News

Marijuana, meth, cocaine and opiate use are linked to atrial fibrillation

A new study by UC San Francisco researchers of more than 23 million people concludes that some commonly used and abused drugs pose previously unidentified risks for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), a potentially deadly heart-rhythm disorder.

Researchers contribute recommendations for national strategy on hunger, nutrition, health

At the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health convened since 1969, President Biden announced on Sept.

Data scientist Katie Pollard, PhD, elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Data scientist and statistician Katie Pollard, PhD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology and chief of the bioinformatics division in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the highest...

Feeling winded after your workout? Long COVID may claim another symptom

We’ve heard about brain fog, fatigue and headache as symptoms of long COVID. Now a new study points to another persistent effect of SARS-CoV-2, identified months after infection: reduced exercise capacity.

Pulse oximeters don't work as well on darker skin, leading to flawed COVID care

A new study published today in the American Journal of

Life expectancy tool may improve quality of life for patients with dementia

A mortality prediction model for older adults with dementia may help clinicians frame discussions with patients and their families relating to end-of-life care, such as at-home support and nursing homes. Additionally, the model may help physicians determine if the patients should continue with...

UCSF research into student needs drives policy changes

In 2015, when Suzanna Martinez, PhD, left the traditional postdoctoral path toward a faculty position at UCSF and instead took a staff research position at the UC Nutrition Policy In

Where health inequities have landed in the long tail of the COVID-19 pandemic

Work from this department analyzing California death records has significantly contributed to the current understanding that COVID-19 has hit marginalized racial and ethnic communities unduly hard. Postdoctoral fellow Hélène Aschmann, PhD, recently tackled national mortality data over a longer...

For Black patients, nixing ‘race adjustment’ may improve kidney transplant odds

Using equations to calculate kidney function that do not include race adjustments would result in Black patients gaining time on the transplant waitlist before their kidneys fail that matched similar durations for white patients, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco and Hennepin County...

Lower salt trumps other lifestyle changes in combatting high blood pressure, UCSF model shows

Imagine a visit to the doctor where you received news that you had an early form of a deadly disease. To stop the disease from progressing, you would need to drink less, exercise more, eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, cut back on salt, and lose weight.