LAURA H. CYPHERS

This Medical News article is based on an interview with 3 members of the former Biden-Harris Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board.
Source: JAMA Online First

The phases of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be viewed along a spectrum. Following exposure, patients may have asymptomatic infection in which they test positive for the virus by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) but have no clinical evidence of disease. A subgroup of patients progress to developing symptomatic infection, usually within 12 days. Patients with symptomatic COVID-19 range from having mild or moderate disease, typically managed in the outpatient setting, to severe or critical COVID-19, which requires hospitalization. Those with mild or moderate COVID-19 often have high nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 levels, and it is in this phase that antiviral therapy, such as anti–SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies, appears to be most beneficial. Monoclonal antibodies are currently used for postexposure prophylaxis and for treatment of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this issue of JAMA, an analysis of individuals with asymptomatic infection by O’Brien et al provides insights into this phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the potential role of monoclonal antibodies in its management.
Source: JAMA Online First

This randomized trial assesses the effect of a single dose of subcutaneous casirivimab and imdevimab antibody combination vs placebo on 28-day progression to symptomatic COVID-19 among asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase–quantitative polymerase chain reaction–positive individuals living with an infected household contact.
Source: JAMA Online First

This Viewpoint discusses the implications from data on value-based payments, policy design regarding population- and episode-based payments, and the benefits of coordinated payment models that may contribute toward reaching the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ strategy, announced in November 2021, for achieving near-universal participation in value-based payment models by 2030.
Source: JAMA Online First

This Viewpoint provides a summary of currently available therapeutics for nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the setting of the Omicron variant including principles for equitable allocation.
Source: JAMA Online First

This study examines insurer coverage of ivermectin prescriptions for COVID-19 in the US.
Source: JAMA Online First

This Viewpoint discusses the increased long-term risks for cardiovascular disease among individuals who have had adverse pregnancy outcomes and describes mitigation strategies for physicians to use over the life span of these patients.
Source: JAMA Online First

This Medical News article examines the growing business of unlicensed and unproven stem cell treatments.
Source: JAMA Online First

This Medical News feature examines the challenges that hospitals face as they prepare for a spike in severe cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses that require supplemental oxygen.
Source: JAMA Online First

This Medical News article on COVID-19 vaccines is adapted from a JAMA interview with the CDC’s Amanda Cohn, MD.
Source: JAMA Online First