The US has made the least progress among high-income Western countries in reducing deaths from chronic diseases, according to a study in The Lancet. From 2010 to 2019, chronic disease mortality declined in most age groups in the US but rose for adults ages 20 to 45. Between 2010 and 2019, chronic disease deaths decreased in some 80% of countries worldwide.

A federal initiative to enhance EHR interoperability is receiving positive feedback from medical organizations and health IT groups. EHR vendors such as Epic, eClinicalWorks and Oracle Health participating in the initiative will connect to CMS-approved national data-sharing networks for real-time exchange of data, including images and unstructured data, facilitating real-time access to comprehensive patient information. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians are among those supporting the initiative.

The number of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D test orders has increased significantly over recent years, despite its limited appropriate use cases, according to a paper presented at a College of American Pathologists meeting. This rise is attributed to the way tests are listed in EHRs, with 1,25-dihydroxy often appearing first in dropdown menus. Such ordering trends could lead to unnecessary health care costs and delays.

Data in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that influenza hospitalizations in the US reached record levels during the 2024-25 season, with rates 1.8 times to 2.8 times greater when compared with median cumulative rates since the 2010 to 2011 season. Hospitalization rates were lowest for children and teens ages 5 to 17 and highest for adults 75 and older.

More than half of heart attacks in women younger than 65 stem from nontraditional causes, such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection and embolism, rather than clogged arteries, according to a Mayo Clinic study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. "When the root cause of a heart attack is misunderstood, it can lead to treatments that are less effective -- or even harmful," says Dr. Claire Raphael, an interventional cardiologist at Mayo.

Wildfire smoke exacerbates health disparities, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, due to poor air quality and urban heat islands, according to experts. These populations often lack access to indoor protection, air filtration and personal protective equipment, and they also may lack access to health care. Solutions include improving access to stable housing, health care and resources, which require collaborative efforts across all levels of government.

Providence's health equity fellowship program is helping the health system scale initiatives and improve care. Focusing on practical projects, the program has led to improvements in hypertension control in Latino populations and has reduced readmissions for patients with limited English proficiency, says Whitney Haggerson, Providence's vice president of health equity and Medicaid.

A study in Pediatrics found 41% of families with young children seen at a network of health centers in Indianapolis lacked enough diapers. Diaper insecurity was associated with food, transportation and financial insecurity, as well as maternal depression and low birth weight.