Sharp Increase in Advanced Imaging Exams and Referrals for Patients with Headaches
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 04 Feb 2015 |
Medical guidelines in the United States recommend lifestyle counseling as preferred treatment for patients complaining of headaches. However, despite this advice, a study published in the January 8, 2015, issue of Journal of General Internal Medicine has found a sharp increase in prescriptions of preventive medications, referrals to other doctors, and for Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
The study compared how headache symptoms were dealt with during 9,362 doctor's visits (representing 144 million doctors’ visits from the year 1999 to 2010). The mean age of the patients was 46 years, and the gender was predominantly female (nearly 75%).
The researchers from the Harvard Medical School (HMS; Boston, MA, USA), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC; Boston, MA, USA), and the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA, USA) used a US nationally-representative sample of clinician visits for headaches provided by US National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), excluding trauma, cancer, and visits in cases of neurological deficit.
The researchers found a nearly twofold increase from 8.5% to 15.9% in prescriptions of preventive medications in 2009–2010 compared to 1999–2000, an increase of physician referrals from 6.9% to 13.2%, and an increase in the use of CT/MRI from 6.7% to 13.9%.
Related Links:
HMS
BIDMC
Massachusetts General Hospital
The study compared how headache symptoms were dealt with during 9,362 doctor's visits (representing 144 million doctors’ visits from the year 1999 to 2010). The mean age of the patients was 46 years, and the gender was predominantly female (nearly 75%).
The researchers from the Harvard Medical School (HMS; Boston, MA, USA), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC; Boston, MA, USA), and the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA, USA) used a US nationally-representative sample of clinician visits for headaches provided by US National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), excluding trauma, cancer, and visits in cases of neurological deficit.
The researchers found a nearly twofold increase from 8.5% to 15.9% in prescriptions of preventive medications in 2009–2010 compared to 1999–2000, an increase of physician referrals from 6.9% to 13.2%, and an increase in the use of CT/MRI from 6.7% to 13.9%.
Related Links:
HMS
BIDMC
Massachusetts General Hospital
Latest MRI News
- Low-Cost Whole-Body MRI Device Combined with AI Generates High-Quality Results
- World's First Whole-Body Ultra-High Field MRI Officially Comes To Market
- World's First Sensor Detects Errors in MRI Scans Using Laser Light and Gas
- Diamond Dust Could Offer New Contrast Agent Option for Future MRI Scans
- Combining MRI with PSA Testing Improves Clinical Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Patients
- PET/MRI Improves Diagnostic Accuracy for Prostate Cancer Patients
- Next Generation MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Ushers In Future of Incisionless Neurosurgery
- Two-Part MRI Scan Detects Prostate Cancer More Quickly without Compromising Diagnostic Quality
- World’s Most Powerful MRI Machine Images Living Brain with Unrivaled Clarity
- New Whole-Body Imaging Technology Makes It Possible to View Inflammation on MRI Scan
- Combining Prostate MRI with Blood Test Can Avoid Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies
- New Treatment Combines MRI and Ultrasound to Control Prostate Cancer without Serious Side Effects
- MRI Improves Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer
- Combined PET-MRI Scan Improves Treatment for Early Breast Cancer Patients
- 4D MRI Could Improve Clinical Assessment of Heart Blood Flow Abnormalities
- MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Prostate Cancer