August 30 Pharmacy Week in Review: Family History of Diabetes Linked to Increased Bone Mineral Density; Moderate Exercise May Benefit Patients with Metastatic Colon Cancer

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Nicole Grassano, Host: Hello and welcome to the Pharmacy Times News Network. I’m Nicole Grassano your host for our Pharmacy Week in Review.

The results of a study of nearly 500,000 women indicate that taking paracetamol or other painkillers during pregnancy does not increase the risk of asthma in children, Pharmacy Times reported.

This research supports earlier findings that women taking paracetamol during pregnancy are more likely to have children who develop asthma, but it also suggests that the painkillers are not the cause of this increase.

The investigators studied Swedish mothers and their children, looking into data on prescriptions for different types of painkillers during pregnancy and comparing these data with rates of asthma diagnoses in the children. They also studied family medical history.

The researchers found that children born to mothers who had been prescribed paracetamol during pregnancy did have an increased risk of asthma, but the risk was similar when women had been prescribed migraine medication or opioids, such as codeine and tramadol. The increase in risk for asthma at 5 years of age was 42% for codeine, 48% for migraine medication, and 50% for paracetamol.

A study through the North American Menopause Society has found that a history of first-degree family members with diabetes is linked to increased bone mineral density as well as insulin resistance, Contemporary Clinic reported.

Although strong evidence has revealed normal to high bone mineral density in most patients with type 2 diabetes, no data support whether bone mineral density is altered in patients with first-degree family history of diabetes.

This study included approximately 900 normoglycemic post-menopausal women with or without a first-degree family history of diabetes. Bone mineral density was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

It was found that the body mass index of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was significantly higher in participants with a first-degree family history of diabetes than in those without a familial history, even in women with normal blood glucose levels. This indicates that there is a link between a family history of diabetes and the risk of the disease.

Moderate exercise was shown to benefit patients undergoing treatment for metastatic colon cancer, Specialty Pharmacy Times reported.

Although previous studies have hinted at a benefit from exercise for patients with nonmetastatic colon cancer, there has been no research into its effect on colon cancer that has metastasized to other parts of the body.

For the study, 1218 patients completed a validated questionnaire within 1 month after therapy initiation, which reported average physical activity over the previous 2 months. Based on their responses, the researchers quantified their physical activity in terms of metabolic equivalent task-hours per week.

According to the results, patients who engaged in more physical activity had an approximately 20% statistically significant improvement in profession-free survival compared with those who did not exercise as frequently.

Pharmacists may get more questions about Trelegy if patients have seen a recent commercial for the prescription medication.

In the spot, called “Cars,” the narrator says that Trelegy is the only FDA-approved, 1-in-3 COPD treatment that opens airways, keeps airways open, and reduces inflammation.

According to the commercial, Trelegy is a prescribed medical inhaler that is intended to provide relief for those suffering from COPD when taken regularly as directed.

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Thanks for watching our Pharmacy Week in Review. I’m Nicole Grassano at the Pharmacy Times News Network.