UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Participants with prediabetes in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) saw a $4,552 reduction in two-year medical costs, driven by fewer hospitalizations and visits. NDPP enrollment has an 88% chance of saving money and 84% of being cost-effective, potentially lowering healthcare costs and improving quality-adjusted life-years for millions.

Pulse oximeters, initially designed for lighter skin tones, inaccurately measure oxygen levels in darker-skinned individuals, leading to delayed COVID-19 treatment. This bias, rooted in systemic racism, was highlighted during the pandemic, prompting calls for FDA regulatory changes and broader acknowledgment of racial bias in medical devices.

The FDA issued a Class 1 recall for HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 heart pumps due to injuries and deaths linked to biological material buildup, affecting nearly 14,000 devices. Despite issues, the devices remain on the market, with Abbott communicating risks and working on solutions. Transparency and reporting mechanisms are questioned.

Preventing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes or metformin saves medical costs and improves quality of life. Over 10 years, lifestyle intervention reduced diabetes by 34%, costing $1,700, while metformin saved $30, reducing diabetes by 18%. Both methods are cost-effective, with group interventions potentially lowering costs further.

Roots Community Health Center faced challenges with COVID-19, highlighting racial disparities in healthcare. Pulse oximeters, crucial for monitoring oxygen levels, were found less accurate for patients with darker skin, leading to delayed treatment. Roots filed lawsuits against manufacturers for failing to address these inaccuracies, advocating for warnings or fixes to ensure equitable healthcare access.

Biofourmis partners with Nascentia Health to enhance home care for older adults in Central New York, aiming to improve care access, reduce hospital readmissions, and support patient transitions to home care. Utilizing Biofourmis' technology, the collaboration focuses on expanding services and improving patient outcomes with innovative, tech-enabled solutions.

In 2024, 43% of surveyed employers plan to cover GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy, up from 25% in 2023, despite high costs and coverage challenges. These drugs, effective for weight loss and diabetes, face obstacles like cost and information gaps. Some employers have ceased coverage due to unsustainable expenses, while others increase copays.

Over a third of adults aged 50-80 feel socially isolated, linked to health risks like cognitive decline and heart disease. Causes include living alone and chronic illness. Solutions involve volunteering through visits, calls, or tech assistance to foster connections and improve well-being.

AI tool DeepGlioma, developed by University of Michigan researchers, identifies brain tumor genetic markers in 90 seconds with 90% accuracy, aiming to speed up diagnosis and treatment for glioma patients, potentially improving access to clinical trials and personalized precision medicine.

Long COVID, or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), affects a significant number of individuals with symptoms lasting weeks to years post-infection. Research under the NIH's RECOVER initiative explores mechanisms like viral persistence, immune dysregulation, and gut dysbiosis. Therapeutic trials are underway, focusing on repurposed and novel treatments, emphasizing the need for rigorous clinical trials to address this public health challenge.