NEJM Journal Watch - General Medicine

The U.S. CDC has updated some longstanding recommendations on pneumococcal and COVID-19 vaccinations.

In 2024, NEJM Journal Watch covered many studies that are not included in our detailed Year in Review feature but still were important contributions to the outpatient literature. Here are brief synopses of some of those studies.

In patients with obesity, semaglutide improved moderate knee osteoarthritis pain, and tirzepatide lowered the apnea–hypopnea index in moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

In a secondary analysis from a randomized trial, no important differences were noted.

Two reports suggest that a daily trial, as opposed to several in a day, is better.

The data are relatively convincing for hypoxemic respiratory failure but are less so for COPD exacerbations with hypercarbia.

A meta-analysis of 12 studies of early versus late initiation of norepinephrine demonstrated similar mortality and intensive care unit length of stay.

On average, patients who stopped smoking lived longer, especially those who quit sooner after their cancer was diagnosed.

A large study confirmed that COVID-19 can be followed by new-onset myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

New guidelines recommend a 4-month regimen as comparable to a 6-month regimen for most cases of drug-susceptible tuberculosis and a 6-month regimen for selected cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis.