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Few lab tests differ by fasting time, study finds; AAFP and SHM back family physicians as hospitalists; VA care tied to less PSA testing in older men
THE SHORT READ
A study of 9,755,547 test results published Sept. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine found fasting duration was associated with differences beyond analytical performance specifications for only a few analytes, including glucose and triglycerides. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) said Sept. 30 that family physicians should get equal consideration for hospitalist jobs. Other studies examined prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in older veterans and rehabilitation after knee ligament surgery.
THE DETAILS
- Research Sept 28, 2026The study, published Sept. 28, compared fasting of less than eight hours, eight to 12 hours and more than 12 hours across 9,755,547 results from 101,148 patients at one university hospital in the Seoul area. Between-group differences exceeded analytical performance specifications for 27 analytes, but only 10 were confirmed in paired within-person analyses. Glucose (10.8%), triglycerides (20.1%), gamma-glutamyl transferase (14.8%) and lipase (36.4%) were higher with less than eight hours of fasting; no analyte exceeded the specifications between eight to 12 hours and more than 12 hours. The journal ran a commentary, "Time to Stop Fasting Before Blood Sampling."
- Workforce Sept 30, 2026In an updated joint position statement released Sept. 30, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Society of Hospital Medicine said family physicians possess the education, training and competence required to serve as hospitalists and should be given equal consideration for hospitalist positions. The statement said about 40% of family medicine residency programs use hospitalist services typically staffed by physicians trained in family medicine. It cited a 2024 American Board of Family Medicine report that 10% of early-career family physicians were working as hospitalists.
- Research Sept 28, 2026From 2018 to 2023, adjusted PSA testing rates among men 80 years or older were 187.9 per 1,000 person-years in Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care versus 267.9 in fee-for-service Medicare (incidence rate ratio 0.70; 95% CI 0.69 to 0.71), according to a cohort study published Sept. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study used national linked VA and Medicare data for fiscal years 2004 to 2023 on a 30% random sample of male veterans 65 years or older. The authors said VA primary care was associated with lower PSA testing and biopsy rates among veterans least likely to benefit.
- Research Sept 29, 2026A trial of 184 adults aged 18 to 40 with persistent knee problems nine to 36 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared a four-month, twice-weekly physiotherapist-supervised exercise therapy and education program with a single education session and a self-directed exercise resource, according to results published Sept. 29 in Annals of Internal Medicine. At four months, composite Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores improved 14.1 points with the program versus 9.4 with the control (adjusted mean difference 4.8; 95% CI 1.4 to 8.2). The authors said the differences may not be sustained over time.