General Interest
Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:33h | UTCProspective cohort study: Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia – Stroke (free PDF)
Editorial: Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages in Relation to Stroke and Dementia: Are Soft Drinks Hard on the Brain? – Stroke(free PDF)
Commentaries on the study: Diet soda and stroke & dementia news coverage: 3 key points weren’t always reported – HealthNewsReview (free – See Tweet) AND Stroke and dementia risk linked to artificial sweeteners, study suggests – The Guardian (free) AND A diet soda a day might affect dementia risk, study suggests – American Heart Association News (free)
This study has drawn a lot of attention from the media, but no firm conclusions can be made due to the observational nature of the study.
Global hepatitis report, 2017 – World Health Organization
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:31h | UTCReport: Global hepatitis report, 2017 – World Health Organization (free)
Press release: New hepatitis data highlight need for urgent global response (free)
Related resources: WHO’s work on Hepatitis (free) AND Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis, 2016-2021 (free)
The World Health Organization has released the first ever Global Hepatitis Report, with estimates on Hepatitis B and C burden, incidence and mortality. According to the report, deaths from viral hepatitis are increasing, with 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a number comparable to deaths caused by tuberculosis and HIV.
Patterns of global health financing and potential future spending on health
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:28h | UTCTwo new articles in The Lancet address important issues in global health economics.
Invited commentary: Patterns of global health financing and potential future spending on health – The Lancet (free)
Commentary on the studies: What Country Spends the Most (And Least) On Health Care Per Person? – NPR Goats and Soda (free)
Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality
21 Apr, 2017 | 15:19h | UTCEditorial: Active commuting is beneficial for health (free)
See also: Cycling to work can cut cancer and heart disease, says study – BBC News (free) AND Cycling to work: major new study suggests health benefits are staggering – The Conversation (free)
A case for global investment in the capabilities of adolescents
21 Apr, 2017 | 15:20h | UTCSee also: Securing investments to realise the social and economic rights of adolescents (free) Our Future – Invest in Adolescent Health Now(free) AND Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing (all articles are free)
“Investing in adolescent health & education could bring 10-fold economic benefit” (RT @TheLancet see Tweet)
Why Physician Burnout Is Endemic, and How Health Care Must Respond
24 Apr, 2017 | 15:24h | UTCSurvey and commentaries: Why Physician Burnout Is Endemic, and How Health Care Must Respond – NEJM Catalyst (free)
Increased in clerical burden seems to be one of the leading causes, heavily influenced by expanded and more comprehensive use of electronic health records. More on the burden of administrative tasks in healthcare in our April 21 issue, see #5.
Climate Change and Health Reports
21 Apr, 2017 | 14:37h | UTCWhy the Menace of Mosquitoes Will Only Get Worse – The New York Times Magazine (RT @CIDRAP and @marynmck see Tweet) (10 articles per month are free)
Related: Disease Burden Growing as Vector Insects Adapt to Climate Change – IPS (free) (source Global Health NOW Newsletter) AND UN Doc: Climate Change is New Challenge in Fighting Disease Outbreaks – MedPage Today (free registration required)
“Climate change is altering the environment in ways that increase the potential for viruses like Zika”.
The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change – The Lancet (free)
Editorial: Climate and health: joining up the pieces, scaling up the action (free)
Medical Alert! Climate Change Is Harming Our Health – Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health (link to summary – free PDF available)
Sources: Medical Societies Come Together on Harms of Climate Change – Medscape (free registration required) AND Climate Change Already Affecting Human Health – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Why it’s a bad idea to space out your child’s vaccination shots
19 Apr, 2017 | 14:17h | UTCWhy it’s a bad idea to space out your child’s vaccination shots – The Washington Post (a few articles per month are free)
“Splitting immunizations into several visits only increases children’s stress” (RT @IDSAInfo see Tweet)
The 2017 Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals
19 Apr, 2017 | 14:19h | UTCThe 2017 Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals: a new visual guide to data and development – The World Bank (free) (RT @glassmanamandaand @St_Klingebiel see Tweet)
With over 150 maps and data visualizations, the new publication charts the progress societies are making towards the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Beverage consumption taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages
20 Apr, 2017 | 14:22h | UTCSources: First US sugar tax sees soft drink sales fall by almost 10%, study shows – The Guardian (free) (RT @kamleshkhunti see Tweet) AND Sugary Drink Sales Fizzled After Soda Tax – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Related articles and commentaries on the possible benefits of sugar taxes: W.H.O. Urges Tax on Sugary Drinks to Fight Obesity – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) Fiscal policies for diet and the prevention of noncommunicable diseases – World Health Organization(free) AND Mexico’s sugar tax leads to fall in consumption for second year running – The Guardian (free) AND Why the government should tax unhealthy foods and subsidise nutritious ones – The Conversation (free)
Integrating neglected tropical diseases in global health and development
19 Apr, 2017 | 14:08h | UTCPress release: Unprecedented progress against neglected tropical diseases, WHO reports (free)
See also: Executive summary (free) AND Neglected No More – Gates Notes (free) AND The world’s assault on tropical diseases is working – STAT News (free)
A guide to neglected tropical diseases prioritised by the World Health Organisation – Financial Times (free) (RT @NTDCOUNTDOWN See Tweet)
See also: Fact sheets relating to NTD – World Health Organization (free)
“The World Health Organisation has selected 18 as good candidates to be controlled”
Too Clean for Our Children’s Good?
18 Apr, 2017 | 14:04h | UTCToo Clean for Our Children’s Good? – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
According to the “hygiene hypothesis”, some exposure to germs and microorganisms might be good for us because it helps develop the immune system.
Amsterdam’s solution to the obesity crisis: no fruit juice and enough sleep
17 Apr, 2017 | 13:55h | UTCAmsterdam’s solution to the obesity crisis: no fruit juice and enough sleep – The Guardian (free) (RT @DrAseemMalhotra see Tweet)
“The city is successfully fighting fat by promoting tap water in its schools, along with healthy cooking classes and a ban on fast food sponsorship”
Association of Facebook Use With Compromised Well-Being
17 Apr, 2017 | 13:56h | UTCA New, More Rigorous Study Confirms: The More You Use Facebook, the Worse You Feel – Harvard Business Review (free) (RT @EricTopol see Tweet)
Original article abstract ($ for full-text): Association of Facebook Use With Compromised Well-Being: A Longitudinal Study – American Journal of Epidemiology
Increase in water and sanitation investment required to meet development targets
14 Apr, 2017 | 16:26h | UTCSee also: WHO’s work on water, sanitation and hygiene (free) AND WHO’s work on public health, environment and social determinants of health(free)
Banning trans fats in New York prevented thousands of heart attacks
13 Apr, 2017 | 16:08h | UTCHospital Admissions for Myocardial Infarction and Stroke Before and After the Trans-Fatty Acid Restrictions in New York – JAMA Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Sources: Banning trans fats in New York prevented thousands of heart attacks, study finds – STAT News (free) AND Trans Fat Bans Tied to Fewer Heart Attacks and Strokes – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
Other localities might consider doing the same as well.
Recorded childhood cancers rise by 13% worldwide
14 Apr, 2017 | 16:11h | UTCRecorded childhood cancers rise by 13% worldwide, study finds – The Guardian (free)
Original articles: International incidence of childhood cancer, 2001–10: a population-based registry study – The Lancet Oncology (free) ANDWorldwide comparison of survival from childhood leukaemia for 1995–2009, by subtype, age, and sex (CONCORD-2): a population-based study of individual data for 89 828 children from 198 registries in 53 countries – The Lancet Haematology (free) Related commentary: Issues raised by the incidence and survival of childhood cancers (free)
Ten years in public health 2007-2017 – World Health Organization
14 Apr, 2017 | 16:25h | UTCTen years in public health 2007-2017 – World Health Organization (free)
WHO has launched a report that chronicles the evolution of global public health over the last decade. The first chapter examines WHO’s key role in promoting universal health coverage (free). The full series will be published over the next 6 weeks.
Prostate Cancer Screening – Conflicting views on the new USPSTF draft recommendations
13 Apr, 2017 | 16:06h | UTCProstate Cancer Screening – Conflicting views on the new USPSTF draft recommendations
In favor of screening: New Official Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines Announced: Too Little, Too Late? – Forbes (free) AND Federal Task Force Softens Opposition To Routine Prostate Cancer Screening – NPR
Against screening: The new recommendations for prostate cancer screenings are a bad deal – STAT News (free)
See also: Original USPSTF draft recommendations and related commentaries in yesterday’s issue
Global burden of disease attributable to ambient air pollution
12 Apr, 2017 | 15:57h | UTCRelated commentary: Tallying the bills of mortality from air pollution (free)
4.2 million deaths globally were attributable to fine particles and another 254 000 to surface ozone in 2015. The article also has details on country-specific deaths and disability-adjusted life-years from 1990 through 2015.
Famine now threatens 20 million people
12 Apr, 2017 | 16:00h | UTCFamine now threatens 20 million people – more than at any time since World War II – Washington Post (RT @AthaliaChristie and @wpjenna)
Prostate Cancer Screening Draft Recommendations – USPSTF
12 Apr, 2017 | 15:58h | UTCProstate Cancer Screening Draft Recommendations – U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (free)
Viewpoint: The US Preventive Services Task Force 2017 Draft Recommendation Statement on Screening for Prostate Cancer: An Invitation to Review and Comment – JAMA (free)
See also: Should you get screened for prostate cancer? We break down the latest advice – STAT News (free)
For those aged 55 to 69 it recommends “informed, individualized decision making based on a man’s values and preferences”. According to a useful infographic from the draft recommendations, the benefits are likely small. For every 1000 men offered PSA based screening over a period of 10-15 years, the test would avoid cancer spreading in 3 men and death from prostate cancer in 1-2 men, with the undesired consequences of false positives and subsequent procedures in many patients.
The Patients Were Saved. That’s Why the Families Are Suing
13 Apr, 2017 | 16:01h | UTCThe Patients Were Saved. That’s Why the Families Are Suing – The New York Times (free)
“Historically, the practice has been “if in doubt, err on the side of aggressive, life-sustaining treatment,””. That might be changing.
How Many Pills Are Too Many?
12 Apr, 2017 | 15:56h | UTCHow Many Pills Are Too Many? – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
“Evidence has mounted about the dangers of taking multiple, perhaps unnecessary, medications” (from Tweet)
Why Are So Many People Popping Vitamin D?
11 Apr, 2017 | 15:47h | UTCWhy Are So Many People Popping Vitamin D? – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
“Labs performing these tests are reporting perfectly normal levels of vitamin D — 20 to 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood — as “insufficient.” As a consequence, millions of healthy people think they have a deficiency”
Note: Some organizations still think appropriate levels would be above 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood, more details in the text.