May 16, 2022. The currently available evidence on hormone therapy is very clear: Whether combination therapies of estrogen and progestin or treatments with estrogen alone, the risks by far outweigh the limited benefits for postmenopausal women. We thus strongly support USPSTF’s “D” grade recommendation against the use of combined estrogen and progestin for the primary prevention of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, types of cancer, and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal persons, as well as the “D” grade recommendation against the use of estrogen alone in postmenopausal persons who have had a hysterectomy.
Read More »We’re Speaking Out on Health Issues
NCHR scientists and health policy experts provide written and oral statements on a wide range of topics.
Here are many of the ways we have been Speaking Out on Health Policy Issues for the last few years. Whether the topic is legislation intended to cure diseases, proposed bans on BPA or other chemicals that disrupt your hormones, the importance of including women, people of color, and patients over 65 in clinical trials, or many other topics, you’ll gain a better understanding of our evidence-based analyses by reading these letters, statements, and testimony.
Here are the ways we have been Speaking out on Medical Treatments and Products, such as prescription drugs and medical devices that the FDA is considering approving, or is considering taking off the market because of serious risks. Whether the topic is Chantix, Addyi, Yaz, Essure, or medical products you’ve never heard of, you can find out more about what is known and not known about the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of products by looking through this section of our website.
NCHR Comments on EPA truck pollution standards
May 16, 2022. NCHR agrees with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the proposed truck pollution standards, which would reduce emissions of smog- and soot-forming nitrogen oxides, are a crucial step towards EPA’s commitment to climate, clean air and environmental justice. However, in light of the ongoing health and climate crisis, the proposed standards fall short of a zero-emission transportation future, and we urge EPA to further strengthen the proposed standards. This has also long been requested by environmental justice communities across the country, because while truck pollution has been devastating the health of communities across the country, it has a disproportionate impact on communities of color.
Read More »NCHR’s Testimony to FDA on End of Induction Response in High-Risk Neuroblastoma
May 12, 2022. Clinical benefits should remain the key endpoints for approval decisions of these treatments. Surrogate endpoints that predict clinical benefits are not yet established and until they are, we are concerned about their use as secondary endpoints unless the primary endpoint is also met.
Read More »NCHR Comments on Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents
May 9, 2022. The currently available evidence on the accuracy of screening tools as well as the potential benefits and harms associated with screening and treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicide risk are insufficient. For this reason, we agree with the USPSTF “I” grade recommendation for MDD screening in asymptomatic children age 11 years or younger and the “I” grade recommendation for screening for suicide risk in asymptomatic children and adolescents of all ages.
Read More »NCHR Comments on Screening for Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
May 9, 2022. We agree with USPSTF’s “I” grade recommendation regarding anxiety screening for children 7 years or younger, since there is not sufficient evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for this age group, or to determine the impact of treatments for anxiety in children in this age group. However, regarding screening for anxiety in asymptomatic children between the ages of 8 and 18, we do not agree with USPSTF’s “B” grade recommendation, because of the lack of direct evidence to support USPSTF’s recommendation.
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