Top in rheumatology: Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, the delta surge

New data support halting the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, which has been prescribed more than 560,000 times in 2021 alone to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to an expert.

A report on the findings was the top story in rheumatology this week.

Another top story explored the impact of COVID-19 surges that were spurred by the delta variant on rheumatology practices.

Read these and more top stories in rheumatology below:

'Premature, avoidable deaths' renew plea to halt prescribing hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

Updated evidence “strongly supports” ending the use of hydroxychloroquine for either preventing or treating COVID-19, due to a lack of benefits combined with potentially fatal cardiovascular complications, according to a meta-analysis. Read more.

Red Alert: Rheumatologists across US consumed by 'high-spread' red as COVID-19 surges

There is not a single rheumatologist currently practicing in a U.S. county with low or even moderate COVID-19 spread, as defined by the CDC. Read more.

Single pain management skills class shows 'meaningful reductions' in lower back pain

A single-session class on pain management skills was noninferior to 8-week cognitive behavioral therapy, and superior to a health education class, for pain catastrophizing in patients with chronic lower back pain, according to data. Read more.

COVID-19 lockdown linked to higher flare rate in patients with JIA

Living under COVID-19 lockdown was associated with a higher rate of joint inflammation in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, according to data from an Italian cohort published in Arthritis Care & Research. Read more.

Childhood secondhand smoke exposure linked to increased adult rheumatoid arthritis risk

Parental smoking during childhood is potentially associated with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis later in life, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology. Read more.