Rates of new obesity cases rose by 4% between 2019 and 2025, with the largest increases seen among young adults. The study also found significant disparities in obesity rates across sociodemographic groups and geographical regions, highlighting the need for deep-seated change to address the underlying factors driving obesity.
A recent study analyzing 5.8 billion medicines dispensed in England from 2019 to 2024 found significant health disparities, with nearly twice as many medicines prescribed to the most deprived groups as those in the least deprived groups by age 40.
The Dementia Trials Accelerator is revolutionizing dementia research by streamlining the recruitment process for clinical trials. With over 10,000 participants expected to be recruited by 2027, this initiative aims to accelerate diagnosis and treatment development for those affected by dementia.
A new study analyzing linked electronic health records found that COVID-19 infections led to a higher and longer-lasting risk of rare heart complications, including myocarditis and thrombocytopenia, compared to vaccination. The research team estimated an additional 2.24 cases of myocarditis per 100,000 children after COVID-19 infection.
The study analyzed linked health data for over 57 million people in England, finding drops in cardiovascular disease incidence during the pandemic. However, diagnoses rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, with increased cases of heart failure and inflammation of heart tissue observed after the pandemic.
Researchers uncovered eight rare diseases that carry significantly increased risks for COVID-19-related mortality in fully vaccinated individuals. These conditions, including infertility disorders and kidney diseases, pose a nearly fivefold greater risk of death from COVID-19 than the general population.
An independent review highlights complexities in using UK health data to improve people's health and lives, with delays of months or years in accessing data. The Sudlow Review recommends treating health data as critical national infrastructure with leadership and investment to match, enabling safe and secure data use across the UK.
A new study analyzing health records from 46 million adults in England found that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. The incidence was up to 10% lower after the first dose and up to 27% lower after two doses, especially with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
A digital app has been found to reduce emergency hospital admissions from care homes by 25%, as well as A&E attendances by 11%. The use of the Health Call app led to a cost reduction for the NHS of £57 per resident in 2018, increasing to £113 in 2021.
A UK study found that between a third and a half of the population had not received the recommended number of COVID vaccinations by summer 2022. The research suggests that this under-vaccination led to over 7,000 hospitalisations and deaths that might have been avoided with better vaccine coverage.
Researchers found that nearly half a million people missed starting medication to lower their blood pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to thousands of avoidable cardiovascular events. Identifying individuals who missed out on treatment could reduce these events by just over 2,700.
A new study found that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of potentially life-threatening blood clots for at least 49 weeks. The excess risk to individuals reduces over time, but preventive strategies such as medication can help reduce cases of serious clots.
Researchers analyzed 57 million patient records in England to identify 15,486 unattributed COVID-19 deaths and 10,884 new diagnoses. The study found that ventilatory support outside ICUs was associated with high death rates, emphasizing the need for scaled ICU services.