Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1. Back to Square One for Low Back Pain Treatments 

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers evaluated non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for adults with low back pain. Out of 56 treatments, NSAIDs helped with acute low back pain — but only slightly more than placebo. For chronic pain, exercise, taping, and antidepressants showed modest benefits, with moderate certainty.

2. Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) and Mental Health

This cohort study examined associations between GAHT and mental health morbidity in transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse (TGD) adults. At baseline, 15.3% of 3592 TGD patients had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. After 4 years, those prescribed GAHT had significantly lower risk of depressive symptoms (adjusted risk ratio, 0.85; 95% CI,  0.75-0.98), supporting the value of gender-affirming care for TGD adults. 

3. Cu2+ Contraception 2.0: New Option for Copper IUD

This ongoing phase-3 trial assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Miudella, a novel low-dose copper IUD. Over 3 years, Miudella’s Pearl Index was 0.94 (95% CI 0.43-1.78), with low rates of expulsion and discontinuation for bleeding and pain. Recent FDA approval of Miudella gives patients another choice for long-acting contraception. 

4. Sounding Off: Hearing Loss (HL) and Falls

A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 5 million patients across 27 studies found that HL was linked to greater odds of falling – both cross-sectionally (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.37-1.6, I² = 64%) and longitudinally (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.29, I² = 69%). With a rapidly aging global population, the connection between hearing and fall risk deserves closer attention.

Measles Rash Return 🤒

Measles has once again reared its ugly head.

What happened: As measles cases climb across the country, Canada’s top doctor is urging families to get vaccinated to help contain the spread.

Why it matters: Canada wiped out measles in 1998 thanks to rigorous immunization — but the virus is back, and it’s spreading fast. The current outbreak began last October, after a travel-related case in New Brunswick. Ontario has since reported 440 cases as of March 19, making it the epicentre of the resurgence. About 80% of cases are in unvaccinated people, and the rest couldn’t provide proof of vaccination.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, and to make matters worse, symptoms can take 7 to 21 days to appear — giving the virus plenty of time to spread undetected.

Public health officials are especially concerned about infants, the immunocompromised, and pregnant people. While most patients recover, some experience pneumonia, brain inflammation, or — in worst-case scenarios — death. The measles vaccine is widely available across Canada and protects against mumps, rubella, and, in some cases, varicella. It’s highly effective and can be given to babies between 12 and 15 months.

But: Vaccination rates remain low across the country. In British Columbia, childhood vaccination rates dropped from 2013 to 2023. In Ontario, only 70% of 7-year-olds were fully vaccinated against measles during the last school year. Medical officials say the drop could be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely disrupted vaccine schedules for some families. Health Canada is urging parents to catch up on vaccines to help stop the spread. 

Bottom line: Many things from the ‘60s are outdated — but the measles vaccine isn’t one of them. Doctors are responsible for offering the shot to protect their patients. 

Hot Off The Press

1: ⏰ Trump wants more time — for TikTok. He’s urging Congress to delay a bill that could force the app’s sale, framing it as a matter of free speech. Meanwhile, TikTok is juggling controversies of its own: quietly removing a “chubby” face filter after backlash and facing criticism over videos encouraging ADHD self-diagnoses — a complicated backdrop for free speech arguments, as the platform faces growing scrutiny over how its algorithm shapes both self-image and mental health.

2: 🍁 This election, the CMA wants healthcare to be more than a soundbite. With over 6.5 million Canadians lacking access to a regular family doctor, the CMA is calling on all federal parties to make care a priority. They’re pushing for timely access to primary care, real-time digital health sharing, faster licensing for internationally trained doctors — and stronger safeguards against health misinformation.

3: 🇺🇸 New US research confirms what public health experts feared: abortion bans enacted after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision — which overturned Roe v. Wade — led to more unwanted or unsafe pregnancies carried to term, resulting in both more live births and more infant deaths. The burden wasn’t evenly shared: Black infants in states with bans died at a rate 11% higher than expected. Researchers say these bans are reversing decades of progress in infant health — and disproportionately harming already disadvantaged communities.

4: 🧑🏽‍⚕️Snagging a doctor’s appointment in BC can feel like a full-time job. Despite hiring 1,001 family physicians and connecting 250,000 people to primary care over the past 2 years, the province still doesn’t have enough doctors to meet demand. Patients say they’re waking up early and scrambling to book urgent care appointments – only to find all the slots booked within minutes.

Notable Numbers 🔢

16,000: people have died from toxic drug overdoses in BC since 2016. A new study suggests naloxone kits at transit stops could save lives. The question now is whether the city will get on board with equipping its 8,900 “Hot Spots” with these lifesaving tools.

90%: of US cities saw their freeze-free season lengthen between 1970 and 2024 — a key factor in longer allergy seasons. As the climate warms, higher CO₂ levels and fewer frosty days are creating ideal conditions for pollen-producing plants. Translation: more sneezing, earlier.

Postcall Picks

😂 Laugh: at this meme about the circle of life!

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