Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Oral GLP-1 Medication Begins Production in US

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved semaglutide tablets as the first oral GLP-1 medicine for obesity in adults. According to a press release, the once-daily pill is also indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events including death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease. Previously only available as an injectable, semaglutide’s oral formulation could expand treatment for patients who are reluctant to use an …

Chronic Calf Pain and Limp: A Case Report of Pediatric Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

Urgent Message: Pediatric patients frequently present to urgent care with musculoskeletal complaints, but clinicians must remain aware of the less common surgical and medical emergencies that can present with these symptoms. Key Words: Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis; Pediatric Limp; Antalgic Gait; Obesity; Urgent Care Diagnosis Abstract Clinical Presentation: A 13-year-old male presented to a pediatric urgent care with the chief complaint of left calf pain for a month that had acutely worsened over the past …

Severe Obesity Rises By 2% Despite Overall Downward Trend

The prevalence of severe obesity among Americans, particularly among women, has risen over the past decade, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to a 2021-2023 survey involving 6,000 individuals, about 40% of U.S. adults are obese. Of those surveyed, nearly 10% had severe obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. The rate of severe obesity increased from approximately 8% in the 2013-2014 survey to …

Study Finds New Semaglutide Benefits, No Link to Suicidal Thoughts

A study published in the Lancet last week investigated millions of U.S. medical records to determine whether semaglutide increased the risk of neurological and psychiatric conditions within the first year of use compared to 3 other common antidiabetic medications. Authors found no association between semaglutide and a higher risk of the 22 studied conditions (eg, psychosis; bipolar disorder; depression; anxiety; opioid and alcohol use disorder; etc.). In fact, patients on semaglutide showed lower rates of …

Updates in Weight Management Pharmacotherapy: Essential Knowledge For The Urgent Care Clinician

Urgent Message: As more glucagon-like peptide-1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide agonists are prescribed, it is important for clinicians to have familiarity adverse reactions and complications that may present in urgent care. Sergio Ramoa, MD, MS; Darya Zakirov, MS, APRN, FNP-C; Pascale Carbonara, MD; Deann Isherwood, MSN, FNP; Tu-Mai Tran, MD, MSc Citation: Ramoa S, Zakirov D, Carbonara P, Isherwood D, Tran TM. Updates in Weight Management Pharmacotherapy: Essential Knowledge For The Urgent Care Clinician. J …

Providers Recommending Obesity Pharmacotherapy For Tweens

In 2023, more than 1,200 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 were prescribed semaglutide for obesity, according to an analysis of insurance claims by Komodo Health. Additionally, when data from Medicaid programs in 5 selected states was analyzed by Reuters, more than 460 children were found to be taking the weight management drug. The bottom line seems to indicate that providers are embracing obesity pharmacotherapy for tweens. Of note, it was December 2022 …

Healthcare Groups Promote Obesity Bill of Rights

Advocacy organizations recently launched a campaign promoting an “Obesity Bill of Rights.” The declaration speaks to the rights of individuals with obesity to be treated respectfully and to receive patient-centered, high-quality healthcare. For example, the advocacy groups call for the right to accessible obesity treatment that allows for privacy and uses equipment that fits patients’ bodies. That could translate to blood pressure cuffs of an appropriate size, larger gowns and drapes, or even larger chairs …

New CKM Syndrome Combines Multiple Chronic Conditions

The American Heart Association introduced the concept of a new medical condition called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM) in a recent article in Circulation. The rising incidence of multiple chronic health issues in younger Americans, particularly obesity, diabetes, and heart and kidney disease, calls for earlier diagnosis and risk assessment, the association says. The synergy between metabolic risk factors, such as abdominal fat, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar, has long-term effects on health …

Side Effects of New Weight Loss Medications

Urgent message: With the epidemic of obesity and recent FDA-approval of weight loss drugs, urgent care providers should be on alert for patient presentations related to side effects of these agents. Introduction An estimated 154.7 million Americans over the age of 20 are currently overweight or obese. These Americans are at increased risk of disease, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease and cancer. If current trends remain unchanged, an estimated $861 to $957 …

Upper Right Back Pain

A 36-year-old obese woman presents with upper right back pain 10 days after a normal child birth. Pain is worse on coughing. Otherwise, she is fit and well. No shortness of breath Normal oxygen saturation Patient is afebrile Auscultation: Reduced breathing sounds in right base, fine crackles on right View Figure 1, take these findings into account, and consider what your next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

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