Research on what raises a person's risk of disease and injury. Covers cardiovascular and aneurysm risk, medication in pregnancy, youth behavior, and suicide risk.
New research from Brown University found that Medicare Advantage plan rankings may not accurately reflect the quality of care provided to disadvantaged populations. After adjusting for social risk factors, plans serving these populations improved considerably in the rankings.
A study published in The BMJ found that children of mothers who follow a healthy lifestyle have a substantially lower risk of developing obesity. The research suggests that if both mothers and their children stick to a healthy lifestyle, this could result in an even further reduction in the risk of childhood obesity.
An observational study of 7065 Canadian workers found that working 45+ hours/week increases the risk of diabetes in women. In contrast, shorter working weeks of 30-40 hours were associated with a lower risk. The researchers suggest that chronic stress and hormonal abnormalities may contribute to this gender-specific difference.
A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that women with high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. The risk factors emerged shortly after pregnancy and persisted for decades.
Breast cancer research has long neglected social factors like race and socioeconomic status, missing opportunities to understand and reduce disparities in risk and outcomes. Studies have shown that only a small percentage of clinical trials reported findings stratified by these factors.
A recent study has found that poor sleep quality is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), which can lead to symptoms like heart palpitations and shortness of breath. The researchers also discovered that disruptions in sleep patterns, such as reduced REM sleep, predict a higher risk of AF.
The initiative aims to enrich the world's largest health database with comprehensive metabolic biomarker profiles from 500,000 blood samples. Nightingale Health's technology will measure over 200 metabolic biomarkers in a single blood test.
A new study published in LGBT Health found that bisexual men have a higher risk for heart disease compared to heterosexual men, with increased rates of mental distress, obesity, and elevated blood pressure. Researchers highlight the importance of tailored screening and prevention strategies to reduce heart disease risk in bisexual men.
Young adults who use alcohol and/or marijuana are more likely to engage in condomless sex, with women being at greater risk on days with substance use. The study found that women's risk of condomless sex increased by a factor of 2.12 on alcohol use days, while men's risk was only slightly higher on dual use days.
A pooled analysis of 2 million people aged 42-77 from Europe to Asia suggests marriage protects against heart disease/stroke. Being single, divorced, or widowed increases cardiovascular risk, with divorce associated with a 35% higher risk of developing heart disease.
A web-based tool called KardioKompassi provided personalized genetic risk information to patients and doctors, leading to significant changes in smoking cessation and weight loss rates. The results showed that nearly 90% of participants made better health care choices after receiving their genomic data.
A large observational study found that middle-to-older aged women who are naturally early to bed and rise have a significantly lower risk of developing depression. After accounting for environmental factors, the study shows a modest link between chronotype and depression risk.
A recent study published in Medical Care found that older adults with higher financial literacy are at lower risk of being hospitalized. The association remained significant after adjusting for other factors, including income and physical health.
A study published by Purdue University found that adopting a Mediterranean-style eating pattern improves heart health, even if the red meat consumed is lean and unprocessed. The study compared two groups: one consuming 3 ounces of lean red meat per day and another consuming it only twice a week.
A study found that travellers carrying standby antibiotics are more likely to use them for mild and moderate diarrhoea, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. The study identified factors increasing antibiotic use among travellers, including carriage of stand-by antibiotics, vomiting, and contact with local healthcare.
A recent study found that individuals with a positive outlook and less education are more susceptible to marketing scams promising large rewards. The presence of an activation fee can help deter potential victims by reducing the perceived risk.
A recent study found that men with erectile dysfunction are twice as likely to experience heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and strokes. The research suggests that ED is an important indicator of cardiovascular risk among middle-aged men.
Researchers have discovered that exposure to cattle and rice farming are risk factors for the devastating disease leptospirosis in northern Tanzania. Cattle and work in rice fields are associated with acute leptospirosis, suggesting that controlling Leptospira infection in livestock could play a role in preventing human infection.
Childhood obesity rates continue to rise due to complex dietary and lifestyle patterns. Research presented at Nutrition 2018 found that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with higher BMI throughout childhood, while promoting healthy drinking habits and eating breakfast can help kids meet dietary recommendations.
A 25-year-old prison inmate was left with a permanent disability after using synthetic cannabis, despite having no traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The case highlights the potential dangers of synthetic cannabis use and the need for greater awareness among young users.
Studies show that mobile health technology can lower cardiovascular disease risk scores and improve individual components of the risk score, such as systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and waist-to-hip ratio. However, more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness in modifying objective measures of health.
A study of Japanese adults aged 60 found that short and long daily sleep durations were risk factors for dementia and premature death. Participants with optimal sleep duration (5-6.9 hours) had a lower risk of dementia and death compared to those with shorter or longer sleep durations.
A study published in The BMJ found that spending more years in full-time education is associated with a greater risk of developing myopia. Every additional year of education was linked to more myopia, with university graduates being at least 1 dioptre more myopic than those who left school earlier.
Pilot data shows that short sleep duration is associated with a double risk of hospital readmission in acute coronary syndrome patients. The study found that patients with less than 6 hours of sleep per night were two times more likely to be rehospitalized within 30 days.
The WHO Independent High-Level Commission on NCDs reports that the Sustainable Development Goal for reducing premature deaths from NCDs by a third by 2030 will not be met at current rates. The commission proposes six recommendations to address this issue, including increased political leadership, prioritization, and improved financing.
A study found that cost was the strongest factor in decreased desire for diagnostic testing, with patients willing to forego tests due to financial burden. Implementing financial considerations to alter testing behavior may be necessary to address this issue and improve healthcare outcomes.
A recent study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that nearly a third of febrile patients in Northwest Ethiopia tested positive for dengue virus. The study identified key risk factors, including residence, occupation, and lack of mosquito net use, which can contribute to DENV infection.
A new study found that children and adolescents exposed to environmental risks like urbanization, abuse, or substance use are more likely to become violently aggressive adults. The research, led by Hannelore Ehrenreich, suggests epigenetic changes may play a role in this development.
A new study found that postmenopausal women who engaged in strenuous exercise regularly in their teens had lower risk of height loss. The study also identified other factors associated with height loss, including older age, heavier weight, and use of corticosteroids.
Patients with severe eczema have a 20% increased risk of stroke and a 70% increased risk of heart failure compared to those without eczema. The absolute risk is low, but targeted screening and primary prevention strategies could be needed for these patients.
A study of 109,089 adults in nine states and three that passed laws permitting service denial found an increase in mental distress among sexual minority adults. Mental health was defined as poor mental health on 14 or more days past 30.
Adults with severe eczema are at a higher risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and strokes. The study found that patients with severe eczema had a 20-70% increased risk of major cardiovascular events compared to those without eczema.
A recent study found short weekend sleep increased mortality risk in under 65-year-olds. Long or short weekday sleep also showed increased mortality when compared to consistently sleeping 6-7 hours daily.
A Norwegian-Greek study found that five traditional risk factors and two new ones can identify people at high risk of developing lung cancer. The research group created a risk calculator that can predict lung cancer with near-90% accuracy, reducing the need for unnecessary CT scans.
Researchers found that stable heavy smokers experienced greater decline in lung function compared to those who never smoked. However, smokers who quit had a lower risk of developing emphysema and lung disease than stable, low-rate smokers despite having smoked more cigarettes.
Researchers found that combined vascular risk factors and high brain amyloid levels predict faster cognitive decline in clinically normal older individuals. Vascular risk remained a strong predictor of cognitive decline even when controlling for other biomarkers.
A study found that suicide rates among black children aged 5-12 are roughly double those of their white counterparts. However, for older children aged 13-17, suicide rates were lower in black youth. The racial disparities were age-related and did not change over time.
A large study found that even small reductions in heart disease risk factors can help reduce frailty and dementia in older adults. Near-ideal cardiovascular risk profiles were associated with better outcomes on multiple factors, including chronic pain, falls, fractures, and dementia.
A new study identifies a brain abnormality associated with a person's general risk for mental illness, found in participants with higher mental health liability. The study suggests a single risk factor may predict development of any form of psychiatric disorder.
A large-scale study has identified three new genes linked to the risk of Alzheimer's disease, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying the condition. The findings, published in Translational Psychiatry, are based on genetic data from over 300,000 people and could pave the way for new approaches to treating the disease.
The University of Arizona Sleep and Health Research Program has been awarded a $3.6 million grant to study sleep health along the US-Mexico border. The Nogales Cardiometabolic Health and Sleep Study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep disturbances and cardiometabolic disease risk factors.
A study published in Medical Care found that homeless veterans are more likely to experience unplanned hospital readmissions after surgery, particularly those discharged to nursing homes. Homeless veterans were younger and had lower rates of medical diseases but higher rates of mental health problems, contributing to the increased risk.
Researchers identified new combinations of risk factors linked to increased dementia risk, including age, marital status, lower BMI, and less sleep at mid-life. The study suggests that modifiable risk factors may be targeted for prevention and early intervention.
A new international study found that frequent sauna bathing is associated with a reduced risk of stroke. The study involved 1,628 men and women aged 53-74 years living in eastern Finland and showed a significant decrease in stroke risk with increasing frequency of sauna use.
A Finnish study of 1,628 people found that frequent sauna bathing may be associated with a lower risk of stroke. Those who took a sauna four to seven times a week were 60% less likely to have a stroke than those who took only one per week.
Weight loss surgery can cause declines in bone mass and strength, with increased risk of bone fractures. Nutritional factors, mechanical unloading, hormonal changes, and body composition alterations contribute to poor bone health.
A new study found that smoking and alcohol consumption significantly increase the lifetime risk of atrial fibrillation, with risk factors at age 55 rising to 38%. An optimal risk factor profile was associated with a reduced lifetime risk of 23%, highlighting the importance of modifiable borderline and elevated risk factors in prevention.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions has updated its consensus guidelines to allow for flexibility in length of stay after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), prioritizing patient-centered care. The new guidelines assess readiness for discharge along three lines: procedural, patient, and programmatic factors.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that over a quarter of young people seeking treatment had a history of at least one overdose. Factors associated with increased overdose risk included alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamine use, as well as psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety disorders.
A study led by the University of Cambridge found that women who feel in control of their lives and find purpose and meaning are less likely to have anxiety disorders. The research highlights inner strengths that can protect against anxiety in tough times, offering new approaches for therapy development.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that more high school students in Chicago reported carrying guns between 2007 and 2013 compared to those in New York and Los Angeles. The study found a strong correlation between gun carrying and exposure to violence risk factors, suggesting a link to the city's spike in gun violence in 2016.
A new study found that low total testosterone levels are associated with chronic disease in men of all ages, including those under 40. The research team studied the relationship between testosterone, age, and chronic disease prevalence, using a population sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
A new computer programme assesses whole brain deterioration and predicts cognitive function after stroke up to ten times more accurately than current methods. The 'brain health index' can quantify visible brain injury from cerebral small vessel disease and brain atrophy, giving early warning of risk of future cognitive decline.
A study published in JAMA Network found that early first deployments and shorter dwell times between deployments are associated with a higher risk of suicide attempts among soldiers. The research analyzed data from 593 soldiers who experienced a medically documented suicide attempt during or after their second deployment.
A new emphasis on preparing for conception is needed to improve health in future generations. Research suggests that parental diet and lifestyle before conception can influence the risk of future chronic disease in children.
Researchers found a significant link between pancreatitis in minority populations and severe levels of triglycerides, as well as gallstones and excessive alcohol intake. The study's findings may help physicians assess the risk of pancreatitis and develop early detection strategies.
A new method developed by researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering uses machine learning to measure key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and arterial stiffness using just a smartphone. The method was validated with existing tonometry data and showed high correlation with actual tonometry measurements.
Large disparities persist in the impact of cardiovascular disease across US states, mainly influenced by modifiable risk factors. The study estimated health lost to CVD at the state level from 1990 to 2016 using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.
A comprehensive study assesses health patterns in the US, revealing wide disparities between states. The Global Burden of Disease study estimates change in disease, injuries, and risk factors from 1990 to 2016 by state.
A large study found a significant link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and dementia, with the risk increasing by 24% in individuals with TBI history. The study also found that the severity and number of TBIs were associated with increased dementia risk.