COVID-19 vaccination not linked to tinnitus
New Kaiser Permanente research shows that the COVID-19 vaccine does not increase the risk of developing tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears. “Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, some people complained about hearing some sound after being vaccinated, but it wasn’t actually an external sound, ...
Featured News
Fewer breast cancer patients received imaging follow-up after COVID-19 hit
A new Kaiser Permanente study showed that fewer breast cancer survivors received recommended annual breast cancer imaging in the time after the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to before the pandemic. ...
Finding factors that could help patients achieve remission from Type 2 diabetes
A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes typically means a future of blood sugar monitoring and glucose-lowering medications. But interest is growing in identifying which people with diabetes might be able to ...
Comorbidities could increase risk of other cancers for breast cancer survivors
Kaiser Permanente research found that breast cancer survivors have a higher risk of developing other cancers if they have other preexisting health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. ...
Opioid use among breast cancer survivors can increase risk of falls and fractures
October 16, 2024Breast cancer survivors commonly continue to use opioid pain killers after their cancer treatment is complete. A new Kaiser Permanente study shows that this can increase their risk of falls and bone fractures, lung problems, and cardiovascular conditions. The study was published in October 2024 in The Oncologist. A cancer epidemiologist partnered with a breast cancer survivor ...Read more...Five questions for … Dr. Heidi Brown
September 24, 2024Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, is a urogynecologist and a dissemination and implementation scientist who joined the Department of Research & Evaluation in August 2023. Her research focuses on improving access to effective solutions for pelvic floor disorders such as bladder and bowel incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. She uses community engagement, user-centered design, and iterative ...Read more...No increased risk associated with flu vaccines given in closely spaced pregnancies
September 19, 2024Monitoring of about 45,000 pregnant people receiving flu vaccines in each of 2 successive pregnancies showed no increased risk of side effects or health issues, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published September 19, 2024, in JAMA Network Open. “Our study’s findings support recommendations to give flu vaccinations to pregnant persons even if they received a ...Read more...Beta blockers not all the same for patients with heart failure and CKD
September 16, 2024A Kaiser Permanente Southern California study showed that 1 heart-failure medication worked best among the 3 most commonly used to prevent illness and disease among patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure. “Beta blockers save lives in heart failure patients, but we wanted to see how this worked among patients who also had chronic kidney ...Read more...Gay men may be aging faster
September 13, 2024Gay men had shorter age-adjusted telomere length, which is a biomarker of aging, than straight men, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. “While everyone ages at the same rate chronologically, studies have shown that we do not age at the same rate biologically,” said the lead author on ...Read more...High-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines provided better protection for seniors
August 21, 2024High-dose and adjuvanted influenza (flu) vaccines boosted protection against flu symptoms and hospitalization for people 65 years and older during the 2022-2023 flu season compared to the standard flu vaccine. The study was published on August 21, 2024, in Clinical Infectious Diseases. “Our research showed that there were advantages for older people to receive high-dose or ...Read more...Five questions for … Dr. Robert Sallis
August 13, 2024Robert Sallis MD, FAAFP, FACSM, is a family medicine and sports medicine physician practicing at the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center, where he serves as director of the sports medicine fellowship program. He is a clinical professor of Family Medicine at both the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and the University of ...Read more...Soda tax may impact children’s weight
July 31, 2024After 4 California cities began taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, young people in those cities had lower body mass index (BMI) compared to young people living in cities without the tax, a new study shows. “The findings of our study demonstrate that SSB (sugar-sweetened beverage) excise taxes may be associated with lower BMI percentile among youth,” said the ...Read more...Reduced death rates from colorectal cancer with FIT screening
July 26, 2024An analysis of Kaiser Permanente patients in California found a 33% reduced risk of dying from colorectal cancer among those completing at least one at-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. In 2007, Kaiser Permanente Southern California began an organized colorectal cancer screening program that includes automated outreach with ...Read more...Program helping patients lower cholesterol nets international award
July 19, 2024A 2019 Kaiser Permanente program has helped patients with high levels of “bad cholesterol” start taking medications to lower their cholesterol and decrease their risk of stroke and heart attacks. This month, this SureNet Statin Start program was recognized with a prestigious UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence Award, and even more importantly, has significantly improved the lives ...Read more...