Prevention Archives

Treating common stomach bacteria reduces risk of stomach cancer

May 2, 2023

Kaiser Permanente reports findings from the first large community-based study in the U.S. to assess the effect of H. pylori treatment on stomach cancer incidence.

Current air pollution standards are insufficient to reduce heart risks

February 24, 2023

Long-term exposure to air pollution is tied to an increased risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease — with the greatest harms impacting under-resourced communities, new Kaiser Permanente research shows.

Racial and ethnic differences seen in marker of early diabetic kidney disease

February 6, 2023

Among adults with diabetes who had kidney function perceived to be normal, a marker for early diabetic kidney disease was more commonly seen in Asian adults than in white, Black, or Latino adults, a new Kaiser Permanente study found.

Alcohol check-in at primary care visit may benefit other conditions

January 30, 2023

Patients with hypertension and unhealthy alcohol use were more likely to see a decline in their blood pressure if they were asked about their alcohol drinking habits and provided a brief intervention during a visit with their primary care team, according to new Kaiser Permanente research.

Mammography can offer clues to a woman’s heart health

March 15, 2022

Kaiser Permanente research ties the presence of breast arterial calcification seen on screening mammography to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Online quiz can help parents assess if their teen has a substance use problem

February 1, 2022

An analysis by Kaiser Permanente researchers suggests there may be clues in a child’s medical history about their risk for a substance use problem. The investigators used that research and input from parents to develop a free online risk prediction tool that anyone can use.

Filling in evidence gaps about preventive care

January 27, 2022

A new report from a consensus committee headed by Kaiser Permanente Division of Research Director Tracy Lieu, MD, MPH, for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), makes recommendations to accelerate the research needed to fill evidence gaps for clinical preventive services.

Raising awareness about early puberty

September 9, 2021

KP Research Radio talks to Ai Kubo, PhD, MPH, about her research into why girls are starting puberty earlier than they have in the past, risks associated with early puberty — and potential interventions.

HIV prevention treatment shows gaps among key populations

August 26, 2021

A large, detailed look by Kaiser Permanente researchers at patients taking HIV-prevention drug therapy finds strong adherence soon after patients get the prescription, but less consistent use thereafter, particularly among groups considered high priority for receiving the medication.

5 Questions for… Andy Avins

May 4, 2021

Andy Avins, MD, MPH, has been studying what works, and what doesn’t, in medical care ever since a chance encounter in the hospital library with a journal that introduced him to the concept of evidence-based medicine.

Stroke rate four times higher in Black young and middle-aged adults, compared to whites

March 29, 2021

Kaiser Permanente research shows the need for increased education about the dangers of high blood pressure.

Easy-to-implement intervention reduced prostate cancer screening in men 70 and over

November 5, 2020

Kaiser Permanente research found a computerized alert that notifies health care providers when a prostate cancer screening test is not recommended improved adherence to PSA screening guidelines.

Girls who do not live with both parents more likely to start puberty early

October 28, 2020

New study by research scientist Ai Kubo, MPH, PhD, adds to the evidence suggesting a link between early life family structure and onset of puberty.

New virtual, innovative clinical trial for adults at high risk for respiratory illnesses

August 7, 2020

Kaiser Permanente researchers will see if a drug used to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke can also prevent or reduce complications from viral respiratory illnesses in older adults with heart disease.

5 Questions for… Marvin Langston

July 28, 2020

Early career researcher Marvin Langston, PhD, MPH, studies potential links between infections, inflammation, and cancer as well as racial/ethnic and sexual minority health disparities.

Early colorectal cancer screening benefits African Americans

July 20, 2020

Kaiser Permanente researchers showed starting annual colorectal cancer screening at age 45 in African Americans can find colorectal cancers at a rate similar to that seen when screening starts after age 50 — the age most guidelines currently recommend.

Kaiser Permanente researchers develop new prostate cancer risk calculator

July 13, 2020

A new prostate cancer risk calculator developed by Kaiser Permanente Northern California researchers may help men going through prostate cancer screening decide whether to have a prostate biopsy.

5 Questions for… Stephen Van Den Eeden

June 24, 2020

Research scientist Stephen Van Den Eeden, PhD, is a co-founder of the California Men’s Health Study, one of the largest and longest-running cohort studies of men in the world.

On-demand HIV prevention pills worked well for San Francisco patients

June 4, 2020

…Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. “We now have different dosing strategies that can meet the needs of different patients.” –Jonathan Volk, MD, The Permanente Medical Group The 2-1-1 regimen was…

Work-based diabetes prevention programs in San Francisco show promising results

May 28, 2020

…Quesenberry, PhD, Julia C. McDonald, MS, and Janet G. Alexander, MS, of the Division of Research; Susan D. Brown, PhD, an adjunct investigator with the Division of Research; Jennifer L….

Heart attack patients who follow more guidelines live longer

March 5, 2020

Patients who followed more medical advice after a heart attack were more likely to survive years later, and their prospects improved with every additional recommendation they followed, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

New study finds both components of blood pressure predict heart attack, stroke risk

July 17, 2019

“This research brings a large amount of data to bear on a basic question, and it gives such a clear answer,” said lead author Alexander C. Flint, MD, PhD, Kaiser Permanente stroke specialist and adjunct researcher with the Division of Research. “Every way you slice the data, the systolic and diastolic pressures are both important.”

“I Owe My Life to the Test”

March 20, 2019

Coinciding with Colon Cancer Awareness Month (March), Kaiser Permanente Northern California received the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s prestigious “80% by 2018” National Achievement Award, in recognition of screening rates over 83 percent for colorectal cancer.

Kaiser Permanente Teledermatology Finds More Skin Cancers with Fewer Dermatology Visits

February 11, 2019

Primary care physicians take high-resolution pictures of skin lesions with a dermatoscope and digital camera, then transmit them to dermatologists via the electronic health record.

Kaiser Permanente Study Finds 10-Year Follow-up Interval After Negative Colonoscopies Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Mortality

December 17, 2018

Ten years after a negative colonoscopy, Kaiser Permanente members had 46 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with and were 88 percent less likely to die from colorectal cancer compared with those who did not undergo colorectal cancer screening.

Mentorship Comes Full Circle for Gastroenterologist Jeffrey Lee

December 12, 2018

Building on years of collaboration, a doctor crosses the San Francisco Bay to continue his work on colorectal cancer prevention with the research team of his mentor.

To Ward off Fatty Liver, Breast is Best for Mom

November 1, 2018

Kaiser Permanente researchers and colleagues find that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was less likely to occur in mothers who breastfed for 6 months or more.

Delivering the Next Generation of Diabetes Scientists

October 31, 2018

The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research has received a T32 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to train young scientists in translating research into practice for people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

5 Questions for… Steve Sidney

October 24, 2018

“If other health care systems and providers had adopted Kaiser Permanente’s approach and achieved the same rate of decline, I estimated in this latest National Forum report that 40,000 heart disease and stroke deaths in this age group would have been prevented in 2015 alone.”

Studying Life After Breast Cancer

October 18, 2018

When Sandra Domingue attends her regular fitness class at the Bayview Hunter’s Point YMCA in San Francisco, she’s not thinking about how her time at the gym, which includes both socializing and exercise, could help her live longer.

Heart Health Improves After Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

October 16, 2018

People who were severely obese and had diabetes had 40 percent fewer heart attacks and strokes — and 67 percent fewer deaths — within 5 years after bariatric weight-loss surgery.

Integrated Colorectal Cancer Screening Program Saves Lives

August 8, 2018

Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California are 52 percent less likely to die from colorectal cancer since the health care system launched a comprehensive, organized screening program, according to a new study in the specialty’s top journal, Gastroenterology.

5 Questions for… Marilyn Kwan

August 6, 2018

Marilyn Kwan’s research focuses on how wellness factors affect survivorship in breast and bladder cancer patients. Kwan is a certified CrossFit Level 1 trainer; she hopes to some day conduct lifestyle research involving CrossFit in cancer survivors.

Empowering Data to Improve Health

July 2, 2018

The Division of Research’s Douglas Corley will be responsible for developing and implementing a new research program in The Permanente Medical Group that will advance the creation of evidence-driven strategies to improve the delivery of health care.

Fighting Strokes at Lightspeed

May 15, 2018

Neurologists of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Stroke FORCE team get clot-busting alteplase to patients twice as fast as the national average.

Division of Research’s Theodore Levin, MD, honored for colorectal cancer screening program

May 7, 2018

DOR’s Theodore (TR) Levin, MD, is one of four recipients of The Permanente Medical Group’s 2018 Sidney R. Garfield Exceptional Contribution Awards, for pioneering efforts to expand colorectal cancer screening.

Personalized Letter Improves Pregnancy Weight for Women with Gestational Diabetes

April 18, 2018

Women with gestational diabetes who received a tailored letter with personalized weight-gain recommendations were significantly more likely to meet national weight-gain guidelines, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in Diabetes Care.

Low Blood Sugar Emergencies Usually Go Unreported in Medical Records

April 16, 2018

A study of diabetes patients at Kaiser Permanente suggests that severe episodes of hypoglycemia occur far more often than is captured in electronic medical records, pointing to a nationwide need for improved tracking of these events.

In Reducing Deaths from Heart Disease and Stroke, Kaiser Permanente Outpaces Nation

April 3, 2018

Death rates from heart disease and stroke in adults under age 65 are lower and dropping faster for Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California than in the rest of the United States, according to new research published today in the American Journal of Medicine.

A Heart-to-Heart for Researchers

March 20, 2018

The second Cardiovascular Research Symposium drew approximately 80 people including researchers, sub-specialty physicians, quality and operational staff, and others from across Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. It was convened at the Division of Research (DOR) in Oakland by Alan S. Go, MD, DOR’s associate director of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions Research.

Member Health Survey Informs Care

March 7, 2018

Every three years since 1993, the Member Health Survey has been reaching out to members to find out what they are doing — and not doing — to stay healthy, helping Kaiser Permanente to better understand its membership and how to serve their health needs.

DOR’s Steve Sidney honored by National Forum for “exceptional contributions,” research on U.S. heart disease trends

November 1, 2017

The Division of Research’s Stephen Sidney, MD, MPH was honored by the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention for his “exceptional contributions” as well as his work on understanding national trends in cardiovascular disease.

Why Parents Should Continue to Vaccinate Their Kids

August 10, 2017

As a research scientist for the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research and director of KP’s Vaccine Study Center, it’s Nicola Klein’s job to study the safety and effectiveness of both new and older vaccines.

For Patients With Positive Fecal Screening Test, Sooner is Better for Follow-Up Colonoscopy

April 26, 2017

The risk of colorectal cancer increased significantly when colonoscopy was delayed by more than nine months following a positive fecal...

Kaiser Permanente Study: Telephone Wellness Coaching Aids Significant Weight Loss

January 25, 2017

Kaiser Permanente members who voluntarily participated in individual wellness coaching by telephone for weight management lost an average of 10...

Kaiser Permanente Study Shows Women with More Social Connections Have Higher Breast Cancer Survival Rates

December 11, 2016

In a large Kaiser Permanente study of women with invasive breast cancer, socially integrated women — those with the most...

High blood pressure? Bring It Down!

May 8, 2015

Bring It Down is learning how to close the disparity between black and white people in high blood pressure control,...

Maintaining weight is a healthy focus for women with breast cancer

August 13, 2014

Women with breast cancer who maintained their weight were less likely to report changes in their physical abilities following diagnosis,...

Electronic health records are linked to improved diabetes care for Kaiser Permanente patients

October 15, 2013

Video: KP scientists on electronic health records Kaiser Permanente’s electronic health records are world-renowned for their pivotal role in providing...

Landmark Heart Study Pioneers Science of Health Disparities

February 20, 2013

Study pioneers the science of health disparities—and launches quest to solve big problems in health care.

Vaccine Study Center Research Yields Valuable Knowledge on Vaccines for Children and Adolescents

November 13, 2012

The Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center (VSC), which conducts research to advance scientific understanding of vaccines at all levels of...

Electronic Health Records Aid in Diabetes Care