Mortality

New CDC Respiratory Guidance Ignores Kidney Patient Concerns

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the largest and oldest independent kidney patient organization in the nation, issued an Official Statement (appears below) in response to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control's (CDC) new Respiratory Virus Guidance, publicly announced on March 1, 2024. The CDC announcement occurred on the first day of National Kidney Month. March traditionally unites kidney stakeholders and people of goodwill in efforts to raise awareness of kidney diseases, address ongoing unmet patient needs, and advocate for removal of federal regulatory and payment barriers that impede access to, and development of, new kidney diagnostics, drugs, and devices.

Key Points: 
  • Mortality rates among kidney patients occurred at historic levels at the start of the COVID pandemic, devastated the kidney patient community and families, and this community's ongoing risks remain a strategic concern among patient advocates and allied kidney professionals.
  • AAKP also raised kidney patient health and safety concerns to CDC officials in stakeholder briefings prior to the March 1, 2024, CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance announcement.
  • The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the nation's largest and oldest independent kidney patient organization in the nation, is deeply concerned about the Center for Disease Prevention Control's (CDC) Respiratory Virus Guidelines, including for COVID, announced on March 1, 2024.
  • https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7308a5.htm
    Since 1969, The American Association of Kidney Patients has been a patient-led organization driving policy discussions on kidney patient care choice and medical innovation.

Equality Health Foundation and March of Dimes Host Healthy Mama Festival

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

PHOENIX, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Equality Health Foundation, in collaboration with the March of Dimes, the leading organization fighting for the health of moms and babies, and premier sponsor Mercy Care, is pleased to announce the inaugural Healthy Mama Festival and Diaper Bag Giveaway happening on Saturday, March 9 at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in South Phoenix. This free event is dedicated to promoting health and well-being education for all mothers, soon-to-be mothers and their children.

Key Points: 
  • "The Healthy Mama Festival is an extension of Equality Health Foundation's commitment to supporting and empowering families with culturally informed health care and maternal health education during this transformative period."
  • Equality Health Foundation works to expand access to whole-person care, accelerate health education, and eliminate healthcare inequalities for all.
  • "As long-standing partners with both Equality Health Foundation and March of Dimes, Mercy Care is aligned with the mission of these two organizations and the objectives of the Healthy Mama Festival.
  • For more information on Equality Health Foundation and the festival, please visit equalityhealthfoundation.org/healthy-mama-festival-phoenix/ .

Inequalities in the face of cardiovascular risk: women the No. 1 victims

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

BOSTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardiovascular disease kills one women every 33 seconds in the USA10. Yet 80% of these deaths could be avoided11 through early diagnosis and awareness of symptoms and risk factors specific to women. To help reduce this excess mortality, Withings is committed to raising awareness via an exclusive survey, and providing the means to tackle their main cause: hypertension, which accounts for the majority of cardiovascular deaths.12

Key Points: 
  • Inequalities also affect health, particularly cardiovascular health: they lead to under-diagnosis and poorer care for women, resulting in avoidable excess mortality.
  • Yet 80% of these deaths could be avoided11 through early diagnosis and awareness of symptoms and risk factors specific to women.
  • Yet 50% of women are unaware of their cardiovascular risk.13
    45.9% of American women surveyed by Withings admit to putting their loved ones' health before their own.
  • Withings and cardiovascular monitoring in women: the need for a real-life, longitudinal approach
    Monitoring cardiovascular health and hypertension involves tracking a range of biomarkers.

Chamber Secures $8 Million in Funding to Empower Cardiologists to Transition into Value-Based Care

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chamber Cardio (Chamber), a technology-enabled cardiology solution, announced today an $8 million seed round led by General Catalyst with support from existing investor AlleyCorp and participation from Company Ventures, American Family Ventures, and City Light. In an industry where the transition to value-based care remains limited among cardiologists, Chamber emerges as a dedicated partner, uniquely positioned to support and collaborate with cardiology practices.

Key Points: 
  • In an industry where the transition to value-based care remains limited among cardiologists, Chamber emerges as a dedicated partner, uniquely positioned to support and collaborate with cardiology practices.
  • Cardiovascular disease drives over $400 billion in annual healthcare expenditures, and Chamber aims to tackle this issue head-on by making the transition to value-based care more accessible.
  • The funding will be utilized to further develop Chamber's technology, expand the cardiology network nationally, and grow the team.
  • Chamber addresses this by equipping cardiologists with real-time insights, evidence-based guidelines, care teams, and contracting support to streamline workflows, enabling them to focus on patient care.

Black Women for Wellness Launches Empower 25 Campaign: Amplifying Black Male Voices in Reproductive Justice

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Founded in 1997, Black Women for Wellness' mission has always been the health and well-being of Black women and girls through health education, empowerment and advocacy – particularly within the reproductive justice movement.

Key Points: 
  • Founded in 1997, Black Women for Wellness' mission has always been the health and well-being of Black women and girls through health education, empowerment and advocacy – particularly within the reproductive justice movement.
  • Too often, the voices of Black men have been unheard and overlooked in discussions around reproductive rights.
  • Empower 25 is an opportunity to uplift and amplify Black male voices, ensuring that they have a voice in decisions that impact the well-being of the Black family as a whole.
  • "In 2023, we confronted the Black maternal health crisis head-on," states Janette Robinson Flint, Founder and Executive Director of Black Women for Wellness.

FastWave Earns Third Utility Patent for Next-Generation IVL Technology

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- FastWave Medical, a clinical-stage medical device company developing differentiated intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) technology, announced the issuance of its third utility patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This latest patent – granted just three years from the company's inception – underscores FastWave's ambitious commitment to transforming the treatment of calcific artery disease.

Key Points: 
  • MINNEAPOLIS, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- FastWave Medical, a clinical-stage medical device company developing differentiated intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) technology, announced the issuance of its third utility patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • "The issuance of FastWave's third utility patent is a testament to the phenomenal work being done by their experienced team.
  • By developing advanced lithotripsy platforms, FastWave aims to solve the gaps with existing IVL technology while improving ease of use and patient safety by reducing procedural complications.
  • Co-founder and CEO of FastWave Medical, Scott Nelson, emphasized the company's commitment to advancing IVL technology, stating, "We are thrilled to receive our third utility patent, which further validates the ingenuity of our IVL systems.

Baby2Baby Launches Partnership with Huggies-maker Kimberly-Clark to Provide Millions of Diapers and Wipes to Mothers In Need and Triple Their Maternal Health & Newborn Supply Kit Initiative

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

LOS ANGELES and DALLAS, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit organization, and Huggies diapers are joining forces to provide crucial support to new mothers and babies with a program that will launch timed to Mother's Day 2024. In an effort to address rising diaper need in America and combat the tragically rising maternal mortality rate, Huggies, through the Kimberly-Clark Foundation, has committed to tripling the reach and impact of Baby2Baby's initiative with The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through a multi-million-dollar grant including funds and an in-kind product donation of its diapers, wipes and postpartum pads the program will support maternal and infant health, particularly among vulnerable communities. 

Key Points: 
  • These critical items also provide mental health support by alleviating the stress of meeting their baby's most basic needs.
  • "Not being able to afford the items their babies need takes a profound toll on a mother's mental health.
  • The partnership between Baby2Baby and Huggies underscores a shared commitment to reducing this shocking statistic while supporting maternal and infant health in communities in need.
  • While Baby2Baby has distributed 170 million diapers in the past 12 years, that is still just a fraction of the need.

AgPlenus Achieves Milestone in Collaboration with Corteva to Develop Novel Herbicides

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

The milestone marks the successful identification of a new family of molecules exhibiting herbicidal effect through a novel Mode of Action (MoA), APCO-12, discovered by AgPlenus.

Key Points: 
  • The milestone marks the successful identification of a new family of molecules exhibiting herbicidal effect through a novel Mode of Action (MoA), APCO-12, discovered by AgPlenus.
  • Most commercially available herbicides are based on small molecules that inhibit target proteins (MoAs) in weeds, leading to weed mortality.
  • Today, AgPlenus announced that, together with Corteva, they have identified a new potential class of herbicidal molecules through a novel MoA APCO-12.
  • Dr. Dan Gelvan, CEO of AgPlenus, said "we are excited about the milestone achieved in our collaboration with Corteva Agriscience, which reflects the synergy established between the teams.

Dr. David Yamane was awarded the Star Research Award at the 2024 Critical Care Congress for the presentation of the HYPERACT Study - a randomized controlled trial demonstrating Vapotherm's High Velocity Therapy effectively treats moderate-severe acute exa

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

The award is in recognition of the HYPERACT study – a new multi-center, randomized controlled trial which offers high velocity therapy as an additional, more comfortable, option for clinicians treating acute exacerbations of moderate-severe COPD.

Key Points: 
  • The award is in recognition of the HYPERACT study – a new multi-center, randomized controlled trial which offers high velocity therapy as an additional, more comfortable, option for clinicians treating acute exacerbations of moderate-severe COPD.
  • Acute exacerbations of COPD contribute to over 600K emergency room (ER) visits and 140K deaths annually in the US alone.
  • "This study concludes that high velocity therapy provides similar clinical results and statistically superior patient reported comfort compared to mask-based therapies."
  • (3)
    Dr. Yamane was presented with the award at the 2024 Critical Care Congress on January 23rd, 2024, in Phoenix, AZ.

MARCH OF DIMES ANNOUNCES MOM & BABY MOBILE HEALTH CENTER® TO AID PHOENIX FAMILIES IN MATERNAL CARE

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

PHOENIX, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- March of Dimes today announced the launch of its newest Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center®  in Phoenix, aimed at providing quality healthcare to moms and babies. The Phoenix Center is made possible by an $800,000 donation from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona, and in clinical partnership with Wesley Community & Health Centers and ASU Edson College of Nursing and Innovation. It's the second center in the state after Tucson, which opened in 2016.

Key Points: 
  • PHOENIX, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- March of Dimes today announced the launch of its newest Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center® in Phoenix, aimed at providing quality healthcare to moms and babies.
  • "We're thrilled to launch a second mobile health center in our state to provide vital healthcare to families before, during, and after pregnancy," said Shadie Tofigh, March of Dimes Maternal Infant Health Director in Arizona.
  • "We believe every mom and baby deserve the best possible care, and we're committed to making sure they get it, in their communities, through the March of Dimes Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center."
  • Visit the March of Dimes website for more information on the Phoenix Center, as well as the report card to learn more about the state of maternal and infant health in Arizona.