This week: Simvastatin in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Communicating With Patients About Risk
Rebecca and Amol want you to:
1. Recognize that simvastatin reduces the rate of whole brain atrophy in secondary progressive MS, which may be a promising new use for statins.
2. Understand that effective strategies to communicate risk include: Using visual aids, speaking in terms of absolute risk, and using quantitative descriptors whenever possible.
Continuing Medical Education
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The papers
J Chataway et al. Effect of high-dose simvastatin on brain atrophy and disability in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS-STAT): a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2014 Jun 28;383(9936):2213-21. (PubMed).
D Zipkin et al. Evidence-Based Risk Communication: A Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med. 2014 Aug 19;161(4):270-80. (PubMed).
Good stuff
Rebecca:
How to Get Through a Work Day on no Sleep, Melissa Dahl, New York Magazine. August 13, 2014.
Amol:
Why toxic algae blooms are taking over Lake Erie – again. Vox.com. August 4, 2014.
