That's Interesting

That's interesting archive

That's Interesting

From 1 May, cilazapril will no longer be funded for new patients. This article from bpac offers helpful advice on appropriate alternatives.

Media release from Healthier Lives National Science Challenge and Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research 

This media release outlines a report titled "The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes". The report found that around 600 amputations could be avoided every year in New Zealand if better foot screening and podiatry services were made available for everyone with type 2 diabetes. 

Written by Sally Murphy, Reporter.

This article from RNZ outlines the concerning conclusions of a PwC report commissioned by Diabetes New Zealand, the University of Otago's Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre and Healthier Lives National Science Challenge. The report found that the number of people with type 2 diabetes in New Zealand could increase by 90% across the next two decades. 

Written by Dr Vicki Mount with expert review by Dr Ryan Paul 

This Goodfellow MedCase considers the place of empagliflozin alongside existing treatments and describes how to safely start treatment. 

The first-ever New Zealand COPD guidelines have been published. Developed by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation and led by Dr Stuart Jones and Professor Bob Hancox, these guidelines clearly lay out the recommendations for assessment and management of COPD.

Joanna Hikaka, Rhys Jones, Carmel Hughes, Matin J. Connolly and Nataly Martini. Drugs & Aging. Online ahead of print. January 2021. 

This review from the University of Auckland examines ethnic variation in the quality use of medicines between Māori and non-Māori older adult populations in NZ. It identifies that inequities in quality medicines use exist and provides a starting point to develop pro-equity solutions.

The Tongan Health Society is working on an innovative approach to underpin best practice models for patients with diabetes who are on maximum oral hypoglycaemic medication to start insulin therapy when they are hesitant to do so.

This article answers some of the frequently asked questions about the newly funded type 2 diabetes medicine - empagliflozin (with and without metformin) and dulaglutide, which is to be funded as soon a possible following Medsafe approval.

On 21 December 2020 PHARMAC approved funding for two new medicines with substantial health benefits for around 53,000 New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation has just launched its new online store, where you can find free asthma and COPD resources and guidelines.