ArticleDoes withholding an ACE inhibitor or ARB before surgery improve outcomes?Author:Andrew Hamilton, MS, MLSPublish date: May 8, 2019EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A guarded yes, because the evidence of benefit is from observational studies and applies to noncardiac surgery. Withholding ...Read More
ArticleDo oral decongestants have a clinically significant effect on BP in patients with hypertension?Author:Andrew Hamilton, MS, MLSPublish date: June 1, 2017EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: It is unclear. Pseudoephedrine causes an average increase of 1.2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (BP) in p...Read More
ArticleHow well do antivirals shorten genital herpes pain duration?Author:Andrew Hamilton, MS, MLSPublish date: February 26, 2015EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Oral and intravenous (IV) acyclovir each shorten the duration of pain for a first primary outbreak of herpes by about 50%; t...Read More
ArticleDoes a low-fat diet help prevent breast cancer?Author:Andrew Hamilton, MS, MLSPublish date: July 1, 2007EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No. Studies show no evidence that reducing dietary fat decreases a woman’s risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer w...Read More
ArticleWhat are safe sleeping arrangements for infants?Author:Andrew Hamilton, MS, MLSPublish date: December 1, 2006EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Non-supine sleep position and parental tobacco use are known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recent st...Read More
ArticleWhat are appropriate screening tests for adolescents?Author:Andrew Hamilton, MS, MLSPublish date: October 1, 2006EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Screen all women of childbearing age, including adolescents, for rubella susceptibility (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B...Read More
ArticleWhat are appropriate screening tests for infants and children?Author:Andrew Hamilton, MS, MLSPublish date: September 1, 2006EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: There is adequate evidence for screening neonates for hemoglobinopathies, congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria (streng...Read More
