This week on the Rounds Table Kieran Quinn and Katie Whiskar cover two important studies: low fat versus low carb diets for weight loss and the role of opioids vs non-opioids in the management of chronic pain.
Diet modification is key to weight loss. Yet, no one dietary strategy is consistently superior to others for the general population. Katie takes listeners through the DIETFITS randomized controlled trial which aimed to determine the effect of a healthy low fat diet versus a healthy low carbohydrate diet on weight change and if genotype pattern or insulin secretion are related to the dietary effects of weight loss.
Next, Kieran takes listeners through the SPACE trial which examined the effect of opioid versus non-opioid medications for pain related function in patients with chronic pain. Opioids have the potential to cause significant harm, and current guidelines discourage prescribing them. But if not opioids, then what? This trial compared opioid versus non-opioid medications over 12 months on pain-related function, pain intensity, and adverse effects.
Finally, the Good Stuff segment. Katie shares an editorial piece on lowering p-value thresholds. Kieran shares an article on the Right to Try bill, which would allow terminally ill patients access to experimental drugs that do not yet have approval of the FDA.
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The Papers
1. DIETFITS: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2673150?redirect=true
2. SPACE: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2673971?redirect=true
Good Stuff
1. p-value Thresholds: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2676503?redirect=true
2. Right to Try: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/23/health/right-to-try-drugs-fda.html
Music Credits
The Rounds Table Theme Music by Brendan Quinn, Creative Director and Composer, Vapor RMW
I would like to read the full text of both studies. As a patient, how can I do this? How can I make informed decisions if I don’t have access to the same information that my health provider has access to?
Thank you.
The slinky that one of them is playing with is very distracting for listeners. Also, it is important to be careful that your voice does not get more high pitched at the end of your sentences.
I have tried anti-epileptic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, other antidepressants, and none of them were as effective as opioids. Until we have something more effective than opioids, we should stick with opioids. Most of the non-opioid options have horrendous side effects such as cognitive impairment and vision disturbances.