People bereaved by suicide are at increased risk of suicide, depression, and mental illness compared to those affected by other sudden deaths. The Lancet Psychiatry review emphasizes the need for more comprehensive support from health and social services.
The Lancet and The Lancet Respiratory Medicine publish review articles on outdoor air pollution, asthma genetics, and preschool wheeze diagnosis to improve asthma control, prognosis, and personalized treatment approaches.
The Lancet Psychiatry article highlights the underuse of mental health resources among individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts. According to researchers, approximately 60% of people experiencing suicidal ideation or behavior do not receive treatment, underscoring the need for more effective psychological interventions and increas...
A stress-diathesis theory explains why only a small minority of individuals are at risk of suicidal behavior after exposure to stressful life experiences. Biomarkers based on genetic effects and brain imaging may help detect high-risk individuals.
The prescription of testosterone in older men is associated with unclear cardiovascular risk. Despite the benefits in younger men, ongoing studies are unlikely to provide reliable safety data due to limited sample sizes and power.
A new meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D supplements do not prevent falls by 15% or more, leaving uncertainty about their benefits for vulnerable older people. The analysis of 20 randomised controlled trials involving over 29,500 participants found no evidence to support the use of vitamin D supplements to reduce fall risk.
Rates of PTSD increased sevenfold and severe distress nearly tripled over six years, with persisting injustice linked to a quadrupling of risk for PTSD. Mental health services should be enhanced to meet increased needs in post-conflict settings.
Researchers found that holding babies on their mother's abdomen or chest immediately after birth does not compromise delayed cord clamping. This could lead to improved uptake and reduced risk of infant iron deficiency. The study suggests a more comfortable and bonding-friendly approach for hospitals.
A new study published in The Lancet found that functional brain imaging techniques, such as PET and fMRI, can reliably predict which vegetative patients have the potential to recover consciousness. The research suggests that these techniques can complement standard behavioral assessments to identify patients with a higher chance of lon...
The Lancet Oncology publishes a major new Commission examining the challenges to effective cancer control in China, India, and Russia. The report highlights disparities in access to cancer care, poor quality of data collection, and barriers to improving cancer care related to social, economic, and environmental factors.
Researchers found that small financial incentives increased completion of hepatitis B vaccination among injecting drug users, with 45-49% completing the course compared to 9%. The study suggests offering financial incentives can be achieved in routine clinical practice and improve public health outcomes.
A third of ICU survivors develop depression manifesting as physical symptoms, such as weakness and fatigue, rather than psychological symptoms. Depression is four times more common than PTSD after critical illness, highlighting the need for new treatment approaches focusing on physical rehabilitation.
A new study published in The Lancet found that expensive, intense physiotherapy sessions do not provide additional benefits over a single session of education and advice with phone follow-up. The study supports previous claims that longer physiotherapy programmes offer minimal added benefit for acute whiplash-associated disorders.
A recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that lifestyle interventions can significantly reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and all-causes among individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. The 23-year follow-up of the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study showed a cumulative incidence of death...
A large study of child growth patterns in 36 developing countries found that economic growth is at best associated with small declines in stunting, underweight, and wasting. Targeted nutrition-related interventions are crucial to tackle child undernutrition worldwide.
Insufficient or disturbed sleep is linked to metabolic disorders, with addressing poor quality sleep recommended for prevention and treatment. Sleep disturbances, including circadian desynchrony, are associated with increased rates of chronic illness and early mortality.
The Lancet journals publish a special collection on tuberculosis, highlighting emerging challenges like drug-resistant strains and poor treatment outcomes. New anti-tuberculosis drugs and host-directed therapies are being developed to improve treatment efficacy.
A new study provides reliable data on antibiotic use in non-EU southern and eastern European countries, highlighting the need for national action plans to enhance judicious use. High rates of self-medication with antibiotics and parenteral administration are reported, emphasizing the urgent need for restriction and education.
A large meta-analysis involving over 29,000 patients from 38 countries found that antiviral drugs like Tamiflu reduced the risk of death from H1N1 influenza by 25% in adults hospitalized. Treatment within 48 hours of symptom onset was associated with a halved risk of death compared to later treatment or no treatment.
A phase 2 study found that simvastatin slowed brain atrophy by 43% over two years compared to placebo. The medication was well-tolerated and showed small but significant improvements in disability scales.
China has successfully reduced its tuberculosis (TB) prevalence by half over 20 years, driven by the directly observed, short-course (DOTS) strategy. The nationwide expansion of DOTS contributed to a significant decrease in TB cases and improved treatment outcomes.
A major study reveals that only 23% of seasonal and pandemic flu infections caused noticeable symptoms, with a staggering 77% remaining asymptomatic. The research, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, underscores the need for improved surveillance to accurately track disease burden.
A new study published in The Lancet found that US patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms have higher survival rates compared to English NHS patients. The research reveals that American hospitals offer more surgical treatments, resulting in 13% fewer deaths, whereas English hospitals were less likely to perform such procedures.
Heart failure is commonly assessed as a complication of diabetes but rarely considered as an outcome in glucose-lowering drug trials. Recent studies suggest some drugs may increase cardiovascular risk despite lowering blood glucose, prompting new regulations for cardiovascular outcomes trials.
Researchers identified DNA methylation changes in the HIF3A gene that correlate with BMI and increase the risk of diseases like diabetes. The study suggests a new potential target for treating obesity-related health issues.
A randomized trial in India found that community-based care led by lay health workers was more effective than standard facility-based care in reducing disability and psychotic symptoms, with patients almost three times more likely to continue taking their antipsychotic medication. However, costs were higher in the intervention group.
A new study suggests that a high-calorie diet rich in carbohydrates and fat may help slow the progression of motor neuron disease (ALS). Patients who were mildly obese lived longer than those who lost weight as ALS progressed. The diets improved survival rates, with fewer adverse events and deaths from respiratory failure.
The SuperMum campaign successfully increased handwashing with soap rates by 31% in rural India villages, sustaining improvements for 12 months. This approach leverages emotional motivators like disgust and nurture to drive behavior change.
A European study found that patients are more likely to die after common surgical procedures in hospitals with heavier nurse workloads and fewer nurses with bachelor's degrees. In contrast, a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding a bachelor degree is associated with a 7% decrease in the risk of death.
Substantial reductions in malaria transmission have been achieved across most of Africa, but 57% of the population still live in areas of moderate-to-high transmission intensity. High population growth rates and emerging resistance to insecticides threaten progress.
High-resolution CT scans can detect IPF by identifying a characteristic honeycombing pattern in lung scarring. This non-invasive method may replace surgical lung biopsies in some cases, reducing substantial risks associated with the procedure.
The Review finds that the number of recognized chemical causes of neurodevelopmental disorders has doubled, and the list of unregulated chemicals has expanded. Stringent controls could generate billions in savings and improve childhood health outcomes.
A recent UK study found that doctors are missing opportunities to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in up to 85% of cases. The study, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, analyzed data from 38,859 patients and found that missed opportunities for diagnosis were most common in the years preceding diagnosis. T...
A global study found that an estimated 5.2% of women worldwide experience non-partner sexual violence, with highest rates in central and southern Africa and lower rates in North Africa and South Asia. The data highlights the need for better policies and services to address this issue
The Commission on Global Governance for Health calls for urgent reform of global decision-making to address socioeconomic inequality and health inequity. The report identifies seven areas where political and economic injustices affect population health, including food security and transnational corporations.
A patient's symptoms were linked to cobalt poisoning after a doctor used a TV show as a teaching tool to diagnose a rare disease. The patient had undergone a metal hip replacement, leading to severe heart failure and other symptoms that were eventually resolved with a new ceramic prosthesis.
A large-scale study of whole-genome testing has identified a unique treatment approach for women with advanced breast cancer, targeting genomic alterations in their tumors. The study found that around half of patients had targetable genomic alterations, and 39% had rare alterations, many of which no treatments currently exist.
Researchers found that cognitive therapy reduced psychotic symptoms and improved personal and social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia who had stopped taking antipsychotics. The therapy involved reappraising psychotic experiences and modifying unhelpful thought patterns.
A Chinese woman died from a new bird flu virus H10N8 after visiting a live poultry market, with the virus showing genetic characteristics allowing it to replicate efficiently in humans. The H10N8 strain has been previously isolated but never reported in humans before.
Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for both obesity and type 2 diabetes, offering substantial benefits in terms of weight loss, metabolic status, and quality of life. In people with type 2 diabetes, bariatric surgery can reverse complications and improve end-organ health, including pancreatic, renal, retinal, peripheral ...
A large prospective study has confirmed that vodka consumption is a major cause of early death in Russian men, with those who drink heavily facing a 60-70% increased risk. The study found that heavy vodka drinkers were more likely to die from alcohol-related causes such as poisoning, accidents, and violence.
A new study shows that oral immunotherapy can enable children with severe peanut allergies to consume large amounts of peanut protein without experiencing allergic symptoms. After six months of treatment, 62% of participants were able to tolerate a daily dose of 1400mg of peanut protein, significantly improving their quality of life.
A new study in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology assesses the progression of 'silent' adrenal tumours (adrenal incidentalomas) and their impact on cardiovascular events and death. The results show that some tumours became more active over time, increasing cardiovascular risk, especially in patients whose tumours secrete cortisol.
A new analysis of 40 randomized controlled trials suggests that vitamin D supplementation does not prevent heart attacks, strokes, or bone fractures. The study concludes that vitamin D supplements probably provide little to no health benefit, contradicting previous observational studies that linked deficiency to poor health.
A study found that UK patients diagnosed with heart attacks between 2004-2010 had higher death rates (10.5%) compared to Swedish patients (7.6%). The difference in mortality rates decreased over time, but the UK still lagged behind Sweden in terms of quality of care.
The FFIT programme has been shown to be highly effective in helping men lose weight, with participants losing an average of 4.94kg after 12 months. The programme also showed benefits in reducing waist size, body fat, and blood pressure, as well as improving physical activity levels and mental wellbeing.
The Arab world has made significant strides in reducing premature death and disability, but still struggles with substantial burdens of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Governance and health systems are also critical to addressing these challenges.
A study in South Africa found that nearly half of XDR-TB patients discharged into the community were treatment failures, posing a significant risk to public health. The study also revealed that these patients could survive for months or even years, allowing them to infect others.
Researchers have developed a gene therapy treatment that improves vision in people with choroideremia, a condition causing progressive loss of sight. The treatment showed significant improvements in visual acuity and sensitivity to light in six patients, offering promise for future treatments of other retinal diseases.
ProSavin, a novel gene therapy, has shown promise in reducing motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease by delivering dopamine-making genes directly into the brain. Significant improvements in motor scores were seen in all patients after treatment.