Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research

CHR Investigator Erin LeBlanc, MD, was recently interviewed by Medscape to discuss a new study which found that 10% to 25% #weightloss in women with a BMI of 25 or higher was associated with a 5% increase in conception rates and a reduced risk of #gestationaldiabetes and emergency cesarean sections. Dr. LeBlanc, an endocrinologist and epidemiologist, has studied this topic for a number of years and provided valuable insight based on her own body of work—some of which has shown that women who were in a pre-pregnancy weight loss intervention had lower rates of gestational diabetes early in pregnancy but also higher gestational weight gain compared to women who did not receive the intervention. Read more below! 👇👇👇 #womenshealth #maternalhealth https://lnkd.in/g9PqpmBk

Individuals in rural, remote, and frontier settings face a higher burden of colorectal cancer, as well as unique barriers to cancer screenings when compared to non-rural residents. CHR Investigator Amanda Petrik partnered with the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) to help develop a guidebook titled "Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Communities: A Practical Guide." Download the guidebook to find recommended tactics, case studies, templates, and tools to support overcoming barriers to screening in rural communities. 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/dpSSfZza #colorectalcancer #ruralhealth #FITscreening

A new study led by CHR Distinguished Investigator Lynn DeBar and published in JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association reports that remotely delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy was effective in reducing patients’ chronic pain compared to patients receiving usual care. Read more here 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/gVRXSxQD

Our Summer CHRonicle is now available! The CHRonicle is our regular newsletter highlighting some of the recent stories focused on the work of our researchers. Enjoy! https://conta.cc/40pr80p

CHR Investigator Willa Brenowitz, PhD, MPH, recently spoke with Health to discuss the potential effects of #hearingloss on #dementia and cognitive decline. A new study examines how hearing loss may have an even greater effect on dementia risk than previously known. Learn more here 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/gQzPyh-v

CHR Distinguished Investigator Kim Vesco sat down while at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting in Chicago recently for a discussion on weight loss during pregnancy with diabetes alongside Claire Meek. See below for this important discussion. 👇 https://lnkd.in/gTnfBeWC

June is Men's Health Awareness Month, and we'd like to share some information for you and the men in your life! Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the U.S., other than skin cancer. It's also the second-leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). About 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. While there are many unanswered questions about what causes prostate cancer, prevention tips from The National Cancer Institute (NCI) indicates that regular exercise and maintaining a diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables may help prevent the development of prostate cancer.  According to NCI, testicular cancer is most common among men aged 20-34 years. Although rare, early detection and treatment are crucial for successful outcomes, as testicular cancer is highly curable when detected early. Kaiser Permanente NW has partnered with the NCI on the Connect for Cancer Prevention Study (Connect). Connect is a research study that aims to learn more about what causes cancer and how we can better prevent it. Our goal is to improve healthcare for our members, communities, and future generations. Connect is still enrolling new participants, and we are excited to engage more men in this study, as men are typically less represented in research studies like Connect. Visit the Connect website at cancer.gov/connectstudy to learn more today. 

Our dedicated #KPCHR Connect for Cancer Prevention Study team connected with the community at #BlanchetHouse, turning research into real-life impact. Volunteering side by side not only reinforces our commitment to preventing cancer—it reminds us every individual contribution counts. Join us on our journey as we unite to overcome cancer—because together, when we #HelpCancerResearch, we pave the way for a future where #ResearchHelpsPreventCancer. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gzNyqtBV

A team of researchers, led by CHR's Stephanie Irving, conducted the largest study of its kind to date looking at infant immunization rates for RSV. According to the study - published in this month's issue of Pediatrics, the official medical journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics - 72% of the infants born into the health systems analyzed during the time period observed were immunized against severe illness from RSV in the first season brand new products were available. While that is seen as an incredible success, more can be done with more than a quarter of infants having not received protection from the vaccines. Read more here 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/dSNVgkzS