A new UK Biobank study has identified six independent genetic variants associated with lung health and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The findings also suggest that genetic variations affecting gene regulation may play a role in COPD, providing potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies.
A global shortfall in radiotherapy resources has led to millions of unnecessary deaths, but investing in radiotherapy services could bring economic benefits of up to $365 billion over the next 20 years. Access to radiotherapy is currently unacceptably low, especially in Africa, where most countries have no facilities.
A large meta-analysis found that restricting access to means, encouraging help-seeking, and increasing third-party intervention significantly lower the number of deaths at high-risk locations. Interventions reduced annual suicides by over half when combined with other approaches.
New research suggests that obese patients with type 2 diabetes should be prioritized for obesity surgery, as they often experience remission of diabetes and reduced healthcare costs. The study, based on the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study, found that total healthcare costs were lower in surgery patients who had prediabetes or diabetes.
Current harmful alcohol use increases risk of various health issues, including cancers and injuries. The study supports health strategies to reduce harm, especially in low-income countries.
A new study reveals that England has made significant progress in improving its health outcomes compared to other wealthy countries. However, the research also exposes persistent health disparities within English regions, with little change in the gap between the most and least deprived areas over the past 23 years.
The Lancet study examines 79 avoidable risk factors contributing to 30.8 million deaths in 2013, with poor diet being the leading cumulative impact on health. High blood pressure, smoking, and high body mass index are top individual risk factors associated with global deaths.
A long-term study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal found that ex-prisoners with common psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse are more likely to commit violent crimes after release. The study estimated that up to a fifth of violent reoffending by former male prisoners can be attributed to diagnosed p...
Teenagers who identify with the goth subculture are more likely to experience depression and self-harm, according to new research. The study found that young people who strongly identified as goths at age 15 were three times more likely to be clinically depressed by age 18.
A new analysis found that global life expectancy has increased by six years since 1990, while healthy life expectancy grew by five years. However, the increase in healthy life expectancy has not been as dramatic, resulting in people living more years with illness and disability.
A case-series of eight British healthcare workers who received antiviral-based therapies after possible accidental exposure to Ebola virus in Sierra Leone did not develop the disease. The study suggests that post-exposure prophylaxis may be effective in preventing Ebola infection, and authors call for standardised guidelines to be deve...
Experts claim number of people with dementia in some Western European countries is stabilizing. The findings suggest a decrease in prevalence and incidence of dementia across specific age groups.
Working 55+ hours per week is associated with a 33% increased risk of stroke and a 13% increased risk of coronary heart disease. Longer working hours are linked to increased stress, physical inactivity, and high alcohol consumption, which may increase the risk of stroke.
A comprehensive review of 7000 patients found that listening to music significantly reduces pain medication use and reports more satisfaction after surgery. Patients who selected their own music experienced a slight but non-significant reduction in pain, highlighting the importance of patient choice.
Modeling research suggests that universal iodine supplementation during pregnancy in mildly iodine deficient countries like the UK could save the National Health Service £200 per expectant mother, while providing monetary benefits of around £4500 per child from increased lifetime earnings.
A web-based programme to encourage frequent handwashing reduces respiratory tract infections in UK households, with a 14% risk reduction and lower demand for consultations and antibiotic prescriptions. The study suggests PRIMIT could play an important role in reducing flu spread and strain on NHS services during winter months.
A three-part series in The Lancet highlights the enduring radiological and psychological impact of nuclear disasters, including elevated rates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers emphasize the need for improved communication about health risks and adequate medical support for vulnerable populations.
Two classes of inexpensive generic drugs, aromatase inhibitors and bisphosphonates, have been shown to improve survival prospects for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. The combination of the two types of drug may also increase benefits while decreasing some side-effects.
A new report from The Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on Planetary Health warns of impending irreversible environmental effects threatening human health. Human activities are degrading the planet's resources and ecological systems, putting future generations at risk of increased mortality rates and non-communicable diseases.
A study published in The Lancet finds that donor funding for key global health issues is significantly underfunded, with only 21% allocated to global functions. The analysis highlights the need for governments to adopt an approach emphasizing funding for global health functions to improve the health of poor people worldwide.
A real-life trial in urban Bangladesh shows that oral cholera vaccine is safe and effective in reducing severe cholera cases by nearly 40% among vaccinated individuals. The vaccine's success lends support to its use in routine mass vaccination programs, particularly in endemic countries where clean water and sanitation are scarce.
Faith-based organisations have played critical roles in delivering education, health, and social services, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. Religious leaders provide a much-needed complement to public health messages, inspiring congregations to adopt healthy behaviours.
A phase 2 trial has shown that gene therapy can improve lung function in people with cystic fibrosis, with a significant benefit seen in patients who received the treatment. The technique uses inhaled molecules of DNA to deliver a normal working copy of the CFTR gene to lung cells.
A study from Botswana suggests that longer secondary schooling can significantly lower the risk of HIV infection, with women benefiting most. The researchers found that pupils who stayed in school for an extra year had an 8 percentage point lower risk of HIV infection about a decade later.
A new point-of-care EVD test has been shown to be faster and as sensitive as a conventional laboratory-based method, detecting the virus in just a small drop of blood. The rapid diagnostic test could help identify case contacts and ultimately curb Ebola's spread by quickly confirming or ruling out cases.
The report highlights the urgent need to scale up AIDS efforts, get serious about HIV prevention, and continue expanding access to treatment in countries most affected by HIV. The Commission recommends increasing resources for HIV prevention, treatment, and research, as well as robust governance and accountability.
A national study involving over 9 million Medicare patients found that patients rehospitalized with complications after major surgery are 26% more likely to survive if they return to the hospital where they had their operation. The researchers suggest maintaining continuity of care when readmissions occur is a key predictor of survival.
A new study combining data from two large trials suggests that one dose of the bivalent HPV vaccine may be sufficient to protect against most cervical cancer cases, with high efficacy seen in women receiving one, two, or three doses. The findings have significant implications for global health, particularly in resource-poor settings wh...
A major new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 reveals that nearly 20 people in 100 worldwide had no health problems in 2013. Over 2.3 billion individuals experienced more than five ailments, with low back pain and depression ranking as top contributors to disability.
A new Commission on women and health found that women's contributions to healthcare amount to $3 trillion, with nearly half being unpaid and unrecognised. The report emphasizes the need for gender equality and empowerment in healthcare policies and interventions.
Researchers have developed a simple score that uses self-reported information to predict an individual's risk of dying within 5 years. The score can be calculated online using a questionnaire and has been validated in a large study sample, showing high accuracy in predicting mortality risk.
The MERS-CoV virus has been linked to dromedary camels, with little human-to-human transmission reported. The disease can cause severe respiratory symptoms and multiorgan failure, highlighting the need for effective infection prevention and control measures.
A collaborative meta-analysis found that creatinine-based eGFR and albuminuria improve cardiovascular prediction, particularly for mortality and heart failure. The assessment of albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) outperformed traditional risk factors, suggesting its potential broad implications for cardiovascular risk classification.
An international study analyzing over 74 million deaths in 384 locations across 13 countries found that cold weather was responsible for the majority of temperature-related deaths, with most caused by moderately cold temperatures. Deaths due to non-optimal temperatures accounted for around 7.71% of all deaths.
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology publishes a series on depression and diabetes, revealing a bi-directional association between the two conditions. The studies also suggest that depression-distress mediates the association between depression and glycaemic control.
A large international study found that weak grip strength is linked with shorter survival and a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Grip strength was also found to be a stronger predictor of death than systolic blood pressure.
A new study by The Lancet reveals that two-thirds of global deaths and one-third of births go unreported. This lack of data hampers informed policy-making and decision-making, leading to lost opportunities to improve population health. Mobile phone data collection and technology advances are proposed as solutions to crack the problem.
The west African Ebola epidemic has sparked interest in global health security, but its impact on political commitment to public health is uncertain. The crisis has highlighted the importance of securing individuals' access to healthcare as part of global health security. Key challenges include counterfeit medicines, antimicrobial resi...
Researchers predict that personalized medicine interventions could generate significant healthcare gains, including a $607 billion reduction in heart disease incidence. However, weak incentives to develop these interventions hinder their adoption, and experts suggest reimbursement reform could strengthen manufacturers' incentives.
Life expectancy in England and Wales is projected to increase by 6.5 years for men and 7.4 years for women between 2012 and 2030, with the gap between the top and bottom 1% of life expectancies expected to rise by 1.8 years for men and 2.5 years for women.
New research finds that childhood bullying has a greater negative impact on teenager's mental health than being maltreated, with bullied children five times more likely to experience anxiety and nearly twice as likely to report depression and self-harm at age 18.
A new Commission estimates that 5 billion people worldwide cannot afford proper surgical care, leading to millions of deaths from treatable conditions. Investing $420 billion in surgery by 2030 could scale up access to life-saving procedures, according to the report.
The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine candidate demonstrates partial protection against clinical malaria in young African children, with efficacy increasing with a booster dose. The vaccine's impact on severe malaria and hospitalizations is also significant, especially in areas of high transmission.
New estimates suggest that the West African Ebola outbreak could have resulted in comparable number of malaria deaths as those due to Ebola itself. Implementing mass drug administration and ITN campaigns may largely mitigate the impact of Ebola on malaria.
A new study found that around a third of all deaths in former male prisoners are due to alcohol and substance use, while half of female ex-prisoners also die from similar causes. The study suggests that preventive and therapeutic programmes can significantly reduce the number of deaths from these preventable causes.
A large study found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is comparable in preventing depression relapse to maintenance antidepressant medication. The therapy may offer a cost-effective and low-cost option for individuals with recurrent depression.
Sepsis, a life-threatening condition causing widespread inflammation and organ failure, is poorly understood despite being one of the best-known medical disorders. The Lancet Infectious Diseases Commission recommends prioritizing biomarkers, education, and public awareness to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Recent breakthroughs in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research focus on precision medicine approaches, leveraging genetic technologies to identify risk genes and develop personalized therapies. Neuroimaging studies are also helping understand brain structure and function across the lifespan.
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine publishes two Reviews on obstructive sleep apnea, discussing its effects on brain health and cognitive performance. The articles also explore the potential for personalized treatment approaches and emerging diagnostics in managing OSA.
Research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology suggests that being underweight in middle age is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia. In contrast, obese middle-aged individuals are nearly 30% less likely to develop dementia than those of a healthy weight, contradicting previous research findings.