade (women, 1.4% vs men, 1.0%; P = .46) and stroke (0.4% vs 0.4%, P > .99), and with no atrioesophageal fistulas or symptomatic pulmonary valve stenosis in either group.

IN PRACTICE:

“These results are important, as women are underrepresented in prior ablation studies and the results have been mixed with regards to both safety and effectiveness using conventional ablation strategies such as radiofrequency or cryoablation,” lead author Mohit Turagam, MD, associate professor of medicine (cardiology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, said in a press release.

In an accompanying commentary, Peter M. Kistler, MBBS, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and a colleague said that the study authors should be congratulated “for presenting much-needed data on sex-specific outcomes in catheter ablation,” which “reassuringly” suggest that success and safety for AFib ablation are comparable between the sexes, although the study does have “important limitations.”

SOURCE:

The study was conducted by Turagam and colleagues. It was published online in JAMA Cardiology.

LIMITATIONS:

Researchers can’t rule out the possibility that treatment selection and unmeasured confounders between sexes affected the validity of the study findings. The median number of follow-up 24-hour Holter monitors used for AFib monitoring was only two, which may have resulted in inaccurate estimates of AFib recurrence rates and treatment effectiveness.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by Boston Scientific Corporation, the PFA device manufacturer. Turagam has no relevant conflicts of interest; see paper for disclosures of other study authors. The commentary authors have no relevant conflicts of interest.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

There are no sex differences in the effectiveness and safety of pulsed field ablation (PFA), a novel modality that uses short, high-energy electrical pulses to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), results of a large registry study show.

METHODOLOGY:

• The study included all 1,568 patients (mean age 64.5 years and 35.3% women) in the MANIFEST-PF registry, which includes 24 European centers that began using PFA for treating AFib after regulatory approval in 2021.
• Researchers categorized patients by sex and evaluated them for clinical outcomes of PFA, including freedom from AFib and adverse events.
• All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation (Farawave, Boston Scientific) and were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months.
• The primary effectiveness outcome was freedom from atrial arrhythmia outside the 90-day blanking period lasting 30 seconds or longer.
• The primary safety outcome included the composite of acute (less than 7 days post-procedure) and chronic (more than 7 days post-procedure) major adverse events, including atrioesophageal fistula, symptomatic pulmonary vein stenosis, cardiac tamponade/perforation requiring intervention or surgery, stroke or systemic thromboembolism, persistent phrenic nerve injury, vascular access complications requiring surgery, coronary artery spasm, and death.

TAKEAWAY:

• There was no significant difference in 12-month recurrence of atrial arrhythmia between male and female patients (79.0% vs 76.3%; P = .28), with greater overall effectiveness in the paroxysmal AFib cohort (men, 82.5% vs women, 80.2%; P = .30) than in the persistent AF/long-standing persistent AFib cohort (men, 73.3% vs women, 67.3%; P = .40).
• Repeated ablation rates were similar between sexes (men, 8.3% vs women, 10.0%; P = .32).
• Among patients who underwent repeat ablation, pulmonary vein isolation durability was higher in female than in male patients (per vein, 82.6% vs 68.1%; P = .15 and per patient, 63.0% vs 37.8%; P = .005).
• Major adverse events occurred in 2.5% of women and 1.5% of men (P = .19), with such events mostly consisting of cardiac tamponade (women, 1.4% vs men, 1.0%; P = .46) and stroke (0.4% vs 0.4%, P > .99), and with no atrioesophageal fistulas or symptomatic pulmonary valve stenosis in either group.

IN PRACTICE:

“These results are important, as women are underrepresented in prior ablation studies and the results have been mixed with regards to both safety and effectiveness using conventional ablation strategies such as radiofrequency or cryoablation,” lead author Mohit Turagam, MD, associate professor of medicine (cardiology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, said in a press release.

In an accompanying commentary, Peter M. Kistler, MBBS, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and a colleague said that the study authors should be congratulated “for presenting much-needed data on sex-specific outcomes in catheter ablation,” which “reassuringly” suggest that success and safety for AFib ablation are comparable between the sexes, although the study does have “important limitations.”

SOURCE:

The study was conducted by Turagam and colleagues. It was published online in JAMA Cardiology.

LIMITATIONS:

Researchers can’t rule out the possibility that treatment selection and unmeasured confounders between sexes affected the validity of the study findings. The median number of follow-up 24-hour Holter monitors used for AFib monitoring was only two, which may have resulted in inaccurate estimates of AFib recurrence rates and treatment effectiveness.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by Boston Scientific Corporation, the PFA device manufacturer. Turagam has no relevant conflicts of interest; see paper for disclosures of other study authors. The commentary authors have no relevant conflicts of interest.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The current highly effective antiobesity medications approved for treating obesity (semaglutide), under review (tirzepatide), or in late-stage clinical trials “appear to lower the body’s target and defended fat mass [set point]” but do not permanently fix it at a lower point, Lee M. Kaplan, MD, PhD, explained in a lecture during the annual meeting of the Obesity Society.

It is very likely that patients with obesity will have to take these antiobesity medications “forever,” he said, “until we identify and can repair the cellular and molecular mechanisms that the body uses to regulate body fat mass throughout the life cycle and that are dysfunctional in obesity.”

“The body is able to regulate fat mass at multiple stages during development,” Dr. Kaplan, from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, explained, “and when it doesn’t do it appropriately, that becomes the physiological basis of obesity.”

The loss of baby fat, as well as fat changes during puberty, menopause, aging, and, in particular, during and after pregnancy, “all occur without conscious or purposeful input,” he noted.

The body uses food intake and energy expenditure to reach and defend its intended fat mass, and there is an evolutionary benefit to doing this.

For example, people recovering from an acute illness can regain the lost fat and weight. A woman can support a pregnancy and lactation by increasing fat mass.

However, “the idea that [with antiobesity medications] we should be aiming for a fixed lower amount of fat is probably not a good idea.” Dr. Kaplan cautioned. “These medications change [the defended fat mass] to something that is more normal, rather than ‘fixing’ it.”

People need the flexibility to recover lost fat and weight after an acute illness or injury, and pregnant women need to gain an appropriate amount of body fat to support pregnancy and lactation.
 

Intermittent therapy: A practical strategy?

The long-term benefit of antiobesity medications requires continuous use, Dr. Kaplan noted. For example, in the STEP 1 trial of semaglutide in patients with obesity and without diabetes, when treatment was stopped at 68 weeks, average weight increased through 120 weeks, although it did not return to baseline levels.

Intermittent antiobesity therapy may be an effective, “very practical strategy” to maintain weight loss, which would also “address current challenges of high cost, limited drug availability, and inadequate access to care.”

“Until we have strategies for decreasing the cost of effective obesity treatment, and ensuring more equitable access to obesity care,” Dr. Kaplan said, “optimizing algorithms for the use of intermittent therapy may be an effective stopgap measure.”

Dr. Kaplan is or has recently been a paid consultant for Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and multiple pharmaceutical companies developing antiobesity medications.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

The current highly effective antiobesity medications approved for treating obesity (semaglutide), under review (tirzepatide), or in late-stage clinical trials “appear to lower the body’s target and defended fat mass [set point]” but do not permanently fix it at a lower point, Lee M. Kaplan, MD, PhD, explained in a lecture during the annual meeting of the Obesity Society.

It is very likely that patients with obesity will have to take these antiobesity medications “forever,” he said, “until we identify and can repair the cellular and molecular mechanisms that the body uses to regulate body fat mass throughout the life cycle and that are dysfunctional in obesity.”

“The body is able to regulate fat mass at multiple stages during development,” Dr. Kaplan, from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, explained, “and when it doesn’t do it appropriately, that becomes the physiological basis of obesity.”

The loss of baby fat, as well as fat changes during puberty, menopause, aging, and, in particular, during and after pregnancy, “all occur without conscious or purposeful input,” he noted.

The body uses food intake and energy expenditure to reach and defend its intended fat mass, and there is an evolutionary benefit to doing this.

For example, people recovering from an acute illness can regain the lost fat and weight. A woman can support a pregnancy and lactation by increasing fat mass.

However, “the idea that [with antiobesity medications] we should be aiming for a fixed lower amount of fat is probably not a good idea.” Dr. Kaplan cautioned. “These medications change [the defended fat mass] to something that is more normal, rather than ‘fixing’ it.”

People need the flexibility to recover lost fat and weight after an acute illness or injury, and pregnant women need to gain an appropriate amount of body fat to support pregnancy and lactation.
 

Intermittent therapy: A practical strategy?

The long-term benefit of antiobesity medications requires continuous use, Dr. Kaplan noted. For example, in the STEP 1 trial of semaglutide in patients with obesity and without diabetes, when treatment was stopped at 68 weeks, average weight increased through 120 weeks, although it did not return to baseline levels.

Intermittent antiobesity therapy may be an effective, “very practical strategy” to maintain weight loss, which would also “address current challenges of high cost, limited drug availability, and inadequate access to care.”

“Until we have strategies for decreasing the cost of effective obesity treatment, and ensuring more equitable access to obesity care,” Dr. Kaplan said, “optimizing algorithms for the use of intermittent therapy may be an effective stopgap measure.”

Dr. Kaplan is or has recently been a paid consultant for Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and multiple pharmaceutical companies developing antiobesity medications.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

The current highly effective antiobesity medications approved for treating obesity (semaglutide), under review (tirzepatide), or in late-stage clinical trials “appear to lower the body’s target and defended fat mass [set point]” but do not permanently fix it at a lower point, Lee M. Kaplan, MD, PhD, explained in a lecture during the annual meeting of the Obesity Society.

It is very likely that patients with obesity will have to take these antiobesity medications “forever,” he said, “until we identify and can repair the cellular and molecular mechanisms that the body uses to regulate body fat mass throughout the life cycle and that are dysfunctional in obesity.”

“The body is able to regulate fat mass at multiple stages during development,” Dr. Kaplan, from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, explained, “and when it doesn’t do it appropriately, that becomes the physiological basis of obesity.”

The loss of baby fat, as well as fat changes during puberty, menopause, aging, and, in particular, during and after pregnancy, “all occur without conscious or purposeful input,” he noted.

The body uses food intake and energy expenditure to reach and defend its intended fat mass, and there is an evolutionary benefit to doing this.

For example, people recovering from an acute illness can regain the lost fat and weight. A woman can support a pregnancy and lactation by increasing fat mass.

However, “the idea that [with antiobesity medications] we should be aiming for a fixed lower amount of fat is probably not a good idea.” Dr. Kaplan cautioned. “These medications change [the defended fat mass] to something that is more normal, rather than ‘fixing’ it.”

People need the flexibility to recover lost fat and weight after an acute illness or injury, and pregnant women need to gain an appropriate amount of body fat to support pregnancy and lactation.
 

Intermittent therapy: A practical strategy?

The long-term benefit of antiobesity medications requires continuous use, Dr. Kaplan noted. For example, in the STEP 1 trial of semaglutide in patients with obesity and without diabetes, when treatment was stopped at 68 weeks, average weight increased through 120 weeks, although it did not return to baseline levels.

Intermittent antiobesity therapy may be an effective, “very practical strategy” to maintain weight loss, which would also “address current challenges of high cost, limited drug availability, and inadequate access to care.”

“Until we have strategies for decreasing the cost of effective obesity treatment, and ensuring more equitable access to obesity care,” Dr. Kaplan said, “optimizing algorithms for the use of intermittent therapy may be an effective stopgap measure.”

Dr. Kaplan is or has recently been a paid consultant for Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and multiple pharmaceutical companies developing antiobesity medications.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Essential oils (EOs), which are concentrated plant-based oils, have become ubiquitous over the past decade. ­Given the far reach of EOs and their longtime use in traditional, complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine, it is imperative that clinicians have some knowledge of the potential benefits, risks, and overall efficacy.

Commonly used for aromatic benefits (aromatherapy), EOs are now also incorporated into a multitude of products promoting health and wellness. EOs are sold as individual products and can be a component in consumer goods such as cosmetics, body care/hygiene/beauty products, laundry detergents, insect repellents, over-the-counter medications, and food.

It is important to read ingredient labels before purchasing an essential oil. Reputable companies will identify the plant ingredient, usually by the formal Latin binomial name, and explain the extraction process.

The review that follows presents the most current evidence available. With that said, it’s important to keep in mind some caveats that relate to this evidence. First, the studies cited tend to have a small sample size. Second, a majority of these studies were conducted in countries where there appears to be a significant culture of EO use, which could contribute to confirmation bias. Finally, in a number of the studies, there is concern for publication bias as well as a discrepancy between calculated statistical significance and actual clinical relevance.

What are essential oils?

EOs generally are made by extracting the oil from leaves, bark, flowers, seeds/fruit, rinds, and/or roots by steaming or pressing parts of a plant. It can take several pounds of plant material to produce a single bottle of EO, which usually contains ≥ 15 to 30 mL (.5 to 1 oz).¹

Some commonly used EOs in the United States are lavender, peppermint, rose, clary sage, tea tree, eucalyptus, and citrus; however, there are approximately 300 EOs available.² EOs are used most often via topical application, inhalation, or ingestion.

As with any botanical agent, EOs are complex substances often containing a multitude of chemical compounds.¹ Because of the complex makeup of EOs, which often contain up to 100 volatile organic compounds, and their wide-ranging potential effects, applying the scientific method to study effectiveness poses a challenge that has limited their adoption in evidence-based practice.²

Availability and cost. EOs can be purchased at large retailers (eg, grocery stores, drug stores) and smaller health food stores, as well as on the Internet. Various EO vehicles, such as inhalers and topical creams, also can be purchased at these stores.

Continue to: The cost varies...

The cost varies enormously by manufacturer and type of plant used to make the EO. Common EOs such as peppermint and lavender oil generally cost $10 to $25, while rarer plant oils can cost $80 or more per bottle.

How safe are essential oils?

Patients may assume EOs are harmless because they are derived from natural plants and have been used medicinally for centuries. However, care must be taken with their use.

The safest way to use EOs is topically, although due to their highly concentrated nature, EOs should be diluted in an unscented neutral carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, olive, or sweet almond.³ Ingestion of certain oils can cause hepatotoxicity, seizures, and even death.³ In fact, patients should speak with a knowledgeable physician before purchasing any oral EO capsules.

Whether used topically or ingested, all EOs carry risk for skin irritation and allergic reactions, and oral ingestion may result in some negative gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects.⁴ A case report of 3 patients published in 2007 identified the potential for lavender and tea tree EOs to be endocrine disruptors.⁵

Inhalation of EOs may be harmful, as they emit many volatile organic compounds, some of which are considered potentially hazardous.⁶ At this time, there is insufficient evidence regarding inhaled EOs and their direct connection to respiratory health. It is reasonable to suggest, however, that the prolonged use of EOs and their use by patients who have lung conditions such as asthma or COPD should be avoided.⁷

Continue to: How are quality and purity assessed?

How are quality and purity assessed?

Like other dietary supplements, EOs are not regulated. No US regulatory agencies (eg, the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] or Department of Agriculture [USDA]) certify or approve EOs for quality and purity. Bottles labeled with “QAI” for Quality Assurance International or “USDA Organic” will ensure the plant constituents used in the EO are from organic farming but do not attest to quality or purity.

Essential oils are one of the nonpharmacologic modalities that patients and clinicians have at their disposal for adjunctive treatment of migraine and tension-type headaches.

Manufacturers commonly use marketing terms such as “therapeutic grade” or “pure” to sell products, but again, these terms do not reflect the product’s quality or purity. A labeled single EO may contain contaminants, alcohol, or additional ingredients.⁷ When choosing to use EOs, identifying reputable brands is essential; one resource is the independent testing organization ConsumerLab.com.

It is important to assess the manufacturer and read ingredient labels before purchasing an EO to understand what the product contains. Reputable companies will identify the plant ingredient, usually by the formal Latin binomial name, and explain the extraction process. A more certain way to assess the quality and purity of an EO is to ask the manufacturer to provide a certificate of analysis and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) data for the specific product. Some manufacturers offer GC/MS test results on their website Quality page.⁸ Others have detailed information on quality and testing, and GC/MS test reports can be obtained.⁹ Yet another manufacturer has test results on a product page matching reports to batch codes.¹⁰

Which conditions have evidence of benefit from essential oils?

EOs currently are being studied for treatment of many conditions—including pain, GI disorders, behavioral health disorders, and women’s health issues. The TABLE summarizes the conditions treated, outcomes, and practical applications of EOs.^11-44

Pain

Headache. As an adjunct to available medications and procedures for headache treatment, EOs are one of the nonpharmacologic modalities that patients and clinicians have at their disposal for both migraine and ­tension-type headaches. A systematic review of 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of herbal ingredients for the acute treatment or prophylaxis of migraines found certain topically applied or inhaled EOs, such as peppermint and chamomile, to be effective for migraine pain alleviation; however, topically applied rose oil was not effective.^11-13 Note: “topical application” in these studies implies application of the EO to ≥ 1 of the following areas: temples, forehead, behind ears, or above upper lip/below the nose.

Continue to: One RCT with 120 patients...

One RCT with 120 patients evaluated diluted intranasal peppermint oil and found that it reduced migraine intensity at similar rates to intranasal lidocaine.¹³ In this study, patients were randomized to receive one of the following: 4% lidocaine, 1.5% peppermint EO, or placebo. Two drops of the intranasal intervention were self-administered while the patient was in a supine position with their head suspended off the edge of the surface on which they were lying. They were instructed to stay in this position for at least 30 seconds after administration.

With regard to tension headache treatment, there is limited literature on the use of EOs. One study found that a preparation of peppermint oil applied topically to the temples and forehead of study participants resulted in significant analgesic effect.¹⁴

Fibromyalgia. Usual treatments for fibromyalgia include exercise, antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications, and stress management. Evidence also supports the use of inhaled and topically applied (with and without massage) lavender oil to improve symptoms.²⁶ Positive effects may be related to the anal­gesic, anti-­inflammatory, sleep-regulating,­ and anxiety­-reducing effects of the major volatile compounds contained in lavender oil.

In one RCT with 42 patients with fibromyalgia, the use of inhaled lavender oil was shown to increase the perception of well-­being (assessed on the validated SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire) after 4 weeks.²⁷ In this study, the patient applied 3 drops of an oil mixture, comprising 1 mL lavender EO and 10 mL of fixed neutral base oil, to the wrist and inhaled for 10 minutes before going to bed.

The use of a topical oil blend labeled “Oil 24” (containing camphor, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, aloe vera, and lemon/orange) also has been shown to be more effective than placebo in managing fibromyalgia symptoms. A randomized controlled pilot study of 153 participants found that regular application of Oil 24 improved scores on pain scales and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.²⁸

Continue to: GI disorders

GI disorders

Irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint oil relaxes GI smooth muscle, which has led to investigation of its use in irritable bowel ­syndrome (IBS) symptom amelioration.¹⁷ One meta-analysis including 12 RCTs with 835 patients with undifferentiated IBS found that orally ingested peppermint EO capsules reduced patient-reported symptoms of either abdominal pain or global symptoms.¹⁸

One study utilized the Total IBS Symptom Score to evaluate symptom reduction in patients with IBS-D (with diarrhea) and IBS-M (mixed) using 180-mg peppermint EO capsules ingested 3 times daily. There was a significant improvement in abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating/distension, pain at evacuation, and bowel urgency.¹⁹ A reduction in symptoms was observed after the first 24 hours of treatment and at the end of the 4-week treatment period.

In another study, among the 190 patients meeting Rome IV criteria for general (nonspecific) IBS who were treated with 182-mg peppermint EO capsules, no statistically significant reduction in overall symptom relief was found (based on outcome measures by the FDA and European Medicines Agency). However, in a secondary outcome analysis, peppermint oil produced greater improvements than placebo for the alleviation of abdominal pain, discomfort, and general IBS severity.²⁰

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy often explore integrative medicine approaches, including aromatherapy, to ameliorate adverse effects and improve quality of life.³⁸ A few small studies have shown potential for the use of inhaled ginger oil to reduce nausea and vomiting severity and improve health-related quality-of-life measures in these patients.

Evidence supports the use of inhaled and topically applied lavender oil to improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

For example, a study with 60 participants found that inhaling ginger EO for 10 minutes was beneficial for reducing both nausea and vomiting.³⁹ A single-blind, controlled, ­randomized crossover study of 60 patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy showed that ginger EO inhaled 3 times per day for 2 minutes at a time can decrease the severity of nausea but had no effect on vomiting. The same study showed that health-­related quality of life improved with the ginger oil treatment.⁴⁰

Continue to: Other EOs such as cardamom...

Other EOs such as cardamom and peppermint show promise as an adjunctive treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well.³⁸

Postoperative nausea. A 2013 randomized trial of 303 patients examined the use of ginger EO, a blend of EOs (including ginger, spearmint, peppermint, and cardamom), and isopropyl alcohol. Both the single EO and EO blend significantly reduced the symptom of nausea. The number of antiemetic medications requested by patients receiving an EO also was significantly reduced compared to those receiving saline.¹⁵

The use of EOs to reduce nausea after cardiac operations was reviewed in an RCT of 60 surgical candidates using 10% peppermint oil via nebulization for 10 minutes.¹⁶ This technique was effective in reducing nausea during cardiac postoperative periods. Although the evidence for the use of EOs for postoperative nausea is not robust, it may be a useful and generally safe approach for this common issue.

Behavioral health

Insomnia. EOs have been used as a treatment for insomnia traditionally and in complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine. A 2014 systematic review of 15 quantitative studies, including 11 RCTs, evaluated the hypnotic effects of EOs through inhalation, finding the strongest evidence for lavender, jasmine, and peppermint oils.²⁹ The majority of the studies in the systematic review used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate EO effectiveness. A more recent 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis that evaluated 34 RCTs found that inhalation of EOs, most notably lavender aromatherapy, is effective in improving sleep problems such as insomnia.³⁰

Findings from multiple smaller RCTs were consistent with those of the aforementioned systematic reviews. For example, in a well-conducted parallel randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 100 people using orally ingested lemon verbena, the authors concluded that this intervention can be a complementary therapy for improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia severity.³¹ Another RCT with 60 participants evaluated an inhaled EO blend (lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint) over 4 weeks and found lowered perceived stress and depression as well as better sleep quality, but no influence on objective physiologic data such as stress indices or immune states.³²

Continue to: In a 2020 randomized crossover...

In a 2020 randomized crossover placebo­controlled trial of 37 participants with diabetes reporting insomnia, inhaled lavender improved sleep quality and quantity, quality of life, and mood but not physiologic or metabolic measures, such as fasting glucose.³³ Findings were similar in a cohort of cardiac rehabilitation patients (n = 37) who were treated with either an inhaled combination of lavender, bergamot, and ylang ylang, or placebo; cotton balls infused with the intervention oil or placebo oil were placed at the patient’s bedside for 5 nights. Sleep quality of participants receiving intervention oil was significantly better than the sleep quality of participants receiving the placebo oil as measured by participant completion of the PSQI.³⁴

Anxiety is a common disorder that can be managed with nonpharmacologic treatments such as yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and EO therapy.^21,22 In a systematic review and meta-analysis, the inhaled and topical use (with or without massage) of lavender EO was shown to improve psychological and physical manifestations of anxiety.²³ Lavender EO is purported to affect the parasympathetic nervous system via anxiolytic, sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsant properties.²⁴ One systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the anxiolytic effect of both inhaled and topical lavender EO found improvement in several biomarkers and physiologic data including blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, as well as a reduction in self-reported levels of anxiety, compared with placebo.²⁵

Anxiety related to dental procedures is another area of study for the use of EOs. Two RCTs demonstrate statistically significant improvement in anxiety-related physiologic markers such as heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels in children who inhaled lavender EO during dental procedures.^41,42 In 1 of the RCTs, the intervention was described as 3 drops of 100% lavender EO applied to a cloth and inhaled over the course of 3 minutes.⁴¹ Additionally, 2 studies found that orange EO was beneficial for dental procedure–induced anxiety, reducing pulse rates, cortisol levels, and self-reported anxiety.^43,44

Dementia-related behavioral disturbances. A small, poorly designed study examining 2 EO blends—rosemary with lemon and lavender with orange—found some potential for improving cognitive function, especially in patients with Alzheimer disease.⁴⁵ A Cochrane review of 13 RCTs totaling 708 patients concluded that it is not certain from the available evidence that EO therapy benefits patients with dementia in long-term-care facilities and hospital wards.⁴⁶ Given that reporting of adverse events in the trials was poor, it is not possible to make conclusions about the risk vs benefit of EO therapy in this population.

Women’s health

Dysmenorrhea. Interest has grown in the use of EOs for dysmenorrhea symptom relief, and there is a small body of evidence demonstrating that a variety of oils—most notably lavender, rose, and clary sage—may reduce symptom severity. One meta-analysis of 9 RCTs and 12 controlled clinical trials including women with moderate-to-severe dysmenorrhea found that inhaled and/or topical use of singular or mixed lavender, clary sage, rose, marjoram, and cinnamon EOs demonstrated the strongest evidence of effectiveness in reducing menstrual cramping.³⁵

Continue to: In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial...

Use of an inhaled blend of lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint was associated with lower perceived stress and depression as well as better sleep quality.

In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 48 women, a cream-based blend of lavender, clary sage, and marjoram EO (used topically in a 2:1:1 ratio diluted in unscented cream at 3% concentration and applied daily via abdominal massage) reduced participants’ reported menstrual pain symptoms and duration of pain.³⁶ In a meta-analysis of 6 studies, topical abdominal application of EO (mainly lavender with or without other oils) with massage showed superiority over massage with placebo oils in reducing menstrual pain.³⁷ A reduction in pain, mood symptoms, and fatigue in women with premenstrual symptoms was seen in an RCT of 77 patients using 3 drops of inhaled lavender EO.⁴⁷

Labor. There is limited evidence for the use of EOs during labor. In an RCT of 104 women, patient-selected diffused EOs, including lavender, rose geranium, citrus, or jasmine, were found to help lower pain scores during the latent and early active phase of labor. There were no differences in labor augmentation, length of labor, perinatal outcomes, or need for additional pain medication.⁴⁸

Other uses

Antimicrobial support. Some common EOs that have demonstrated antimicrobial properties are oregano, thyme, clove, lavender, clary sage, garlic, and cinnamon.^49,50 Topical lemongrass and tea tree EOs have shown some degree of efficacy as an alternative treatment for acne, decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and superficial fungal infections.⁵¹ Support for an oral mixture of EOs labeled Myrtol (containing eucalyptus, citrus myrtle, and lavender) for viral acute bronchitis and sinusitis was found in a review of 7 studies.⁵² More research needs to be done before clear recommendations can be made on the use of EOs as antimicrobials, but the current data are encouraging.

Insect repellent. Reviews of the ­insect-repellent properties of EOs have shown promise and are in the public’s interest due to increasing awareness of the potential health and environmental hazards of synthetic repellents.⁵³ Individual compounds present in EOs such as citronella/lemongrass, basil, and eucalyptus species demonstrate high repellent activity.⁵⁴ Since EOs require frequent reapplication for efficacy due to their highly volatile nature, scientists are currently developing a means to prolong their protection time through cream-based formulations.⁵⁵

The bottom line

Because of the ubiquity of EOs, family physicians will undoubtedly be asked about them by patients, and it would be beneficial to feel comfortable discussing their most common uses. For most adult patients, the topical and periodic inhaled usage of EOs is generally safe.⁵⁶

There is a small body of evidence demonstrating that a variety of essential oils, most notably lavender, rose, and clary sage, may reduce dysmenorrhea symptom severity.

There is existing evidence of efficacy for a number of EOs, most strongly for lavender and peppermint. Future research into EOs should include higher-powered and higher-­quality studies in order to provide more conclusive evidence regarding the continued use of EOs for many common conditions. More evidence-based information on dosing, application/use regimens, and safety in long-term use also will help providers better instruct patients on how to utilize EOs effectively and safely. 

CORRESPONDENCE
Pooja Amy Shah, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 610 West 158th Street, New York, NY 10032; [email protected]

Essential oils (EOs), which are concentrated plant-based oils, have become ubiquitous over the past decade. ­Given the far reach of EOs and their longtime use in traditional, complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine, it is imperative that clinicians have some knowledge of the potential benefits, risks, and overall efficacy.

Commonly used for aromatic benefits (aromatherapy), EOs are now also incorporated into a multitude of products promoting health and wellness. EOs are sold as individual products and can be a component in consumer goods such as cosmetics, body care/hygiene/beauty products, laundry detergents, insect repellents, over-the-counter medications, and food.

It is important to read ingredient labels before purchasing an essential oil. Reputable companies will identify the plant ingredient, usually by the formal Latin binomial name, and explain the extraction process.

The review that follows presents the most current evidence available. With that said, it’s important to keep in mind some caveats that relate to this evidence. First, the studies cited tend to have a small sample size. Second, a majority of these studies were conducted in countries where there appears to be a significant culture of EO use, which could contribute to confirmation bias. Finally, in a number of the studies, there is concern for publication bias as well as a discrepancy between calculated statistical significance and actual clinical relevance.

What are essential oils?

EOs generally are made by extracting the oil from leaves, bark, flowers, seeds/fruit, rinds, and/or roots by steaming or pressing parts of a plant. It can take several pounds of plant material to produce a single bottle of EO, which usually contains ≥ 15 to 30 mL (.5 to 1 oz).¹

Some commonly used EOs in the United States are lavender, peppermint, rose, clary sage, tea tree, eucalyptus, and citrus; however, there are approximately 300 EOs available.² EOs are used most often via topical application, inhalation, or ingestion.

As with any botanical agent, EOs are complex substances often containing a multitude of chemical compounds.¹ Because of the complex makeup of EOs, which often contain up to 100 volatile organic compounds, and their wide-ranging potential effects, applying the scientific method to study effectiveness poses a challenge that has limited their adoption in evidence-based practice.²

Availability and cost. EOs can be purchased at large retailers (eg, grocery stores, drug stores) and smaller health food stores, as well as on the Internet. Various EO vehicles, such as inhalers and topical creams, also can be purchased at these stores.

Continue to: The cost varies...

The cost varies enormously by manufacturer and type of plant used to make the EO. Common EOs such as peppermint and lavender oil generally cost $10 to $25, while rarer plant oils can cost $80 or more per bottle.

How safe are essential oils?

Patients may assume EOs are harmless because they are derived from natural plants and have been used medicinally for centuries. However, care must be taken with their use.

The safest way to use EOs is topically, although due to their highly concentrated nature, EOs should be diluted in an unscented neutral carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, olive, or sweet almond.³ Ingestion of certain oils can cause hepatotoxicity, seizures, and even death.³ In fact, patients should speak with a knowledgeable physician before purchasing any oral EO capsules.

Whether used topically or ingested, all EOs carry risk for skin irritation and allergic reactions, and oral ingestion may result in some negative gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects.⁴ A case report of 3 patients published in 2007 identified the potential for lavender and tea tree EOs to be endocrine disruptors.⁵

Inhalation of EOs may be harmful, as they emit many volatile organic compounds, some of which are considered potentially hazardous.⁶ At this time, there is insufficient evidence regarding inhaled EOs and their direct connection to respiratory health. It is reasonable to suggest, however, that the prolonged use of EOs and their use by patients who have lung conditions such as asthma or COPD should be avoided.⁷

Continue to: How are quality and purity assessed?

How are quality and purity assessed?

Like other dietary supplements, EOs are not regulated. No US regulatory agencies (eg, the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] or Department of Agriculture [USDA]) certify or approve EOs for quality and purity. Bottles labeled with “QAI” for Quality Assurance International or “USDA Organic” will ensure the plant constituents used in the EO are from organic farming but do not attest to quality or purity.

Essential oils are one of the nonpharmacologic modalities that patients and clinicians have at their disposal for adjunctive treatment of migraine and tension-type headaches.

Manufacturers commonly use marketing terms such as “therapeutic grade” or “pure” to sell products, but again, these terms do not reflect the product’s quality or purity. A labeled single EO may contain contaminants, alcohol, or additional ingredients.⁷ When choosing to use EOs, identifying reputable brands is essential; one resource is the independent testing organization ConsumerLab.com.

It is important to assess the manufacturer and read ingredient labels before purchasing an EO to understand what the product contains. Reputable companies will identify the plant ingredient, usually by the formal Latin binomial name, and explain the extraction process. A more certain way to assess the quality and purity of an EO is to ask the manufacturer to provide a certificate of analysis and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) data for the specific product. Some manufacturers offer GC/MS test results on their website Quality page.⁸ Others have detailed information on quality and testing, and GC/MS test reports can be obtained.⁹ Yet another manufacturer has test results on a product page matching reports to batch codes.¹⁰

Which conditions have evidence of benefit from essential oils?

EOs currently are being studied for treatment of many conditions—including pain, GI disorders, behavioral health disorders, and women’s health issues. The TABLE summarizes the conditions treated, outcomes, and practical applications of EOs.^11-44

Pain

Headache. As an adjunct to available medications and procedures for headache treatment, EOs are one of the nonpharmacologic modalities that patients and clinicians have at their disposal for both migraine and ­tension-type headaches. A systematic review of 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of herbal ingredients for the acute treatment or prophylaxis of migraines found certain topically applied or inhaled EOs, such as peppermint and chamomile, to be effective for migraine pain alleviation; however, topically applied rose oil was not effective.^11-13 Note: “topical application” in these studies implies application of the EO to ≥ 1 of the following areas: temples, forehead, behind ears, or above upper lip/below the nose.

Continue to: One RCT with 120 patients...

One RCT with 120 patients evaluated diluted intranasal peppermint oil and found that it reduced migraine intensity at similar rates to intranasal lidocaine.¹³ In this study, patients were randomized to receive one of the following: 4% lidocaine, 1.5% peppermint EO, or placebo. Two drops of the intranasal intervention were self-administered while the patient was in a supine position with their head suspended off the edge of the surface on which they were lying. They were instructed to stay in this position for at least 30 seconds after administration.

With regard to tension headache treatment, there is limited literature on the use of EOs. One study found that a preparation of peppermint oil applied topically to the temples and forehead of study participants resulted in significant analgesic effect.¹⁴

Fibromyalgia. Usual treatments for fibromyalgia include exercise, antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications, and stress management. Evidence also supports the use of inhaled and topically applied (with and without massage) lavender oil to improve symptoms.²⁶ Positive effects may be related to the anal­gesic, anti-­inflammatory, sleep-regulating,­ and anxiety­-reducing effects of the major volatile compounds contained in lavender oil.

In one RCT with 42 patients with fibromyalgia, the use of inhaled lavender oil was shown to increase the perception of well-­being (assessed on the validated SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire) after 4 weeks.²⁷ In this study, the patient applied 3 drops of an oil mixture, comprising 1 mL lavender EO and 10 mL of fixed neutral base oil, to the wrist and inhaled for 10 minutes before going to bed.

The use of a topical oil blend labeled “Oil 24” (containing camphor, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, aloe vera, and lemon/orange) also has been shown to be more effective than placebo in managing fibromyalgia symptoms. A randomized controlled pilot study of 153 participants found that regular application of Oil 24 improved scores on pain scales and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.²⁸

Continue to: GI disorders

GI disorders

Irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint oil relaxes GI smooth muscle, which has led to investigation of its use in irritable bowel ­syndrome (IBS) symptom amelioration.¹⁷ One meta-analysis including 12 RCTs with 835 patients with undifferentiated IBS found that orally ingested peppermint EO capsules reduced patient-reported symptoms of either abdominal pain or global symptoms.¹⁸

One study utilized the Total IBS Symptom Score to evaluate symptom reduction in patients with IBS-D (with diarrhea) and IBS-M (mixed) using 180-mg peppermint EO capsules ingested 3 times daily. There was a significant improvement in abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating/distension, pain at evacuation, and bowel urgency.¹⁹ A reduction in symptoms was observed after the first 24 hours of treatment and at the end of the 4-week treatment period.

In another study, among the 190 patients meeting Rome IV criteria for general (nonspecific) IBS who were treated with 182-mg peppermint EO capsules, no statistically significant reduction in overall symptom relief was found (based on outcome measures by the FDA and European Medicines Agency). However, in a secondary outcome analysis, peppermint oil produced greater improvements than placebo for the alleviation of abdominal pain, discomfort, and general IBS severity.²⁰

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy often explore integrative medicine approaches, including aromatherapy, to ameliorate adverse effects and improve quality of life.³⁸ A few small studies have shown potential for the use of inhaled ginger oil to reduce nausea and vomiting severity and improve health-related quality-of-life measures in these patients.

Evidence supports the use of inhaled and topically applied lavender oil to improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

For example, a study with 60 participants found that inhaling ginger EO for 10 minutes was beneficial for reducing both nausea and vomiting.³⁹ A single-blind, controlled, ­randomized crossover study of 60 patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy showed that ginger EO inhaled 3 times per day for 2 minutes at a time can decrease the severity of nausea but had no effect on vomiting. The same study showed that health-­related quality of life improved with the ginger oil treatment.⁴⁰

Continue to: Other EOs such as cardamom...

Other EOs such as cardamom and peppermint show promise as an adjunctive treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well.³⁸

Postoperative nausea. A 2013 randomized trial of 303 patients examined the use of ginger EO, a blend of EOs (including ginger, spearmint, peppermint, and cardamom), and isopropyl alcohol. Both the single EO and EO blend significantly reduced the symptom of nausea. The number of antiemetic medications requested by patients receiving an EO also was significantly reduced compared to those receiving saline.¹⁵

The use of EOs to reduce nausea after cardiac operations was reviewed in an RCT of 60 surgical candidates using 10% peppermint oil via nebulization for 10 minutes.¹⁶ This technique was effective in reducing nausea during cardiac postoperative periods. Although the evidence for the use of EOs for postoperative nausea is not robust, it may be a useful and generally safe approach for this common issue.

Behavioral health

Insomnia. EOs have been used as a treatment for insomnia traditionally and in complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine. A 2014 systematic review of 15 quantitative studies, including 11 RCTs, evaluated the hypnotic effects of EOs through inhalation, finding the strongest evidence for lavender, jasmine, and peppermint oils.²⁹ The majority of the studies in the systematic review used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate EO effectiveness. A more recent 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis that evaluated 34 RCTs found that inhalation of EOs, most notably lavender aromatherapy, is effective in improving sleep problems such as insomnia.³⁰

Findings from multiple smaller RCTs were consistent with those of the aforementioned systematic reviews. For example, in a well-conducted parallel randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 100 people using orally ingested lemon verbena, the authors concluded that this intervention can be a complementary therapy for improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia severity.³¹ Another RCT with 60 participants evaluated an inhaled EO blend (lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint) over 4 weeks and found lowered perceived stress and depression as well as better sleep quality, but no influence on objective physiologic data such as stress indices or immune states.³²

Continue to: In a 2020 randomized crossover...

In a 2020 randomized crossover placebo­controlled trial of 37 participants with diabetes reporting insomnia, inhaled lavender improved sleep quality and quantity, quality of life, and mood but not physiologic or metabolic measures, such as fasting glucose.³³ Findings were similar in a cohort of cardiac rehabilitation patients (n = 37) who were treated with either an inhaled combination of lavender, bergamot, and ylang ylang, or placebo; cotton balls infused with the intervention oil or placebo oil were placed at the patient’s bedside for 5 nights. Sleep quality of participants receiving intervention oil was significantly better than the sleep quality of participants receiving the placebo oil as measured by participant completion of the PSQI.³⁴

Anxiety is a common disorder that can be managed with nonpharmacologic treatments such as yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and EO therapy.^21,22 In a systematic review and meta-analysis, the inhaled and topical use (with or without massage) of lavender EO was shown to improve psychological and physical manifestations of anxiety.²³ Lavender EO is purported to affect the parasympathetic nervous system via anxiolytic, sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsant properties.²⁴ One systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the anxiolytic effect of both inhaled and topical lavender EO found improvement in several biomarkers and physiologic data including blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, as well as a reduction in self-reported levels of anxiety, compared with placebo.²⁵

Anxiety related to dental procedures is another area of study for the use of EOs. Two RCTs demonstrate statistically significant improvement in anxiety-related physiologic markers such as heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels in children who inhaled lavender EO during dental procedures.^41,42 In 1 of the RCTs, the intervention was described as 3 drops of 100% lavender EO applied to a cloth and inhaled over the course of 3 minutes.⁴¹ Additionally, 2 studies found that orange EO was beneficial for dental procedure–induced anxiety, reducing pulse rates, cortisol levels, and self-reported anxiety.^43,44

Dementia-related behavioral disturbances. A small, poorly designed study examining 2 EO blends—rosemary with lemon and lavender with orange—found some potential for improving cognitive function, especially in patients with Alzheimer disease.⁴⁵ A Cochrane review of 13 RCTs totaling 708 patients concluded that it is not certain from the available evidence that EO therapy benefits patients with dementia in long-term-care facilities and hospital wards.⁴⁶ Given that reporting of adverse events in the trials was poor, it is not possible to make conclusions about the risk vs benefit of EO therapy in this population.

Women’s health

Dysmenorrhea. Interest has grown in the use of EOs for dysmenorrhea symptom relief, and there is a small body of evidence demonstrating that a variety of oils—most notably lavender, rose, and clary sage—may reduce symptom severity. One meta-analysis of 9 RCTs and 12 controlled clinical trials including women with moderate-to-severe dysmenorrhea found that inhaled and/or topical use of singular or mixed lavender, clary sage, rose, marjoram, and cinnamon EOs demonstrated the strongest evidence of effectiveness in reducing menstrual cramping.³⁵

Continue to: In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial...

Use of an inhaled blend of lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint was associated with lower perceived stress and depression as well as better sleep quality.

In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 48 women, a cream-based blend of lavender, clary sage, and marjoram EO (used topically in a 2:1:1 ratio diluted in unscented cream at 3% concentration and applied daily via abdominal massage) reduced participants’ reported menstrual pain symptoms and duration of pain.³⁶ In a meta-analysis of 6 studies, topical abdominal application of EO (mainly lavender with or without other oils) with massage showed superiority over massage with placebo oils in reducing menstrual pain.³⁷ A reduction in pain, mood symptoms, and fatigue in women with premenstrual symptoms was seen in an RCT of 77 patients using 3 drops of inhaled lavender EO.⁴⁷

Labor. There is limited evidence for the use of EOs during labor. In an RCT of 104 women, patient-selected diffused EOs, including lavender, rose geranium, citrus, or jasmine, were found to help lower pain scores during the latent and early active phase of labor. There were no differences in labor augmentation, length of labor, perinatal outcomes, or need for additional pain medication.⁴⁸

Other uses

Antimicrobial support. Some common EOs that have demonstrated antimicrobial properties are oregano, thyme, clove, lavender, clary sage, garlic, and cinnamon.^49,50 Topical lemongrass and tea tree EOs have shown some degree of efficacy as an alternative treatment for acne, decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and superficial fungal infections.⁵¹ Support for an oral mixture of EOs labeled Myrtol (containing eucalyptus, citrus myrtle, and lavender) for viral acute bronchitis and sinusitis was found in a review of 7 studies.⁵² More research needs to be done before clear recommendations can be made on the use of EOs as antimicrobials, but the current data are encouraging.

Insect repellent. Reviews of the ­insect-repellent properties of EOs have shown promise and are in the public’s interest due to increasing awareness of the potential health and environmental hazards of synthetic repellents.⁵³ Individual compounds present in EOs such as citronella/lemongrass, basil, and eucalyptus species demonstrate high repellent activity.⁵⁴ Since EOs require frequent reapplication for efficacy due to their highly volatile nature, scientists are currently developing a means to prolong their protection time through cream-based formulations.⁵⁵

The bottom line

Because of the ubiquity of EOs, family physicians will undoubtedly be asked about them by patients, and it would be beneficial to feel comfortable discussing their most common uses. For most adult patients, the topical and periodic inhaled usage of EOs is generally safe.⁵⁶

There is a small body of evidence demonstrating that a variety of essential oils, most notably lavender, rose, and clary sage, may reduce dysmenorrhea symptom severity.

There is existing evidence of efficacy for a number of EOs, most strongly for lavender and peppermint. Future research into EOs should include higher-powered and higher-­quality studies in order to provide more conclusive evidence regarding the continued use of EOs for many common conditions. More evidence-based information on dosing, application/use regimens, and safety in long-term use also will help providers better instruct patients on how to utilize EOs effectively and safely. 

CORRESPONDENCE
Pooja Amy Shah, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 610 West 158th Street, New York, NY 10032; [email protected]

Essential oils (EOs), which are concentrated plant-based oils, have become ubiquitous over the past decade. ­Given the far reach of EOs and their longtime use in traditional, complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine, it is imperative that clinicians have some knowledge of the potential benefits, risks, and overall efficacy.

Commonly used for aromatic benefits (aromatherapy), EOs are now also incorporated into a multitude of products promoting health and wellness. EOs are sold as individual products and can be a component in consumer goods such as cosmetics, body care/hygiene/beauty products, laundry detergents, insect repellents, over-the-counter medications, and food.

It is important to read ingredient labels before purchasing an essential oil. Reputable companies will identify the plant ingredient, usually by the formal Latin binomial name, and explain the extraction process.

The review that follows presents the most current evidence available. With that said, it’s important to keep in mind some caveats that relate to this evidence. First, the studies cited tend to have a small sample size. Second, a majority of these studies were conducted in countries where there appears to be a significant culture of EO use, which could contribute to confirmation bias. Finally, in a number of the studies, there is concern for publication bias as well as a discrepancy between calculated statistical significance and actual clinical relevance.

What are essential oils?

EOs generally are made by extracting the oil from leaves, bark, flowers, seeds/fruit, rinds, and/or roots by steaming or pressing parts of a plant. It can take several pounds of plant material to produce a single bottle of EO, which usually contains ≥ 15 to 30 mL (.5 to 1 oz).¹

Some commonly used EOs in the United States are lavender, peppermint, rose, clary sage, tea tree, eucalyptus, and citrus; however, there are approximately 300 EOs available.² EOs are used most often via topical application, inhalation, or ingestion.

As with any botanical agent, EOs are complex substances often containing a multitude of chemical compounds.¹ Because of the complex makeup of EOs, which often contain up to 100 volatile organic compounds, and their wide-ranging potential effects, applying the scientific method to study effectiveness poses a challenge that has limited their adoption in evidence-based practice.²

Availability and cost. EOs can be purchased at large retailers (eg, grocery stores, drug stores) and smaller health food stores, as well as on the Internet. Various EO vehicles, such as inhalers and topical creams, also can be purchased at these stores.

Continue to: The cost varies...

The cost varies enormously by manufacturer and type of plant used to make the EO. Common EOs such as peppermint and lavender oil generally cost $10 to $25, while rarer plant oils can cost $80 or more per bottle.

How safe are essential oils?

Patients may assume EOs are harmless because they are derived from natural plants and have been used medicinally for centuries. However, care must be taken with their use.

The safest way to use EOs is topically, although due to their highly concentrated nature, EOs should be diluted in an unscented neutral carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, olive, or sweet almond.³ Ingestion of certain oils can cause hepatotoxicity, seizures, and even death.³ In fact, patients should speak with a knowledgeable physician before purchasing any oral EO capsules.

Whether used topically or ingested, all EOs carry risk for skin irritation and allergic reactions, and oral ingestion may result in some negative gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects.⁴ A case report of 3 patients published in 2007 identified the potential for lavender and tea tree EOs to be endocrine disruptors.⁵

Inhalation of EOs may be harmful, as they emit many volatile organic compounds, some of which are considered potentially hazardous.⁶ At this time, there is insufficient evidence regarding inhaled EOs and their direct connection to respiratory health. It is reasonable to suggest, however, that the prolonged use of EOs and their use by patients who have lung conditions such as asthma or COPD should be avoided.⁷

Continue to: How are quality and purity assessed?

How are quality and purity assessed?

Like other dietary supplements, EOs are not regulated. No US regulatory agencies (eg, the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] or Department of Agriculture [USDA]) certify or approve EOs for quality and purity. Bottles labeled with “QAI” for Quality Assurance International or “USDA Organic” will ensure the plant constituents used in the EO are from organic farming but do not attest to quality or purity.

Essential oils are one of the nonpharmacologic modalities that patients and clinicians have at their disposal for adjunctive treatment of migraine and tension-type headaches.

Manufacturers commonly use marketing terms such as “therapeutic grade” or “pure” to sell products, but again, these terms do not reflect the product’s quality or purity. A labeled single EO may contain contaminants, alcohol, or additional ingredients.⁷ When choosing to use EOs, identifying reputable brands is essential; one resource is the independent testing organization ConsumerLab.com.

It is important to assess the manufacturer and read ingredient labels before purchasing an EO to understand what the product contains. Reputable companies will identify the plant ingredient, usually by the formal Latin binomial name, and explain the extraction process. A more certain way to assess the quality and purity of an EO is to ask the manufacturer to provide a certificate of analysis and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) data for the specific product. Some manufacturers offer GC/MS test results on their website Quality page.⁸ Others have detailed information on quality and testing, and GC/MS test reports can be obtained.⁹ Yet another manufacturer has test results on a product page matching reports to batch codes.¹⁰

Which conditions have evidence of benefit from essential oils?

EOs currently are being studied for treatment of many conditions—including pain, GI disorders, behavioral health disorders, and women’s health issues. The TABLE summarizes the conditions treated, outcomes, and practical applications of EOs.^11-44

Pain

Headache. As an adjunct to available medications and procedures for headache treatment, EOs are one of the nonpharmacologic modalities that patients and clinicians have at their disposal for both migraine and ­tension-type headaches. A systematic review of 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of herbal ingredients for the acute treatment or prophylaxis of migraines found certain topically applied or inhaled EOs, such as peppermint and chamomile, to be effective for migraine pain alleviation; however, topically applied rose oil was not effective.^11-13 Note: “topical application” in these studies implies application of the EO to ≥ 1 of the following areas: temples, forehead, behind ears, or above upper lip/below the nose.

Continue to: One RCT with 120 patients...

One RCT with 120 patients evaluated diluted intranasal peppermint oil and found that it reduced migraine intensity at similar rates to intranasal lidocaine.¹³ In this study, patients were randomized to receive one of the following: 4% lidocaine, 1.5% peppermint EO, or placebo. Two drops of the intranasal intervention were self-administered while the patient was in a supine position with their head suspended off the edge of the surface on which they were lying. They were instructed to stay in this position for at least 30 seconds after administration.

With regard to tension headache treatment, there is limited literature on the use of EOs. One study found that a preparation of peppermint oil applied topically to the temples and forehead of study participants resulted in significant analgesic effect.¹⁴

Fibromyalgia. Usual treatments for fibromyalgia include exercise, antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications, and stress management. Evidence also supports the use of inhaled and topically applied (with and without massage) lavender oil to improve symptoms.²⁶ Positive effects may be related to the anal­gesic, anti-­inflammatory, sleep-regulating,­ and anxiety­-reducing effects of the major volatile compounds contained in lavender oil.

In one RCT with 42 patients with fibromyalgia, the use of inhaled lavender oil was shown to increase the perception of well-­being (assessed on the validated SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire) after 4 weeks.²⁷ In this study, the patient applied 3 drops of an oil mixture, comprising 1 mL lavender EO and 10 mL of fixed neutral base oil, to the wrist and inhaled for 10 minutes before going to bed.

The use of a topical oil blend labeled “Oil 24” (containing camphor, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, aloe vera, and lemon/orange) also has been shown to be more effective than placebo in managing fibromyalgia symptoms. A randomized controlled pilot study of 153 participants found that regular application of Oil 24 improved scores on pain scales and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.²⁸

Continue to: GI disorders

GI disorders

Irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint oil relaxes GI smooth muscle, which has led to investigation of its use in irritable bowel ­syndrome (IBS) symptom amelioration.¹⁷ One meta-analysis including 12 RCTs with 835 patients with undifferentiated IBS found that orally ingested peppermint EO capsules reduced patient-reported symptoms of either abdominal pain or global symptoms.¹⁸

One study utilized the Total IBS Symptom Score to evaluate symptom reduction in patients with IBS-D (with diarrhea) and IBS-M (mixed) using 180-mg peppermint EO capsules ingested 3 times daily. There was a significant improvement in abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating/distension, pain at evacuation, and bowel urgency.¹⁹ A reduction in symptoms was observed after the first 24 hours of treatment and at the end of the 4-week treatment period.

In another study, among the 190 patients meeting Rome IV criteria for general (nonspecific) IBS who were treated with 182-mg peppermint EO capsules, no statistically significant reduction in overall symptom relief was found (based on outcome measures by the FDA and European Medicines Agency). However, in a secondary outcome analysis, peppermint oil produced greater improvements than placebo for the alleviation of abdominal pain, discomfort, and general IBS severity.²⁰

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy often explore integrative medicine approaches, including aromatherapy, to ameliorate adverse effects and improve quality of life.³⁸ A few small studies have shown potential for the use of inhaled ginger oil to reduce nausea and vomiting severity and improve health-related quality-of-life measures in these patients.

Evidence supports the use of inhaled and topically applied lavender oil to improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

For example, a study with 60 participants found that inhaling ginger EO for 10 minutes was beneficial for reducing both nausea and vomiting.³⁹ A single-blind, controlled, ­randomized crossover study of 60 patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy showed that ginger EO inhaled 3 times per day for 2 minutes at a time can decrease the severity of nausea but had no effect on vomiting. The same study showed that health-­related quality of life improved with the ginger oil treatment.⁴⁰

Continue to: Other EOs such as cardamom...

Other EOs such as cardamom and peppermint show promise as an adjunctive treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well.³⁸

Postoperative nausea. A 2013 randomized trial of 303 patients examined the use of ginger EO, a blend of EOs (including ginger, spearmint, peppermint, and cardamom), and isopropyl alcohol. Both the single EO and EO blend significantly reduced the symptom of nausea. The number of antiemetic medications requested by patients receiving an EO also was significantly reduced compared to those receiving saline.¹⁵

The use of EOs to reduce nausea after cardiac operations was reviewed in an RCT of 60 surgical candidates using 10% peppermint oil via nebulization for 10 minutes.¹⁶ This technique was effective in reducing nausea during cardiac postoperative periods. Although the evidence for the use of EOs for postoperative nausea is not robust, it may be a useful and generally safe approach for this common issue.

Behavioral health

Insomnia. EOs have been used as a treatment for insomnia traditionally and in complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine. A 2014 systematic review of 15 quantitative studies, including 11 RCTs, evaluated the hypnotic effects of EOs through inhalation, finding the strongest evidence for lavender, jasmine, and peppermint oils.²⁹ The majority of the studies in the systematic review used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate EO effectiveness. A more recent 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis that evaluated 34 RCTs found that inhalation of EOs, most notably lavender aromatherapy, is effective in improving sleep problems such as insomnia.³⁰

Findings from multiple smaller RCTs were consistent with those of the aforementioned systematic reviews. For example, in a well-conducted parallel randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 100 people using orally ingested lemon verbena, the authors concluded that this intervention can be a complementary therapy for improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia severity.³¹ Another RCT with 60 participants evaluated an inhaled EO blend (lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint) over 4 weeks and found lowered perceived stress and depression as well as better sleep quality, but no influence on objective physiologic data such as stress indices or immune states.³²

Continue to: In a 2020 randomized crossover...

In a 2020 randomized crossover placebo­controlled trial of 37 participants with diabetes reporting insomnia, inhaled lavender improved sleep quality and quantity, quality of life, and mood but not physiologic or metabolic measures, such as fasting glucose.³³ Findings were similar in a cohort of cardiac rehabilitation patients (n = 37) who were treated with either an inhaled combination of lavender, bergamot, and ylang ylang, or placebo; cotton balls infused with the intervention oil or placebo oil were placed at the patient’s bedside for 5 nights. Sleep quality of participants receiving intervention oil was significantly better than the sleep quality of participants receiving the placebo oil as measured by participant completion of the PSQI.³⁴

Anxiety is a common disorder that can be managed with nonpharmacologic treatments such as yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and EO therapy.^21,22 In a systematic review and meta-analysis, the inhaled and topical use (with or without massage) of lavender EO was shown to improve psychological and physical manifestations of anxiety.²³ Lavender EO is purported to affect the parasympathetic nervous system via anxiolytic, sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsant properties.²⁴ One systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the anxiolytic effect of both inhaled and topical lavender EO found improvement in several biomarkers and physiologic data including blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, as well as a reduction in self-reported levels of anxiety, compared with placebo.²⁵

Anxiety related to dental procedures is another area of study for the use of EOs. Two RCTs demonstrate statistically significant improvement in anxiety-related physiologic markers such as heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels in children who inhaled lavender EO during dental procedures.^41,42 In 1 of the RCTs, the intervention was described as 3 drops of 100% lavender EO applied to a cloth and inhaled over the course of 3 minutes.⁴¹ Additionally, 2 studies found that orange EO was beneficial for dental procedure–induced anxiety, reducing pulse rates, cortisol levels, and self-reported anxiety.^43,44

Dementia-related behavioral disturbances. A small, poorly designed study examining 2 EO blends—rosemary with lemon and lavender with orange—found some potential for improving cognitive function, especially in patients with Alzheimer disease.⁴⁵ A Cochrane review of 13 RCTs totaling 708 patients concluded that it is not certain from the available evidence that EO therapy benefits patients with dementia in long-term-care facilities and hospital wards.⁴⁶ Given that reporting of adverse events in the trials was poor, it is not possible to make conclusions about the risk vs benefit of EO therapy in this population.

Women’s health

Dysmenorrhea. Interest has grown in the use of EOs for dysmenorrhea symptom relief, and there is a small body of evidence demonstrating that a variety of oils—most notably lavender, rose, and clary sage—may reduce symptom severity. One meta-analysis of 9 RCTs and 12 controlled clinical trials including women with moderate-to-severe dysmenorrhea found that inhaled and/or topical use of singular or mixed lavender, clary sage, rose, marjoram, and cinnamon EOs demonstrated the strongest evidence of effectiveness in reducing menstrual cramping.³⁵

Continue to: In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial...

Use of an inhaled blend of lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint was associated with lower perceived stress and depression as well as better sleep quality.

In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 48 women, a cream-based blend of lavender, clary sage, and marjoram EO (used topically in a 2:1:1 ratio diluted in unscented cream at 3% concentration and applied daily via abdominal massage) reduced participants’ reported menstrual pain symptoms and duration of pain.³⁶ In a meta-analysis of 6 studies, topical abdominal application of EO (mainly lavender with or without other oils) with massage showed superiority over massage with placebo oils in reducing menstrual pain.³⁷ A reduction in pain, mood symptoms, and fatigue in women with premenstrual symptoms was seen in an RCT of 77 patients using 3 drops of inhaled lavender EO.⁴⁷

Labor. There is limited evidence for the use of EOs during labor. In an RCT of 104 women, patient-selected diffused EOs, including lavender, rose geranium, citrus, or jasmine, were found to help lower pain scores during the latent and early active phase of labor. There were no differences in labor augmentation, length of labor, perinatal outcomes, or need for additional pain medication.⁴⁸

Other uses

Antimicrobial support. Some common EOs that have demonstrated antimicrobial properties are oregano, thyme, clove, lavender, clary sage, garlic, and cinnamon.^49,50 Topical lemongrass and tea tree EOs have shown some degree of efficacy as an alternative treatment for acne, decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and superficial fungal infections.⁵¹ Support for an oral mixture of EOs labeled Myrtol (containing eucalyptus, citrus myrtle, and lavender) for viral acute bronchitis and sinusitis was found in a review of 7 studies.⁵² More research needs to be done before clear recommendations can be made on the use of EOs as antimicrobials, but the current data are encouraging.

Insect repellent. Reviews of the ­insect-repellent properties of EOs have shown promise and are in the public’s interest due to increasing awareness of the potential health and environmental hazards of synthetic repellents.⁵³ Individual compounds present in EOs such as citronella/lemongrass, basil, and eucalyptus species demonstrate high repellent activity.⁵⁴ Since EOs require frequent reapplication for efficacy due to their highly volatile nature, scientists are currently developing a means to prolong their protection time through cream-based formulations.⁵⁵

The bottom line

Because of the ubiquity of EOs, family physicians will undoubtedly be asked about them by patients, and it would be beneficial to feel comfortable discussing their most common uses. For most adult patients, the topical and periodic inhaled usage of EOs is generally safe.⁵⁶

There is a small body of evidence demonstrating that a variety of essential oils, most notably lavender, rose, and clary sage, may reduce dysmenorrhea symptom severity.

There is existing evidence of efficacy for a number of EOs, most strongly for lavender and peppermint. Future research into EOs should include higher-powered and higher-­quality studies in order to provide more conclusive evidence regarding the continued use of EOs for many common conditions. More evidence-based information on dosing, application/use regimens, and safety in long-term use also will help providers better instruct patients on how to utilize EOs effectively and safely. 

CORRESPONDENCE
Pooja Amy Shah, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 610 West 158th Street, New York, NY 10032; [email protected]

Neurologic music therapy (NMT), a specially designed intervention targeting movement, balance, and cognitive functioning, improves depressive symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), early results of a small study suggest.

“We’re really happy with the results,” said lead study author psychotherapist Honey Bryant, a PhD candidate and research assistant at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont.

“We showed neurologic music therapy improves mental health and increases neuroplasticity, when used in conjunction with stroke rehabilitation.”

The findings were presented at the virtual XXVI World Congress of Neurology.
 

Moving with music

With improved stroke survival rates and longer life expectancy, there’s an increasing need for effective post-stroke interventions for neurocognitive impairments and mood disorders, the authors noted.

NMT is an evidence-based treatment system that uses elements of music such as rhythm, melody, and tempo to treat various brain conditions. A trained NMT therapist uses standardized techniques to address goals in the areas of speech, movement, and cognition.

The intervention is not new – it’s been around for a few decades – but there are “minimal papers on NMT and nothing on stroke rehabilitation used in the way we did it,” said Ms. Bryant.

The study included 57 patients, mean age 75 years, receiving rehabilitation following a stroke who were randomly assigned to NMT or passive music listening.

In the NMT group, a music therapist asked participants to choose music beforehand and integrated this into each session.

“Each day was different,” said Ms. Bryant. “For example, if it involved motor movement, the music therapist would say, ‘When I sing this word, raise your arm up.’ For Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire,’ we made our arms into a circle.”

She explained that the rhythm and timing of the music can affect the motor system and other areas of the brain.

Those in the passive music group listened to a curated list of calming classical and relaxing spa music.

Both groups were offered five 45-minute sessions per week for 2 weeks.

Among other things, researchers used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), administered a semistructured interview, and collected blood samples to determine levels of cortisol and BDNF.

After the 2-week intervention, the researchers found participants in the NMT group had a significant mean decrease in depression.

They also had increased cortisol levels, which is not unexpected after a stroke, especially with increased anxiety linked to financial and other stressors, said Ms. Bryant, adding these levels should decrease with treatment.

Recipients of the NMT had significant increases in BDNF, a neurotrophin that plays an important role in neuronal survival and growth, but only in those who attended several consecutive sessions.
 

Increased plasticity

“We see greater increases in plasticity when the therapy is used intensively, meaning at least four treatments consecutively,” said Ms. Bryant. Participants in the NMT group also reported they “overall felt well,” she added.

She noted NMT can be tailored to individual deficit, “so you can make it solely for motor movement or you can make it solely for language.”

Next steps could include more closely targeting the music to individual preferences and investigating whether the benefits of the intervention extend to other types of brain injury, for example traumatic brain injury, which typically affects younger people, said Ms. Bryant.

“In this study, participants were older and there was an unknown; a lot of them were going back into the community but didn’t know if it was into a retirement home or long-term care.”

It’s unclear if the benefits are sustained after the intervention stops, she said.

There are also the issues of cost and accessibility; in Kingston, there are few music therapists certified in the area of NMT.

Ms. Bryant hopes NMT is eventually included in stroke rehabilitation. “Stroke therapy is typically very intensive on its own; you’re doing it every single day for about a month or 6 weeks,” she said. “It would be interesting to see whether we would see a shorter hospital stay if this is included in stroke rehab.”

Asked to comment, Michael H. Thaut, PhD, professor, faculty of music and faculty of medicine, and Canada research chair in music, neuroscience and health at the University of Toronto, said while these data are preliminary, “they do extend the benefits of NMT in stroke rehabilitation, especially measuring BDNF in addition to having behavioral data.”

However, it’s “unfortunate” the poster didn’t specify which cognitive intervention techniques were used in the study, said Dr. Thaut. “There are nine coded techniques in NMT, including for attention, memory, psychosocial function, and executive function.”

His own study, published in NeuroRehabilitation, focused on training for motor goals in stroke patients. It showed that NMT benefited cognitive functioning and affective responses.

The study was funded by a Queen’s University Research Initiation Grant. Ms. Bryant and Dr. Thaut have not disclosed any relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Neurologic music therapy (NMT), a specially designed intervention targeting movement, balance, and cognitive functioning, improves depressive symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), early results of a small study suggest.

“We’re really happy with the results,” said lead study author psychotherapist Honey Bryant, a PhD candidate and research assistant at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont.

“We showed neurologic music therapy improves mental health and increases neuroplasticity, when used in conjunction with stroke rehabilitation.”

The findings were presented at the virtual XXVI World Congress of Neurology.
 

Moving with music

With improved stroke survival rates and longer life expectancy, there’s an increasing need for effective post-stroke interventions for neurocognitive impairments and mood disorders, the authors noted.

NMT is an evidence-based treatment system that uses elements of music such as rhythm, melody, and tempo to treat various brain conditions. A trained NMT therapist uses standardized techniques to address goals in the areas of speech, movement, and cognition.

The intervention is not new – it’s been around for a few decades – but there are “minimal papers on NMT and nothing on stroke rehabilitation used in the way we did it,” said Ms. Bryant.

The study included 57 patients, mean age 75 years, receiving rehabilitation following a stroke who were randomly assigned to NMT or passive music listening.

In the NMT group, a music therapist asked participants to choose music beforehand and integrated this into each session.

“Each day was different,” said Ms. Bryant. “For example, if it involved motor movement, the music therapist would say, ‘When I sing this word, raise your arm up.’ For Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire,’ we made our arms into a circle.”

She explained that the rhythm and timing of the music can affect the motor system and other areas of the brain.

Those in the passive music group listened to a curated list of calming classical and relaxing spa music.

Both groups were offered five 45-minute sessions per week for 2 weeks.

Among other things, researchers used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), administered a semistructured interview, and collected blood samples to determine levels of cortisol and BDNF.

After the 2-week intervention, the researchers found participants in the NMT group had a significant mean decrease in depression.

They also had increased cortisol levels, which is not unexpected after a stroke, especially with increased anxiety linked to financial and other stressors, said Ms. Bryant, adding these levels should decrease with treatment.

Recipients of the NMT had significant increases in BDNF, a neurotrophin that plays an important role in neuronal survival and growth, but only in those who attended several consecutive sessions.
 

Increased plasticity

“We see greater increases in plasticity when the therapy is used intensively, meaning at least four treatments consecutively,” said Ms. Bryant. Participants in the NMT group also reported they “overall felt well,” she added.

She noted NMT can be tailored to individual deficit, “so you can make it solely for motor movement or you can make it solely for language.”

Next steps could include more closely targeting the music to individual preferences and investigating whether the benefits of the intervention extend to other types of brain injury, for example traumatic brain injury, which typically affects younger people, said Ms. Bryant.

“In this study, participants were older and there was an unknown; a lot of them were going back into the community but didn’t know if it was into a retirement home or long-term care.”

It’s unclear if the benefits are sustained after the intervention stops, she said.

There are also the issues of cost and accessibility; in Kingston, there are few music therapists certified in the area of NMT.

Ms. Bryant hopes NMT is eventually included in stroke rehabilitation. “Stroke therapy is typically very intensive on its own; you’re doing it every single day for about a month or 6 weeks,” she said. “It would be interesting to see whether we would see a shorter hospital stay if this is included in stroke rehab.”

Asked to comment, Michael H. Thaut, PhD, professor, faculty of music and faculty of medicine, and Canada research chair in music, neuroscience and health at the University of Toronto, said while these data are preliminary, “they do extend the benefits of NMT in stroke rehabilitation, especially measuring BDNF in addition to having behavioral data.”

However, it’s “unfortunate” the poster didn’t specify which cognitive intervention techniques were used in the study, said Dr. Thaut. “There are nine coded techniques in NMT, including for attention, memory, psychosocial function, and executive function.”

His own study, published in NeuroRehabilitation, focused on training for motor goals in stroke patients. It showed that NMT benefited cognitive functioning and affective responses.

The study was funded by a Queen’s University Research Initiation Grant. Ms. Bryant and Dr. Thaut have not disclosed any relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Neurologic music therapy (NMT), a specially designed intervention targeting movement, balance, and cognitive functioning, improves depressive symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), early results of a small study suggest.

“We’re really happy with the results,” said lead study author psychotherapist Honey Bryant, a PhD candidate and research assistant at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont.

“We showed neurologic music therapy improves mental health and increases neuroplasticity, when used in conjunction with stroke rehabilitation.”

The findings were presented at the virtual XXVI World Congress of Neurology.
 

Moving with music

With improved stroke survival rates and longer life expectancy, there’s an increasing need for effective post-stroke interventions for neurocognitive impairments and mood disorders, the authors noted.

NMT is an evidence-based treatment system that uses elements of music such as rhythm, melody, and tempo to treat various brain conditions. A trained NMT therapist uses standardized techniques to address goals in the areas of speech, movement, and cognition.

The intervention is not new – it’s been around for a few decades – but there are “minimal papers on NMT and nothing on stroke rehabilitation used in the way we did it,” said Ms. Bryant.

The study included 57 patients, mean age 75 years, receiving rehabilitation following a stroke who were randomly assigned to NMT or passive music listening.

In the NMT group, a music therapist asked participants to choose music beforehand and integrated this into each session.

“Each day was different,” said Ms. Bryant. “For example, if it involved motor movement, the music therapist would say, ‘When I sing this word, raise your arm up.’ For Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire,’ we made our arms into a circle.”

She explained that the rhythm and timing of the music can affect the motor system and other areas of the brain.

Those in the passive music group listened to a curated list of calming classical and relaxing spa music.

Both groups were offered five 45-minute sessions per week for 2 weeks.

Among other things, researchers used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), administered a semistructured interview, and collected blood samples to determine levels of cortisol and BDNF.

After the 2-week intervention, the researchers found participants in the NMT group had a significant mean decrease in depression.

They also had increased cortisol levels, which is not unexpected after a stroke, especially with increased anxiety linked to financial and other stressors, said Ms. Bryant, adding these levels should decrease with treatment.

Recipients of the NMT had significant increases in BDNF, a neurotrophin that plays an important role in neuronal survival and growth, but only in those who attended several consecutive sessions.
 

Increased plasticity

“We see greater increases in plasticity when the therapy is used intensively, meaning at least four treatments consecutively,” said Ms. Bryant. Participants in the NMT group also reported they “overall felt well,” she added.

She noted NMT can be tailored to individual deficit, “so you can make it solely for motor movement or you can make it solely for language.”

Next steps could include more closely targeting the music to individual preferences and investigating whether the benefits of the intervention extend to other types of brain injury, for example traumatic brain injury, which typically affects younger people, said Ms. Bryant.

“In this study, participants were older and there was an unknown; a lot of them were going back into the community but didn’t know if it was into a retirement home or long-term care.”

It’s unclear if the benefits are sustained after the intervention stops, she said.

There are also the issues of cost and accessibility; in Kingston, there are few music therapists certified in the area of NMT.

Ms. Bryant hopes NMT is eventually included in stroke rehabilitation. “Stroke therapy is typically very intensive on its own; you’re doing it every single day for about a month or 6 weeks,” she said. “It would be interesting to see whether we would see a shorter hospital stay if this is included in stroke rehab.”

Asked to comment, Michael H. Thaut, PhD, professor, faculty of music and faculty of medicine, and Canada research chair in music, neuroscience and health at the University of Toronto, said while these data are preliminary, “they do extend the benefits of NMT in stroke rehabilitation, especially measuring BDNF in addition to having behavioral data.”

However, it’s “unfortunate” the poster didn’t specify which cognitive intervention techniques were used in the study, said Dr. Thaut. “There are nine coded techniques in NMT, including for attention, memory, psychosocial function, and executive function.”

His own study, published in NeuroRehabilitation, focused on training for motor goals in stroke patients. It showed that NMT benefited cognitive functioning and affective responses.

The study was funded by a Queen’s University Research Initiation Grant. Ms. Bryant and Dr. Thaut have not disclosed any relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has now formally voted to join several other cardiovascular societies to form a new professional certification board for cardiovascular medicine, to be known as the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine (ABCVM).  

The ABCVM would be independent of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), the current organization providing maintenance of certification for cardiologists along with 20 other internal medicine subspecialties. The ABIM’s maintenance of certification process has been widely criticized for many years and has been described as “needlessly burdensome and expensive.”

The AHA will be joining the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) in forming the ABCVM. 

These four other societies issued a joint statement in September saying that they will apply to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to request an independent cardiology board that follows a “new competency-based approach to continuous certification — one that harnesses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to sustain professional excellence and care for cardiovascular patients effectively.”

The new board requirements will “de-emphasize timed, high stakes performance exams in the continuous certification process and instead will focus on learning assessments to identify gaps in current knowledge or skills,” the statement noted.

At the time the September statement was issued, the AHA was said to be supportive of the move but was waiting for formal endorsement to join the effort by its board of directors.

That has now happened, with the AHA’s national board of directors voting to provide “full support” for the creation of the proposed ABCVM.

“We enthusiastically join with our colleagues in proposing a new professional certification body to accredit cardiovascular professionals called the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine,” said the association’s volunteer president Joseph C. Wu, MD. “The new ABCVM will be independent of the ABIM and focus on the specific competency-based trainings and appropriate ongoing certifications that align with and strengthen skills for cardiovascular physicians and enhance quality of care for people with cardiovascular disease,” Wu said.

“The AHA joins the consortium to submit the application to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) requesting an independent medical board for cardiovascular medicine. The consortium’s robust proposal harnesses the knowledge, skills, and benchmarks appropriate for professional excellence and delivery of effective, high-quality cardiovascular care,” Wu added.

The leaders of the ABCVM will include professional representatives from the consortium of member organizations, with a specific focus on relevant education, trainings, and supports that recognize the increasing specialization in cardiology and the latest advances in the various subspecialties of cardiovascular medicine, the AHA notes in a statement.

Professional certification by ABIM is a condition of employment for physicians practicing in large hospitals or health systems. A dedicated certification board separate from ABIM will help to ensure that cardiovascular professionals are maintaining the expertise appropriate to high-quality care and improved outcomes for their patients, the AHA said.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has now formally voted to join several other cardiovascular societies to form a new professional certification board for cardiovascular medicine, to be known as the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine (ABCVM).  

The ABCVM would be independent of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), the current organization providing maintenance of certification for cardiologists along with 20 other internal medicine subspecialties. The ABIM’s maintenance of certification process has been widely criticized for many years and has been described as “needlessly burdensome and expensive.”

The AHA will be joining the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) in forming the ABCVM. 

These four other societies issued a joint statement in September saying that they will apply to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to request an independent cardiology board that follows a “new competency-based approach to continuous certification — one that harnesses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to sustain professional excellence and care for cardiovascular patients effectively.”

The new board requirements will “de-emphasize timed, high stakes performance exams in the continuous certification process and instead will focus on learning assessments to identify gaps in current knowledge or skills,” the statement noted.

At the time the September statement was issued, the AHA was said to be supportive of the move but was waiting for formal endorsement to join the effort by its board of directors.

That has now happened, with the AHA’s national board of directors voting to provide “full support” for the creation of the proposed ABCVM.

“We enthusiastically join with our colleagues in proposing a new professional certification body to accredit cardiovascular professionals called the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine,” said the association’s volunteer president Joseph C. Wu, MD. “The new ABCVM will be independent of the ABIM and focus on the specific competency-based trainings and appropriate ongoing certifications that align with and strengthen skills for cardiovascular physicians and enhance quality of care for people with cardiovascular disease,” Wu said.

“The AHA joins the consortium to submit the application to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) requesting an independent medical board for cardiovascular medicine. The consortium’s robust proposal harnesses the knowledge, skills, and benchmarks appropriate for professional excellence and delivery of effective, high-quality cardiovascular care,” Wu added.

The leaders of the ABCVM will include professional representatives from the consortium of member organizations, with a specific focus on relevant education, trainings, and supports that recognize the increasing specialization in cardiology and the latest advances in the various subspecialties of cardiovascular medicine, the AHA notes in a statement.

Professional certification by ABIM is a condition of employment for physicians practicing in large hospitals or health systems. A dedicated certification board separate from ABIM will help to ensure that cardiovascular professionals are maintaining the expertise appropriate to high-quality care and improved outcomes for their patients, the AHA said.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has now formally voted to join several other cardiovascular societies to form a new professional certification board for cardiovascular medicine, to be known as the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine (ABCVM).  

The ABCVM would be independent of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), the current organization providing maintenance of certification for cardiologists along with 20 other internal medicine subspecialties. The ABIM’s maintenance of certification process has been widely criticized for many years and has been described as “needlessly burdensome and expensive.”

The AHA will be joining the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) in forming the ABCVM. 

These four other societies issued a joint statement in September saying that they will apply to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to request an independent cardiology board that follows a “new competency-based approach to continuous certification — one that harnesses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to sustain professional excellence and care for cardiovascular patients effectively.”

The new board requirements will “de-emphasize timed, high stakes performance exams in the continuous certification process and instead will focus on learning assessments to identify gaps in current knowledge or skills,” the statement noted.

At the time the September statement was issued, the AHA was said to be supportive of the move but was waiting for formal endorsement to join the effort by its board of directors.

That has now happened, with the AHA’s national board of directors voting to provide “full support” for the creation of the proposed ABCVM.

“We enthusiastically join with our colleagues in proposing a new professional certification body to accredit cardiovascular professionals called the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine,” said the association’s volunteer president Joseph C. Wu, MD. “The new ABCVM will be independent of the ABIM and focus on the specific competency-based trainings and appropriate ongoing certifications that align with and strengthen skills for cardiovascular physicians and enhance quality of care for people with cardiovascular disease,” Wu said.

“The AHA joins the consortium to submit the application to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) requesting an independent medical board for cardiovascular medicine. The consortium’s robust proposal harnesses the knowledge, skills, and benchmarks appropriate for professional excellence and delivery of effective, high-quality cardiovascular care,” Wu added.

The leaders of the ABCVM will include professional representatives from the consortium of member organizations, with a specific focus on relevant education, trainings, and supports that recognize the increasing specialization in cardiology and the latest advances in the various subspecialties of cardiovascular medicine, the AHA notes in a statement.

Professional certification by ABIM is a condition of employment for physicians practicing in large hospitals or health systems. A dedicated certification board separate from ABIM will help to ensure that cardiovascular professionals are maintaining the expertise appropriate to high-quality care and improved outcomes for their patients, the AHA said.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

As the aging population grows and telehealth expands in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, an emerging trend of in-home care is reshaping how patients access and receive physical therapy services.

Partnerships between hospitals and home health companies are increasing access to rehabilitation services not only for older adults but also for people in rural areas, those without reliable transportation, and patients with injuries that hinder their driving abilities.

“We find more and more that physical therapy at their home, instead of coming to an outpatient facility, is something more and more folks are requesting,” said Bill Benoit, MBA, chief operating officer of University Hospitals, Cleveland. “In this post-COVID environment, people are getting all different types of services in their home when they’re available, and this is one of them. The pandemic sped up the process of us moving away from the traditional brick and mortar hospital.”

UH recently announced a partnership with Luna Physical Therapy, a company founded in 2018 that provides home services. Luna has teamed up with more than two dozen other hospitals in the United States to offer home-based rehabilitation, according to the company.

The process for arranging in-home therapies through hospital-clinic partnerships is like any other inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation, Mr. Benoit said: A patient meets with a specialist or primary care practitioner, they discuss options, and eventually the clinician recommends physical therapy. The only difference here, he said, is rather than going to a separate facility or a hospital, the patient logs onto a mobile app that matches them with a physical therapist on the basis of their location, needs, and the times they are available.

The prescribing physician oversees the patient’s progress through notes provided by the therapist.

“For the primary care physician or surgeon, they’re not going to see much of a difference,” Mr. Benoit said. “This just adds to that list of options for patients.”
 

Safer, more productive PT

A study, published in the journal Family Practice, found that 76% of patients who are prescribed physical therapy do not initiate the services after it has been recommended.

Aside from the convenience and expanded accessibility for patients, the home therapy option can be more productive, said Denise Wagner, PT, DPT, a physical therapist with Johns Hopkins, Baltimore.

“Home is safer for many patients, but home is also more engaging and motivating,” she said. “Home health clinicians are experts in using whatever they find in the home environment as equipment; many people have stairs in their home, so we can use the rail as something to hold. If patient likes to walk their dog, we can use putting a leash on dog as balance activity.”

Therapy in the home setting helps physical therapists customize programs to fit each patient’s lifestyle, said Gira Shah, PT, a physical therapist with Providence Home Services in Seattle.

For example, patients generally want to know how to function within their own space – navigate their kitchens to make food or get in and out of their bathtubs. Staying in that space allows therapists to focus on those specific goals, Ms. Shah said. “It’s more of a functional therapy. The beauty of this [is that] as therapists we’re trying to assess, ‘what does the patient need to be independent?’ ”

The consulting firm McKinsey predicts that as much as $265 billion in health care services for Medicare recipients will be provided within the home by 2025.

The obvious question is: Why would hospitals partner with clinics rather than offer in-home services on their own?

The answer, like most things in health care, boils down to money.

The billing and documentation system that they use is more efficient than anything hospitals have, said John Brickley, PT, MA, vice president and physical therapist at MedStar Health, a health care system in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area. MedStar and Luna announced a partnership last June.

“We would financially fall on our face if we tried to use our own billing systems; it would take too much time,” Mr. Brickley said. “Do we need them from a quality-of-care standpoint? No. They have the type of technology that’s not at our disposal.”

Patients should be aware of the difference between home-based PT and other health services for homebound patients, Mr. Brickley said. Medicare considers a patient homebound if they need the help of another person or medical equipment to leave their home or if their doctor believes their condition would worsen with greater mobility.

From the perspective of an insurance company, a home therapy session arranged by a hospital-clinic partnership is an ambulatory appointment and uses the same charging mechanism as most other visits. For a home health care visit, patients must qualify as homebound.

Home-based PT can be used for conditions including neurologic issues, bone and joint problems, balance, and fall deconditioning and prevention. But if a patient needs heavy equipment that cannot be transported, outpatient services are more practical.

That should be determined by the primary care practitioner or specialist evaluating each patient, said Palak Shah, PT, cofounder and head of clinical services at Luna.

“Primary care physicians play a huge role – that’s where patients express their initial concerns,” she said. “It’s up to them to make patients aware about all the options.”

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

As the aging population grows and telehealth expands in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, an emerging trend of in-home care is reshaping how patients access and receive physical therapy services.

Partnerships between hospitals and home health companies are increasing access to rehabilitation services not only for older adults but also for people in rural areas, those without reliable transportation, and patients with injuries that hinder their driving abilities.

“We find more and more that physical therapy at their home, instead of coming to an outpatient facility, is something more and more folks are requesting,” said Bill Benoit, MBA, chief operating officer of University Hospitals, Cleveland. “In this post-COVID environment, people are getting all different types of services in their home when they’re available, and this is one of them. The pandemic sped up the process of us moving away from the traditional brick and mortar hospital.”

UH recently announced a partnership with Luna Physical Therapy, a company founded in 2018 that provides home services. Luna has teamed up with more than two dozen other hospitals in the United States to offer home-based rehabilitation, according to the company.

The process for arranging in-home therapies through hospital-clinic partnerships is like any other inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation, Mr. Benoit said: A patient meets with a specialist or primary care practitioner, they discuss options, and eventually the clinician recommends physical therapy. The only difference here, he said, is rather than going to a separate facility or a hospital, the patient logs onto a mobile app that matches them with a physical therapist on the basis of their location, needs, and the times they are available.

The prescribing physician oversees the patient’s progress through notes provided by the therapist.

“For the primary care physician or surgeon, they’re not going to see much of a difference,” Mr. Benoit said. “This just adds to that list of options for patients.”
 

Safer, more productive PT

A study, published in the journal Family Practice, found that 76% of patients who are prescribed physical therapy do not initiate the services after it has been recommended.

Aside from the convenience and expanded accessibility for patients, the home therapy option can be more productive, said Denise Wagner, PT, DPT, a physical therapist with Johns Hopkins, Baltimore.

“Home is safer for many patients, but home is also more engaging and motivating,” she said. “Home health clinicians are experts in using whatever they find in the home environment as equipment; many people have stairs in their home, so we can use the rail as something to hold. If patient likes to walk their dog, we can use putting a leash on dog as balance activity.”

Therapy in the home setting helps physical therapists customize programs to fit each patient’s lifestyle, said Gira Shah, PT, a physical therapist with Providence Home Services in Seattle.

For example, patients generally want to know how to function within their own space – navigate their kitchens to make food or get in and out of their bathtubs. Staying in that space allows therapists to focus on those specific goals, Ms. Shah said. “It’s more of a functional therapy. The beauty of this [is that] as therapists we’re trying to assess, ‘what does the patient need to be independent?’ ”

The consulting firm McKinsey predicts that as much as $265 billion in health care services for Medicare recipients will be provided within the home by 2025.

The obvious question is: Why would hospitals partner with clinics rather than offer in-home services on their own?

The answer, like most things in health care, boils down to money.

The billing and documentation system that they use is more efficient than anything hospitals have, said John Brickley, PT, MA, vice president and physical therapist at MedStar Health, a health care system in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area. MedStar and Luna announced a partnership last June.

“We would financially fall on our face if we tried to use our own billing systems; it would take too much time,” Mr. Brickley said. “Do we need them from a quality-of-care standpoint? No. They have the type of technology that’s not at our disposal.”

Patients should be aware of the difference between home-based PT and other health services for homebound patients, Mr. Brickley said. Medicare considers a patient homebound if they need the help of another person or medical equipment to leave their home or if their doctor believes their condition would worsen with greater mobility.

From the perspective of an insurance company, a home therapy session arranged by a hospital-clinic partnership is an ambulatory appointment and uses the same charging mechanism as most other visits. For a home health care visit, patients must qualify as homebound.

Home-based PT can be used for conditions including neurologic issues, bone and joint problems, balance, and fall deconditioning and prevention. But if a patient needs heavy equipment that cannot be transported, outpatient services are more practical.

That should be determined by the primary care practitioner or specialist evaluating each patient, said Palak Shah, PT, cofounder and head of clinical services at Luna.

“Primary care physicians play a huge role – that’s where patients express their initial concerns,” she said. “It’s up to them to make patients aware about all the options.”

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

As the aging population grows and telehealth expands in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, an emerging trend of in-home care is reshaping how patients access and receive physical therapy services.

Partnerships between hospitals and home health companies are increasing access to rehabilitation services not only for older adults but also for people in rural areas, those without reliable transportation, and patients with injuries that hinder their driving abilities.

“We find more and more that physical therapy at their home, instead of coming to an outpatient facility, is something more and more folks are requesting,” said Bill Benoit, MBA, chief operating officer of University Hospitals, Cleveland. “In this post-COVID environment, people are getting all different types of services in their home when they’re available, and this is one of them. The pandemic sped up the process of us moving away from the traditional brick and mortar hospital.”

UH recently announced a partnership with Luna Physical Therapy, a company founded in 2018 that provides home services. Luna has teamed up with more than two dozen other hospitals in the United States to offer home-based rehabilitation, according to the company.

The process for arranging in-home therapies through hospital-clinic partnerships is like any other inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation, Mr. Benoit said: A patient meets with a specialist or primary care practitioner, they discuss options, and eventually the clinician recommends physical therapy. The only difference here, he said, is rather than going to a separate facility or a hospital, the patient logs onto a mobile app that matches them with a physical therapist on the basis of their location, needs, and the times they are available.

The prescribing physician oversees the patient’s progress through notes provided by the therapist.

“For the primary care physician or surgeon, they’re not going to see much of a difference,” Mr. Benoit said. “This just adds to that list of options for patients.”
 

Safer, more productive PT

A study, published in the journal Family Practice, found that 76% of patients who are prescribed physical therapy do not initiate the services after it has been recommended.

Aside from the convenience and expanded accessibility for patients, the home therapy option can be more productive, said Denise Wagner, PT, DPT, a physical therapist with Johns Hopkins, Baltimore.

“Home is safer for many patients, but home is also more engaging and motivating,” she said. “Home health clinicians are experts in using whatever they find in the home environment as equipment; many people have stairs in their home, so we can use the rail as something to hold. If patient likes to walk their dog, we can use putting a leash on dog as balance activity.”

Therapy in the home setting helps physical therapists customize programs to fit each patient’s lifestyle, said Gira Shah, PT, a physical therapist with Providence Home Services in Seattle.

For example, patients generally want to know how to function within their own space – navigate their kitchens to make food or get in and out of their bathtubs. Staying in that space allows therapists to focus on those specific goals, Ms. Shah said. “It’s more of a functional therapy. The beauty of this [is that] as therapists we’re trying to assess, ‘what does the patient need to be independent?’ ”

The consulting firm McKinsey predicts that as much as $265 billion in health care services for Medicare recipients will be provided within the home by 2025.

The obvious question is: Why would hospitals partner with clinics rather than offer in-home services on their own?

The answer, like most things in health care, boils down to money.

The billing and documentation system that they use is more efficient than anything hospitals have, said John Brickley, PT, MA, vice president and physical therapist at MedStar Health, a health care system in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area. MedStar and Luna announced a partnership last June.

“We would financially fall on our face if we tried to use our own billing systems; it would take too much time,” Mr. Brickley said. “Do we need them from a quality-of-care standpoint? No. They have the type of technology that’s not at our disposal.”

Patients should be aware of the difference between home-based PT and other health services for homebound patients, Mr. Brickley said. Medicare considers a patient homebound if they need the help of another person or medical equipment to leave their home or if their doctor believes their condition would worsen with greater mobility.

From the perspective of an insurance company, a home therapy session arranged by a hospital-clinic partnership is an ambulatory appointment and uses the same charging mechanism as most other visits. For a home health care visit, patients must qualify as homebound.

Home-based PT can be used for conditions including neurologic issues, bone and joint problems, balance, and fall deconditioning and prevention. But if a patient needs heavy equipment that cannot be transported, outpatient services are more practical.

That should be determined by the primary care practitioner or specialist evaluating each patient, said Palak Shah, PT, cofounder and head of clinical services at Luna.

“Primary care physicians play a huge role – that’s where patients express their initial concerns,” she said. “It’s up to them to make patients aware about all the options.”

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The Diagnosis: Eczema Herpeticum

The patient’s condition with worsening facial edema and notable pain prompted a bedside Tzanck smear using a sample from the base of a deroofed forehead vesicle. In addition, a swab of a deroofed lesion was sent for herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The Tzanck smear demonstrated ballooning multinucleated syncytial giant cells and eosinophilic inclusion bodies (Figure), which are characteristic of certain herpesviruses including herpes simplex virus and VZV. He was started on intravenous acyclovir while PCR results were pending; the PCR test later confirmed positivity for herpes simplex virus type 1. Treatment was transitioned to oral valacyclovir once the lesions started crusting over. Notable healing and epithelialization of the lesions occurred during his hospital stay, and he was discharged home 5 days after starting treatment. He was counseled on autoinoculation, advised that he was considered infectious until all lesions had crusted over, and encouraged to employ frequent handwashing. Complete resolution of eczema herpeticum (EH) was noted at 3-week follow-up.

Eczema herpeticum (also known as Kaposi varicelliform eruption) is a potentially life-threatening disseminated cutaneous infection caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in patients with pre-existing skin disease.¹ It typically presents as a complication of atopic dermatitis (AD) but also has been identified as a rare complication in other conditions that disrupt the normal skin barrier, including mycosis fungoides, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus vulgaris, Darier disease, pityriasis rubra pilaris, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.^1-4

The pathogenesis of EH is multifactorial. Disruption of the stratum corneum; impaired natural killer cell function; early-onset, untreated, or severe AD; disrupted skin microbiota with skewed colonization by Staphylococcus aureus; immunosuppressive AD therapies such as calcineurin inhibitors; eosinophilia; and helper T cell (T_H2) cytokine predominance all have been suggested to play a role in the development of EH.^5-8

As seen in our patient, EH presents with a sudden eruption of painful or pruritic, grouped, monomorphic, domeshaped vesicles with background swelling and erythema typically on the head, neck, and trunk. Vesicles then progress to punched-out erosions with overlying hemorrhagic crusting that can coalesce to form large denuded areas susceptible to superinfection with bacteria.⁹ Other accompanying symptoms include high fever, chills, malaise, and lymphadenopathy. Associated inflammation, classically described as erythema, may be difficult to discern in patients with darker skin and appears as hyperpigmentation; therefore, identification of clusters of monomorphic vesicles in areas of pre-existing dermatitis is particularly important for clinical diagnosis in people with darker skin types.

Various tests are available to confirm diagnosis in ambiguous cases. Bedside Tzanck smears can be performed rapidly and are considered positive if characteristic multinucleated giant cells are noted; however, they do not differentiate between the various herpesviruses. Direct fluorescent antibody testing of scraped lesions and viral cultures of swabbed vesicular fluid are equally effective in distinguishing between herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and VZV; PCR confirms the diagnosis with high specificity and sensitivity.¹⁰

In our patient, the initial differential diagnosis included EH, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, allergic contact dermatitis, and Orthopoxvirus infection. The positive Tzanck smear reduced the likelihood of a nonviral etiology. Additionally, worsening of the rash despite discontinuation of medications and utilization of topical steroids argued against acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and allergic contact dermatitis. The laboratory findings reduced the likelihood of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, and PCR findings ultimately ruled out Orthopoxvirus infections. Additional differential diagnoses for EH include dermatitis herpetiformis; primary VZV infection; hand, foot, and mouth disease; disseminated zoster infection; disseminated molluscum contagiosum; and eczema coxsackium.

Complications of EH include scarring; herpetic keratitis due to corneal infection, which if left untreated can progress to blindness; and rarely death due to multiorgan failure or septicemia.¹¹ The traditional smallpox vaccine (ACAM2000) is contraindicated in patients with AD and EH, even when AD is in remission. These patients should avoid contact with recently vaccinated individuals.¹² An alternative vaccine—Jynneos (Bavarian Nordic)—is available for these patients and their family members.¹³ Clinicians should be aware of this guideline, especially given the recent mpox (monkeypox) outbreaks.

Mild cases of EH are more common, may sometimes go unnoticed, and self-resolve in healthy patients. Severe cases may require systemic antiviral therapy. Acyclovir and its prodrug valacyclovir are standard treatments for EH. Alternatively, foscarnet or cidofovir can be used in the treatment of acyclovir-resistant thymidine kinase– deficient herpes simplex virus and other acyclovirresistant cases.¹⁴ Any secondary bacterial superinfections, usually due to staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria, should be treated with antibiotics. A thorough ophthalmologic evaluation should be performed for patients with periocular involvement of EH. Empiric treatment should be started immediately, given a relative low toxicity of systemic antiviral therapy and high morbidity and mortality associated with untreated widespread EH.

It is important to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for EH, especially in patients with pre-existing conditions such as AD who present with systemic symptoms and facial vesicles, pustules, or erosions to ensure prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

The Diagnosis: Eczema Herpeticum

The patient’s condition with worsening facial edema and notable pain prompted a bedside Tzanck smear using a sample from the base of a deroofed forehead vesicle. In addition, a swab of a deroofed lesion was sent for herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The Tzanck smear demonstrated ballooning multinucleated syncytial giant cells and eosinophilic inclusion bodies (Figure), which are characteristic of certain herpesviruses including herpes simplex virus and VZV. He was started on intravenous acyclovir while PCR results were pending; the PCR test later confirmed positivity for herpes simplex virus type 1. Treatment was transitioned to oral valacyclovir once the lesions started crusting over. Notable healing and epithelialization of the lesions occurred during his hospital stay, and he was discharged home 5 days after starting treatment. He was counseled on autoinoculation, advised that he was considered infectious until all lesions had crusted over, and encouraged to employ frequent handwashing. Complete resolution of eczema herpeticum (EH) was noted at 3-week follow-up.

Eczema herpeticum (also known as Kaposi varicelliform eruption) is a potentially life-threatening disseminated cutaneous infection caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in patients with pre-existing skin disease.¹ It typically presents as a complication of atopic dermatitis (AD) but also has been identified as a rare complication in other conditions that disrupt the normal skin barrier, including mycosis fungoides, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus vulgaris, Darier disease, pityriasis rubra pilaris, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.^1-4

The pathogenesis of EH is multifactorial. Disruption of the stratum corneum; impaired natural killer cell function; early-onset, untreated, or severe AD; disrupted skin microbiota with skewed colonization by Staphylococcus aureus; immunosuppressive AD therapies such as calcineurin inhibitors; eosinophilia; and helper T cell (T_H2) cytokine predominance all have been suggested to play a role in the development of EH.^5-8

As seen in our patient, EH presents with a sudden eruption of painful or pruritic, grouped, monomorphic, domeshaped vesicles with background swelling and erythema typically on the head, neck, and trunk. Vesicles then progress to punched-out erosions with overlying hemorrhagic crusting that can coalesce to form large denuded areas susceptible to superinfection with bacteria.⁹ Other accompanying symptoms include high fever, chills, malaise, and lymphadenopathy. Associated inflammation, classically described as erythema, may be difficult to discern in patients with darker skin and appears as hyperpigmentation; therefore, identification of clusters of monomorphic vesicles in areas of pre-existing dermatitis is particularly important for clinical diagnosis in people with darker skin types.

Various tests are available to confirm diagnosis in ambiguous cases. Bedside Tzanck smears can be performed rapidly and are considered positive if characteristic multinucleated giant cells are noted; however, they do not differentiate between the various herpesviruses. Direct fluorescent antibody testing of scraped lesions and viral cultures of swabbed vesicular fluid are equally effective in distinguishing between herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and VZV; PCR confirms the diagnosis with high specificity and sensitivity.¹⁰

In our patient, the initial differential diagnosis included EH, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, allergic contact dermatitis, and Orthopoxvirus infection. The positive Tzanck smear reduced the likelihood of a nonviral etiology. Additionally, worsening of the rash despite discontinuation of medications and utilization of topical steroids argued against acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and allergic contact dermatitis. The laboratory findings reduced the likelihood of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, and PCR findings ultimately ruled out Orthopoxvirus infections. Additional differential diagnoses for EH include dermatitis herpetiformis; primary VZV infection; hand, foot, and mouth disease; disseminated zoster infection; disseminated molluscum contagiosum; and eczema coxsackium.

Complications of EH include scarring; herpetic keratitis due to corneal infection, which if left untreated can progress to blindness; and rarely death due to multiorgan failure or septicemia.¹¹ The traditional smallpox vaccine (ACAM2000) is contraindicated in patients with AD and EH, even when AD is in remission. These patients should avoid contact with recently vaccinated individuals.¹² An alternative vaccine—Jynneos (Bavarian Nordic)—is available for these patients and their family members.¹³ Clinicians should be aware of this guideline, especially given the recent mpox (monkeypox) outbreaks.

Mild cases of EH are more common, may sometimes go unnoticed, and self-resolve in healthy patients. Severe cases may require systemic antiviral therapy. Acyclovir and its prodrug valacyclovir are standard treatments for EH. Alternatively, foscarnet or cidofovir can be used in the treatment of acyclovir-resistant thymidine kinase– deficient herpes simplex virus and other acyclovirresistant cases.¹⁴ Any secondary bacterial superinfections, usually due to staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria, should be treated with antibiotics. A thorough ophthalmologic evaluation should be performed for patients with periocular involvement of EH. Empiric treatment should be started immediately, given a relative low toxicity of systemic antiviral therapy and high morbidity and mortality associated with untreated widespread EH.

It is important to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for EH, especially in patients with pre-existing conditions such as AD who present with systemic symptoms and facial vesicles, pustules, or erosions to ensure prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

The Diagnosis: Eczema Herpeticum

The patient’s condition with worsening facial edema and notable pain prompted a bedside Tzanck smear using a sample from the base of a deroofed forehead vesicle. In addition, a swab of a deroofed lesion was sent for herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The Tzanck smear demonstrated ballooning multinucleated syncytial giant cells and eosinophilic inclusion bodies (Figure), which are characteristic of certain herpesviruses including herpes simplex virus and VZV. He was started on intravenous acyclovir while PCR results were pending; the PCR test later confirmed positivity for herpes simplex virus type 1. Treatment was transitioned to oral valacyclovir once the lesions started crusting over. Notable healing and epithelialization of the lesions occurred during his hospital stay, and he was discharged home 5 days after starting treatment. He was counseled on autoinoculation, advised that he was considered infectious until all lesions had crusted over, and encouraged to employ frequent handwashing. Complete resolution of eczema herpeticum (EH) was noted at 3-week follow-up.

Eczema herpeticum (also known as Kaposi varicelliform eruption) is a potentially life-threatening disseminated cutaneous infection caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in patients with pre-existing skin disease.¹ It typically presents as a complication of atopic dermatitis (AD) but also has been identified as a rare complication in other conditions that disrupt the normal skin barrier, including mycosis fungoides, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus vulgaris, Darier disease, pityriasis rubra pilaris, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.^1-4

The pathogenesis of EH is multifactorial. Disruption of the stratum corneum; impaired natural killer cell function; early-onset, untreated, or severe AD; disrupted skin microbiota with skewed colonization by Staphylococcus aureus; immunosuppressive AD therapies such as calcineurin inhibitors; eosinophilia; and helper T cell (T_H2) cytokine predominance all have been suggested to play a role in the development of EH.^5-8

As seen in our patient, EH presents with a sudden eruption of painful or pruritic, grouped, monomorphic, domeshaped vesicles with background swelling and erythema typically on the head, neck, and trunk. Vesicles then progress to punched-out erosions with overlying hemorrhagic crusting that can coalesce to form large denuded areas susceptible to superinfection with bacteria.⁹ Other accompanying symptoms include high fever, chills, malaise, and lymphadenopathy. Associated inflammation, classically described as erythema, may be difficult to discern in patients with darker skin and appears as hyperpigmentation; therefore, identification of clusters of monomorphic vesicles in areas of pre-existing dermatitis is particularly important for clinical diagnosis in people with darker skin types.

Various tests are available to confirm diagnosis in ambiguous cases. Bedside Tzanck smears can be performed rapidly and are considered positive if characteristic multinucleated giant cells are noted; however, they do not differentiate between the various herpesviruses. Direct fluorescent antibody testing of scraped lesions and viral cultures of swabbed vesicular fluid are equally effective in distinguishing between herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and VZV; PCR confirms the diagnosis with high specificity and sensitivity.¹⁰

In our patient, the initial differential diagnosis included EH, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, allergic contact dermatitis, and Orthopoxvirus infection. The positive Tzanck smear reduced the likelihood of a nonviral etiology. Additionally, worsening of the rash despite discontinuation of medications and utilization of topical steroids argued against acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and allergic contact dermatitis. The laboratory findings reduced the likelihood of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, and PCR findings ultimately ruled out Orthopoxvirus infections. Additional differential diagnoses for EH include dermatitis herpetiformis; primary VZV infection; hand, foot, and mouth disease; disseminated zoster infection; disseminated molluscum contagiosum; and eczema coxsackium.

Complications of EH include scarring; herpetic keratitis due to corneal infection, which if left untreated can progress to blindness; and rarely death due to multiorgan failure or septicemia.¹¹ The traditional smallpox vaccine (ACAM2000) is contraindicated in patients with AD and EH, even when AD is in remission. These patients should avoid contact with recently vaccinated individuals.¹² An alternative vaccine—Jynneos (Bavarian Nordic)—is available for these patients and their family members.¹³ Clinicians should be aware of this guideline, especially given the recent mpox (monkeypox) outbreaks.

Mild cases of EH are more common, may sometimes go unnoticed, and self-resolve in healthy patients. Severe cases may require systemic antiviral therapy. Acyclovir and its prodrug valacyclovir are standard treatments for EH. Alternatively, foscarnet or cidofovir can be used in the treatment of acyclovir-resistant thymidine kinase– deficient herpes simplex virus and other acyclovirresistant cases.¹⁴ Any secondary bacterial superinfections, usually due to staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria, should be treated with antibiotics. A thorough ophthalmologic evaluation should be performed for patients with periocular involvement of EH. Empiric treatment should be started immediately, given a relative low toxicity of systemic antiviral therapy and high morbidity and mortality associated with untreated widespread EH.

It is important to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for EH, especially in patients with pre-existing conditions such as AD who present with systemic symptoms and facial vesicles, pustules, or erosions to ensure prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

PHOENIX – The prevalence of myasthenia gravis is about 0.13% among U.S. adults, and the condition is more common in Whites than in African Americans, according to a new analysis of the National Institutes of Health All of Us database. The prevalence is higher than what has been seen in other studies, which could represent a true difference in prevalence, or reflect limitations of the database.

Worldwide estimates suggest that myasthenia gravis affects 700,000 people globally, with incidence rates ranging between 6.3 and 29 per 1,000,000 person-years in Europe and a prevalence between 111.7 and 361 per 1,000,000. Data from Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea also show evidence of increased prevalence in recent years.

However, there is little data about the prevalence of myasthenia gravis in the United States, or about differences between racial groups, according to Bhaskar Roy, MBBS, who presented the study at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). He noted that most studies are outdated, and the most recent study focused on ocular myasthenia gravis.
 

True incidence or artifact?

The finding is surprising and may be an artifact of the immature nature of the All of Us database, according to Srikanth Muppidi, MD, who asked about the limitation during the Q&A session following the talk. “The incidence of 0.13 is definitely higher than what we would think would be the true incidence of myasthenia gravis from [clinical experience]. It’s possible that our understanding of true incidence is wrong and this is the actual incidence. What I would like them to do, and I think they’re trying to do, is to look at this finding [and compare it with] other more mature databases and other regional databases. One of the current challenges of All of Us is that our patients are basically being recruited from some parts of the country, and the middle of the country has hardly any presence in the database, so it becomes really challenging to understand it,” Dr. Muppidi said in an interview.

However, Dr. Muppidi, who is a clinical professor of neurology at Stanford (Calif.) Medicine, noted that the All of Us database is still growing. When it has recruited more patients with a diverse population, “it [will be a] valuable source for rare diseases to try to understand true incidence of those diseases,” he said.
 

Understanding the true prevalence

Dr. Roy recognized the geographic limitations of the database. “Some states, particularly Massachusetts, New York, and California, had a lot of patients in the database, where there were no patients from many states,” said Dr. Roy, associate professor of neurology at Yale University, New Haven, Conn.

He said that the group is working with other databases, including UK Biobank. “The goal is to incorporate all of these databases together [to determine the true incidence],” said Dr. Roy.

It’s critical to understand the true prevalence of myasthenia gravis since new therapies are in development and coming to market. “I worry that myasthenia gravis might be considered less common than it truly is, and that will limit growth of the field if the feeling is that there are not that many [myasthenia gravis patients] in the country,” said Dr. Muppidi.

The study included data from 369,297 adult patients, using Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to identify patients with myasthenia gravis. There were 479 cases of myasthenia gravis, for a prevalence of 0.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.14). Of myasthenia gravis patients, 65% were female and the mean age was 64 years. The prevalence of myasthenia gravis in White individuals was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.15-0.18), of which 63% were female, and the mean age was 66 years. The prevalence among Black individuals was 0.078 (95% CI, 0.060-0.10), with 77% of the population female and a mean age of 58 years. The prevalence in Hispanics was 0.091 (95% CI, 0.070-0.12), with 80% female and a mean age of 58 years. Among Asians, the prevalence was 0.056 (95% CI, 0.025-0.12) and 57% were female, with a mean age of 58 years.

The researchers also looked at the EXPLORE-MG database drawn from Yale (n = 3,269,000), which showed a much lower overall myasthenia gravis prevalence of 0.019 (95% CI, 0.017-0.020), a female proportion of 46.8%, and a mean age of 56.6 years. Notably, EXPLORE-MG had a lower proportion of women and a younger population than All of Us.

The researchers compared data from All of Us with other databases for other conditions. The prevalence of ALS was the same as in other conditions, while diabetic neuropathy was significantly lower (2.7 versus 28.5-50 among diabetic patients) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) was higher (0.084 versus 0.028).

Dr. Muppidi has been on advisory boards for Alexion, Argenx, UBC, and Immunovant. Dr. Roy has consulted for Alexion, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Argenx and owns stock in Cabaletta Bio. He has received research support from Takeda, Abcuro, and Argenx.

PHOENIX – The prevalence of myasthenia gravis is about 0.13% among U.S. adults, and the condition is more common in Whites than in African Americans, according to a new analysis of the National Institutes of Health All of Us database. The prevalence is higher than what has been seen in other studies, which could represent a true difference in prevalence, or reflect limitations of the database.

Worldwide estimates suggest that myasthenia gravis affects 700,000 people globally, with incidence rates ranging between 6.3 and 29 per 1,000,000 person-years in Europe and a prevalence between 111.7 and 361 per 1,000,000. Data from Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea also show evidence of increased prevalence in recent years.

However, there is little data about the prevalence of myasthenia gravis in the United States, or about differences between racial groups, according to Bhaskar Roy, MBBS, who presented the study at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). He noted that most studies are outdated, and the most recent study focused on ocular myasthenia gravis.
 

True incidence or artifact?

The finding is surprising and may be an artifact of the immature nature of the All of Us database, according to Srikanth Muppidi, MD, who asked about the limitation during the Q&A session following the talk. “The incidence of 0.13 is definitely higher than what we would think would be the true incidence of myasthenia gravis from [clinical experience]. It’s possible that our understanding of true incidence is wrong and this is the actual incidence. What I would like them to do, and I think they’re trying to do, is to look at this finding [and compare it with] other more mature databases and other regional databases. One of the current challenges of All of Us is that our patients are basically being recruited from some parts of the country, and the middle of the country has hardly any presence in the database, so it becomes really challenging to understand it,” Dr. Muppidi said in an interview.

However, Dr. Muppidi, who is a clinical professor of neurology at Stanford (Calif.) Medicine, noted that the All of Us database is still growing. When it has recruited more patients with a diverse population, “it [will be a] valuable source for rare diseases to try to understand true incidence of those diseases,” he said.
 

Understanding the true prevalence

Dr. Roy recognized the geographic limitations of the database. “Some states, particularly Massachusetts, New York, and California, had a lot of patients in the database, where there were no patients from many states,” said Dr. Roy, associate professor of neurology at Yale University, New Haven, Conn.

He said that the group is working with other databases, including UK Biobank. “The goal is to incorporate all of these databases together [to determine the true incidence],” said Dr. Roy.

It’s critical to understand the true prevalence of myasthenia gravis since new therapies are in development and coming to market. “I worry that myasthenia gravis might be considered less common than it truly is, and that will limit growth of the field if the feeling is that there are not that many [myasthenia gravis patients] in the country,” said Dr. Muppidi.

The study included data from 369,297 adult patients, using Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to identify patients with myasthenia gravis. There were 479 cases of myasthenia gravis, for a prevalence of 0.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.14). Of myasthenia gravis patients, 65% were female and the mean age was 64 years. The prevalence of myasthenia gravis in White individuals was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.15-0.18), of which 63% were female, and the mean age was 66 years. The prevalence among Black individuals was 0.078 (95% CI, 0.060-0.10), with 77% of the population female and a mean age of 58 years. The prevalence in Hispanics was 0.091 (95% CI, 0.070-0.12), with 80% female and a mean age of 58 years. Among Asians, the prevalence was 0.056 (95% CI, 0.025-0.12) and 57% were female, with a mean age of 58 years.

The researchers also looked at the EXPLORE-MG database drawn from Yale (n = 3,269,000), which showed a much lower overall myasthenia gravis prevalence of 0.019 (95% CI, 0.017-0.020), a female proportion of 46.8%, and a mean age of 56.6 years. Notably, EXPLORE-MG had a lower proportion of women and a younger population than All of Us.

The researchers compared data from All of Us with other databases for other conditions. The prevalence of ALS was the same as in other conditions, while diabetic neuropathy was significantly lower (2.7 versus 28.5-50 among diabetic patients) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) was higher (0.084 versus 0.028).

Dr. Muppidi has been on advisory boards for Alexion, Argenx, UBC, and Immunovant. Dr. Roy has consulted for Alexion, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Argenx and owns stock in Cabaletta Bio. He has received research support from Takeda, Abcuro, and Argenx.

PHOENIX – The prevalence of myasthenia gravis is about 0.13% among U.S. adults, and the condition is more common in Whites than in African Americans, according to a new analysis of the National Institutes of Health All of Us database. The prevalence is higher than what has been seen in other studies, which could represent a true difference in prevalence, or reflect limitations of the database.

Worldwide estimates suggest that myasthenia gravis affects 700,000 people globally, with incidence rates ranging between 6.3 and 29 per 1,000,000 person-years in Europe and a prevalence between 111.7 and 361 per 1,000,000. Data from Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea also show evidence of increased prevalence in recent years.

However, there is little data about the prevalence of myasthenia gravis in the United States, or about differences between racial groups, according to Bhaskar Roy, MBBS, who presented the study at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). He noted that most studies are outdated, and the most recent study focused on ocular myasthenia gravis.
 

True incidence or artifact?

The finding is surprising and may be an artifact of the immature nature of the All of Us database, according to Srikanth Muppidi, MD, who asked about the limitation during the Q&A session following the talk. “The incidence of 0.13 is definitely higher than what we would think would be the true incidence of myasthenia gravis from [clinical experience]. It’s possible that our understanding of true incidence is wrong and this is the actual incidence. What I would like them to do, and I think they’re trying to do, is to look at this finding [and compare it with] other more mature databases and other regional databases. One of the current challenges of All of Us is that our patients are basically being recruited from some parts of the country, and the middle of the country has hardly any presence in the database, so it becomes really challenging to understand it,” Dr. Muppidi said in an interview.

However, Dr. Muppidi, who is a clinical professor of neurology at Stanford (Calif.) Medicine, noted that the All of Us database is still growing. When it has recruited more patients with a diverse population, “it [will be a] valuable source for rare diseases to try to understand true incidence of those diseases,” he said.
 

Understanding the true prevalence

Dr. Roy recognized the geographic limitations of the database. “Some states, particularly Massachusetts, New York, and California, had a lot of patients in the database, where there were no patients from many states,” said Dr. Roy, associate professor of neurology at Yale University, New Haven, Conn.

He said that the group is working with other databases, including UK Biobank. “The goal is to incorporate all of these databases together [to determine the true incidence],” said Dr. Roy.

It’s critical to understand the true prevalence of myasthenia gravis since new therapies are in development and coming to market. “I worry that myasthenia gravis might be considered less common than it truly is, and that will limit growth of the field if the feeling is that there are not that many [myasthenia gravis patients] in the country,” said Dr. Muppidi.

The study included data from 369,297 adult patients, using Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to identify patients with myasthenia gravis. There were 479 cases of myasthenia gravis, for a prevalence of 0.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.14). Of myasthenia gravis patients, 65% were female and the mean age was 64 years. The prevalence of myasthenia gravis in White individuals was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.15-0.18), of which 63% were female, and the mean age was 66 years. The prevalence among Black individuals was 0.078 (95% CI, 0.060-0.10), with 77% of the population female and a mean age of 58 years. The prevalence in Hispanics was 0.091 (95% CI, 0.070-0.12), with 80% female and a mean age of 58 years. Among Asians, the prevalence was 0.056 (95% CI, 0.025-0.12) and 57% were female, with a mean age of 58 years.

The researchers also looked at the EXPLORE-MG database drawn from Yale (n = 3,269,000), which showed a much lower overall myasthenia gravis prevalence of 0.019 (95% CI, 0.017-0.020), a female proportion of 46.8%, and a mean age of 56.6 years. Notably, EXPLORE-MG had a lower proportion of women and a younger population than All of Us.

The researchers compared data from All of Us with other databases for other conditions. The prevalence of ALS was the same as in other conditions, while diabetic neuropathy was significantly lower (2.7 versus 28.5-50 among diabetic patients) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) was higher (0.084 versus 0.028).

Dr. Muppidi has been on advisory boards for Alexion, Argenx, UBC, and Immunovant. Dr. Roy has consulted for Alexion, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Argenx and owns stock in Cabaletta Bio. He has received research support from Takeda, Abcuro, and Argenx.

Topical ivermectin has significant clinical efficacy and decreases the density of Demodex mites found in the skin of people with rosacea, but cutaneous dysbiosis remains, according to a report presented at the recent European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2023 Congress.

“This is the first hint that the host’s cutaneous microbiome plays a secondary role in the immunopathogenesis of rosacea,” said Bernard Homey, MD, director of the department of dermatology at University Hospital Düsseldorf in Germany.

“In rosacea, we are well aware of trigger factors such as stress, UV light, heat, cold, food, and alcohol,” he said. “We are also well aware that there is an increase in Demodex mites in the pilosebaceous unit.”

National Rosacea Society

Research over the past decade has also started to look at the potential role of the skin microbiome in the disease process, but answers have remained “largely elusive,” Dr. Homey said.
 

Ivermectin helps, but how?

Ivermectin 1% cream (Soolantra) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2014 for the treatment of the inflammatory lesions that are characteristic of rosacea, but its mechanism of action is not clear.

Dr. Homey presented the results of a study of 61 patients designed to look at how ivermectin might be working in the treatment of people with rosacea and investigate if there was any relation to the skin microbiome and transcriptome of patients.

The trial included 41 individuals with papulopustular rosacea and 20 individuals who did not have rosacea. For all patients, surface skin biopsies were performed twice 30 days apart using cyanoacrylate glue; patients with rosacea were treated with topical ivermectin 1% between biopsies. Skin samples obtained at day 0 and day 30 were examined under the microscope, and Demodex counts (mites/cm²) of skin and RNA sequencing of the cutaneous microbiome were undertaken.

The mean age of the patients with rosacea was 54.9 years, and the mean Demodex counts before and after treatment were a respective 7.2 cm2 and 0.9 cm2.

Using the Investigator’s General Assessment to assess the severity of rosacea, Homey reported that 43.9% of patients with rosacea had a decrease in scores at day 30, indicating improvement.

In addition, topical ivermectin resulted in a marked or total decrease in Demodex mite density for 87.5% of patients (n = 24) who were identified as having the mites.

Skin microbiome changes seen

As a form of quality control, skin microbiome changes among the patients were compared with control patients using 16S rRNA sequencing.

“The taxa we find within the cutaneous niche of inflammatory lesions of rosacea patients are significantly different from healthy volunteers,” Dr. Homey said.

Cutibacterium species are predominant in healthy control persons but are not present when there is inflammation in patients with rosacea. Instead, staphylococcus species “take over the niche, similar to atopic dermatitis,” he noted.

Looking at how treatment with ivermectin influences the organisms, the decrease in C. acnes seen in patients with rosacea persisted despite treatment, and the abundance of Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. hominis, and S. capitis increased further. This suggests a possible protective or homeostatic role of C. acnes but a pathogenic role for staphylococci, explained Dr. Homey.

“Surprisingly, although inflammatory lesions decrease, patients get better, the cutaneous microbiome does not revert to homeostatic conditions during topical ivermectin treatment,” he observed.

There is, of course, variability among individuals.

Dr. Homey also reported that Snodgrassella alvi – a microorganism believed to reside in the gut of Demodex folliculorum mites – was found in the skin microbiome of patients with rosacea before but not after ivermectin treatment. This may mean that this microorganism could be partially triggering inflammation in rosacea patients.

Looking at the transcriptome of patients, Dr. Homey said that there was downregulation of distinct genes that might make for more favorable conditions for Demodex mites.

Moreover, insufficient upregulation of interleukin-17 pathways might be working together with barrier defects in the skin and metabolic changes to “pave the way” for colonization by S. epidermidis.
 

Pulling it together

Dr. Homey and associates conclude in their abstract that the findings “support that rosacea lesions are associated with dysbiosis.”

Although treatment with ivermectin did not normalize the skin’s microbiome, it was associated with a decrease in Demodex mite density and the reduction of microbes associated with Demodex.

Margarida Gonçalo, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, who cochaired the late-breaking news session where the data were presented, asked whether healthy and affected skin in patients with rosacea had been compared, rather than comparing the skin of rosacea lesions with healthy control samples.

“No, we did not this, as this is methodologically a little bit more difficult,” Dr. Homey responded.

Also cochairing the session was Michel Gilliet, MD, chair of the department of dermatology at the University Hospital CHUV in Lausanne, Switzerland. He commented that these “data suggest that there’s an intimate link between Demodex and the skin microbiota and dysbiosis in in rosacea.”

Dr. Gilliet added: “You have a whole dysbiosis going on in rosacea, which is probably only dependent on these bacteria.”

It would be “very interesting,” as a “proof-of-concept” study, to look at whether depleting Demodex would also delete S. alvi, he suggested.

The study was funded by Galderma. Dr. Homey has acted as a consultant, speaker or investigator for many pharmaceutical companies including Galderma.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Topical ivermectin has significant clinical efficacy and decreases the density of Demodex mites found in the skin of people with rosacea, but cutaneous dysbiosis remains, according to a report presented at the recent European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2023 Congress.

“This is the first hint that the host’s cutaneous microbiome plays a secondary role in the immunopathogenesis of rosacea,” said Bernard Homey, MD, director of the department of dermatology at University Hospital Düsseldorf in Germany.

“In rosacea, we are well aware of trigger factors such as stress, UV light, heat, cold, food, and alcohol,” he said. “We are also well aware that there is an increase in Demodex mites in the pilosebaceous unit.”

National Rosacea Society

Research over the past decade has also started to look at the potential role of the skin microbiome in the disease process, but answers have remained “largely elusive,” Dr. Homey said.
 

Ivermectin helps, but how?

Ivermectin 1% cream (Soolantra) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2014 for the treatment of the inflammatory lesions that are characteristic of rosacea, but its mechanism of action is not clear.

Dr. Homey presented the results of a study of 61 patients designed to look at how ivermectin might be working in the treatment of people with rosacea and investigate if there was any relation to the skin microbiome and transcriptome of patients.

The trial included 41 individuals with papulopustular rosacea and 20 individuals who did not have rosacea. For all patients, surface skin biopsies were performed twice 30 days apart using cyanoacrylate glue; patients with rosacea were treated with topical ivermectin 1% between biopsies. Skin samples obtained at day 0 and day 30 were examined under the microscope, and Demodex counts (mites/cm²) of skin and RNA sequencing of the cutaneous microbiome were undertaken.

The mean age of the patients with rosacea was 54.9 years, and the mean Demodex counts before and after treatment were a respective 7.2 cm2 and 0.9 cm2.

Using the Investigator’s General Assessment to assess the severity of rosacea, Homey reported that 43.9% of patients with rosacea had a decrease in scores at day 30, indicating improvement.

In addition, topical ivermectin resulted in a marked or total decrease in Demodex mite density for 87.5% of patients (n = 24) who were identified as having the mites.

Skin microbiome changes seen

As a form of quality control, skin microbiome changes among the patients were compared with control patients using 16S rRNA sequencing.

“The taxa we find within the cutaneous niche of inflammatory lesions of rosacea patients are significantly different from healthy volunteers,” Dr. Homey said.

Cutibacterium species are predominant in healthy control persons but are not present when there is inflammation in patients with rosacea. Instead, staphylococcus species “take over the niche, similar to atopic dermatitis,” he noted.

Looking at how treatment with ivermectin influences the organisms, the decrease in C. acnes seen in patients with rosacea persisted despite treatment, and the abundance of Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. hominis, and S. capitis increased further. This suggests a possible protective or homeostatic role of C. acnes but a pathogenic role for staphylococci, explained Dr. Homey.

“Surprisingly, although inflammatory lesions decrease, patients get better, the cutaneous microbiome does not revert to homeostatic conditions during topical ivermectin treatment,” he observed.

There is, of course, variability among individuals.

Dr. Homey also reported that Snodgrassella alvi – a microorganism believed to reside in the gut of Demodex folliculorum mites – was found in the skin microbiome of patients with rosacea before but not after ivermectin treatment. This may mean that this microorganism could be partially triggering inflammation in rosacea patients.

Looking at the transcriptome of patients, Dr. Homey said that there was downregulation of distinct genes that might make for more favorable conditions for Demodex mites.

Moreover, insufficient upregulation of interleukin-17 pathways might be working together with barrier defects in the skin and metabolic changes to “pave the way” for colonization by S. epidermidis.
 

Pulling it together

Dr. Homey and associates conclude in their abstract that the findings “support that rosacea lesions are associated with dysbiosis.”

Although treatment with ivermectin did not normalize the skin’s microbiome, it was associated with a decrease in Demodex mite density and the reduction of microbes associated with Demodex.

Margarida Gonçalo, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, who cochaired the late-breaking news session where the data were presented, asked whether healthy and affected skin in patients with rosacea had been compared, rather than comparing the skin of rosacea lesions with healthy control samples.

“No, we did not this, as this is methodologically a little bit more difficult,” Dr. Homey responded.

Also cochairing the session was Michel Gilliet, MD, chair of the department of dermatology at the University Hospital CHUV in Lausanne, Switzerland. He commented that these “data suggest that there’s an intimate link between Demodex and the skin microbiota and dysbiosis in in rosacea.”

Dr. Gilliet added: “You have a whole dysbiosis going on in rosacea, which is probably only dependent on these bacteria.”

It would be “very interesting,” as a “proof-of-concept” study, to look at whether depleting Demodex would also delete S. alvi, he suggested.

The study was funded by Galderma. Dr. Homey has acted as a consultant, speaker or investigator for many pharmaceutical companies including Galderma.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Topical ivermectin has significant clinical efficacy and decreases the density of Demodex mites found in the skin of people with rosacea, but cutaneous dysbiosis remains, according to a report presented at the recent European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2023 Congress.

“This is the first hint that the host’s cutaneous microbiome plays a secondary role in the immunopathogenesis of rosacea,” said Bernard Homey, MD, director of the department of dermatology at University Hospital Düsseldorf in Germany.

“In rosacea, we are well aware of trigger factors such as stress, UV light, heat, cold, food, and alcohol,” he said. “We are also well aware that there is an increase in Demodex mites in the pilosebaceous unit.”

National Rosacea Society

Research over the past decade has also started to look at the potential role of the skin microbiome in the disease process, but answers have remained “largely elusive,” Dr. Homey said.
 

Ivermectin helps, but how?

Ivermectin 1% cream (Soolantra) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2014 for the treatment of the inflammatory lesions that are characteristic of rosacea, but its mechanism of action is not clear.

Dr. Homey presented the results of a study of 61 patients designed to look at how ivermectin might be working in the treatment of people with rosacea and investigate if there was any relation to the skin microbiome and transcriptome of patients.

The trial included 41 individuals with papulopustular rosacea and 20 individuals who did not have rosacea. For all patients, surface skin biopsies were performed twice 30 days apart using cyanoacrylate glue; patients with rosacea were treated with topical ivermectin 1% between biopsies. Skin samples obtained at day 0 and day 30 were examined under the microscope, and Demodex counts (mites/cm²) of skin and RNA sequencing of the cutaneous microbiome were undertaken.

The mean age of the patients with rosacea was 54.9 years, and the mean Demodex counts before and after treatment were a respective 7.2 cm2 and 0.9 cm2.

Using the Investigator’s General Assessment to assess the severity of rosacea, Homey reported that 43.9% of patients with rosacea had a decrease in scores at day 30, indicating improvement.

In addition, topical ivermectin resulted in a marked or total decrease in Demodex mite density for 87.5% of patients (n = 24) who were identified as having the mites.

Skin microbiome changes seen

As a form of quality control, skin microbiome changes among the patients were compared with control patients using 16S rRNA sequencing.

“The taxa we find within the cutaneous niche of inflammatory lesions of rosacea patients are significantly different from healthy volunteers,” Dr. Homey said.

Cutibacterium species are predominant in healthy control persons but are not present when there is inflammation in patients with rosacea. Instead, staphylococcus species “take over the niche, similar to atopic dermatitis,” he noted.

Looking at how treatment with ivermectin influences the organisms, the decrease in C. acnes seen in patients with rosacea persisted despite treatment, and the abundance of Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. hominis, and S. capitis increased further. This suggests a possible protective or homeostatic role of C. acnes but a pathogenic role for staphylococci, explained Dr. Homey.

“Surprisingly, although inflammatory lesions decrease, patients get better, the cutaneous microbiome does not revert to homeostatic conditions during topical ivermectin treatment,” he observed.

There is, of course, variability among individuals.

Dr. Homey also reported that Snodgrassella alvi – a microorganism believed to reside in the gut of Demodex folliculorum mites – was found in the skin microbiome of patients with rosacea before but not after ivermectin treatment. This may mean that this microorganism could be partially triggering inflammation in rosacea patients.

Looking at the transcriptome of patients, Dr. Homey said that there was downregulation of distinct genes that might make for more favorable conditions for Demodex mites.

Moreover, insufficient upregulation of interleukin-17 pathways might be working together with barrier defects in the skin and metabolic changes to “pave the way” for colonization by S. epidermidis.
 

Pulling it together

Dr. Homey and associates conclude in their abstract that the findings “support that rosacea lesions are associated with dysbiosis.”

Although treatment with ivermectin did not normalize the skin’s microbiome, it was associated with a decrease in Demodex mite density and the reduction of microbes associated with Demodex.

Margarida Gonçalo, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, who cochaired the late-breaking news session where the data were presented, asked whether healthy and affected skin in patients with rosacea had been compared, rather than comparing the skin of rosacea lesions with healthy control samples.

“No, we did not this, as this is methodologically a little bit more difficult,” Dr. Homey responded.

Also cochairing the session was Michel Gilliet, MD, chair of the department of dermatology at the University Hospital CHUV in Lausanne, Switzerland. He commented that these “data suggest that there’s an intimate link between Demodex and the skin microbiota and dysbiosis in in rosacea.”

Dr. Gilliet added: “You have a whole dysbiosis going on in rosacea, which is probably only dependent on these bacteria.”

It would be “very interesting,” as a “proof-of-concept” study, to look at whether depleting Demodex would also delete S. alvi, he suggested.

The study was funded by Galderma. Dr. Homey has acted as a consultant, speaker or investigator for many pharmaceutical companies including Galderma.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

As a part of AGA’s ongoing goal to support women in GI and advance gender equity in gastroenterology, we hosted nearly 60 women executives in GI for the inaugural Women’s Executive Leadership Conference held recently in Denver.

The two-day conference brought together leaders from different practice settings – academia, hospital systems, and private practice – for seminars on strengthening leadership skills and career progression, along with opportunities for networking and socializing with other women in the AGA Gastro Squad.

AGA

Women on the AGA governing board, including Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAF and Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, led sessions on how to best communicate as a leader and pathways to society leadership. In addition, other leaders such as Aja McCutchen, MD and Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, shared their best practices for leadership and managing others.

Thank you to Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS, and Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, cochairs of the AGA Women’s Executive Leadership Conference, for leading the weekend, and to everyone who contributed to a productive weekend. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with the AGA Gastro Squad.

As a part of AGA’s ongoing goal to support women in GI and advance gender equity in gastroenterology, we hosted nearly 60 women executives in GI for the inaugural Women’s Executive Leadership Conference held recently in Denver.

The two-day conference brought together leaders from different practice settings – academia, hospital systems, and private practice – for seminars on strengthening leadership skills and career progression, along with opportunities for networking and socializing with other women in the AGA Gastro Squad.

AGA

Women on the AGA governing board, including Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAF and Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, led sessions on how to best communicate as a leader and pathways to society leadership. In addition, other leaders such as Aja McCutchen, MD and Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, shared their best practices for leadership and managing others.

Thank you to Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS, and Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, cochairs of the AGA Women’s Executive Leadership Conference, for leading the weekend, and to everyone who contributed to a productive weekend. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with the AGA Gastro Squad.

As a part of AGA’s ongoing goal to support women in GI and advance gender equity in gastroenterology, we hosted nearly 60 women executives in GI for the inaugural Women’s Executive Leadership Conference held recently in Denver.

The two-day conference brought together leaders from different practice settings – academia, hospital systems, and private practice – for seminars on strengthening leadership skills and career progression, along with opportunities for networking and socializing with other women in the AGA Gastro Squad.

AGA

Women on the AGA governing board, including Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAF and Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, led sessions on how to best communicate as a leader and pathways to society leadership. In addition, other leaders such as Aja McCutchen, MD and Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, shared their best practices for leadership and managing others.

Thank you to Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS, and Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, cochairs of the AGA Women’s Executive Leadership Conference, for leading the weekend, and to everyone who contributed to a productive weekend. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with the AGA Gastro Squad.