uninterrupted sleep is the problem

• A review of 42 randomized clinical trials found that reminding women about breast and cervical cancer screenings and helping them navigate the health system *really* works.
   
• It's not shocking that postpartum moms lack sleep, but one study found it's the lack of uninterrupted sleep that really continues to be a problem.
   
• HHS circulated a report aiming to defend the agency's decision to say pregnant women shouldn't get COVID-19 vaccine shots. The study it cited said the opposite once raw data was processed.

MAHA, Mitochondria, and Money

What: The Atlantic explains the MAHA movement's mysterious focus on the mitochondria, a tiny structure in cells that generate energy. Casey Means, the surgeon general nominee, apparently believes that most chronic illness can be traced to "mitochondrial dysfunction." 

Key Line: "In Good Energy, as well as on her website and in podcast appearances, Casey Means promotes a number of supplements for mitochondrial health. She also recommends that people wear continuous glucose monitors—available from her company, Levels Health, for $184 a month—to help prevent overwhelming their mitochondria with too much glucose."

Source: The Atlantic
 

HHS Report Justifying COVID-19 Vaccine Removal Cites Evidence That Shots *Are* Safe

What: Politico has the scoop on HHS sending around a document on Capitol Hill that aims to defend Sec. Kennedy's recent decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women. The report's proof? Studies that actually found the shots *are* safe.

Key Line: "The 2023 study shows a slightly higher rate of miscarriages among women who were immunized against Covid-19 during their pregnancies. But, Velez said, that after adjusting for “variables that can confound a crude association,” like “age, rurality, neighbourhood income quintile, immigration status, comorbidity” and other factors that could affect the outcome, Canadian researchers found “no association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and an increased risk of miscarriage.”"

Source: Politico

Postpartum Sleep: It's Interrupted

What: A small study of 41 first-time moms found that it's not just lack of sleep that is a challenge postpartum -- it is the lack of *uninterrupted* sleep that really compounds things. They found uninterrupted sleep remains significantly reduced throughout the first 13 weeks postpartum, leading to exhaustion, negative cognitive effects, and mood regulation issues.

Key Line: "But while total daily sleep crept back to 6.7 hours in postpartum weeks 2-7, new moms received only 3.2 hours of uninterrupted sleep by that time. In postpartum weeks 8-13, moms logged 7.3 hours of total daily sleep compared to just 4.1 hours of uninterrupted sleep. 'This persistent reduction in uninterrupted sleep explains why mothers continue to feel exhausted even when they appear to be getting ‘enough’ sleep on paper,' Lillis said."

Source: Medscape
 

Patients are Opting for 10 Years of Breast Cancer Treatment

What: A study of nearly 600 women with early-stage breast cancer found 47% chose to continue hormone-based treatment beyond the recommended 5 years, aiming for 10 years total. Factors that influenced their decision included their oncologist's advice, fear of the cancer returning, and a desire for more extensive treatment.

Key Line: “'This study emphasizes the importance of a shared decision-making approach among cancer patients, oncologists and primary care physicians that may need to be revisited over time. This type of shared decision-making is becoming more common – and more necessary – as patients have more treatment options and decisions to make,' said co-senior author Sarah Hawley, Ph.D., M.P.H."

Source: University of Michigan

Reminding Patients and Helping Navigate Health Systems Increases Cancer Screening Rates

What: A meta-analysis of 42 randomized clinical trials found that patient navigation services significantly boost rates of breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up. Researchers found a nearly 14% increase in breast cancer screening rates and a 16% increase in cervical cancer screening rates with the help of patient navigation services.

Key Line: "Although patient navigation services are commonly provided for cancer treatment and management in the US, patient navigation for cancer screening and follow-up has not been previously considered as a clinical preventive service recommendation by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) or other guideline groups for patient care. However, an increasing number of clinical trials have applied patient navigation services to cancer screening and show higher screening rates compared with usual care."

Source: JAMA Internal Medicine