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.
A study published in Archives of Neurology found that those with more difficulties performing daily activities are at increased risk for progressing quickly to dementia. Functional impairment at baseline was the only factor associated with conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.
A strong association has been found between Trichomonas vaginalis infection and advanced, lethal prostate cancer in men. The study, published on the Journal of the National Cancer Institute website, analyzed blood samples from 673 men with prostate cancer and compared infection status to 673 control subjects.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill have discovered a genetic risk factor for severe liver disease in people with cystic fibrosis, specifically the SERPINA1 gene variant. Those carrying this variant are five times more likely to develop cirrhosis and other liver complications than those with the normal version of the gene.
A team of international scientists has identified two more genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, which appear to be involved in elevated risk and confirmed the importance of APOE4. The new genes, APOJ and PICALM, are linked to smaller but still significant effects on Alzheimer's disease risk.
The PREDICT score identifies individual risk for poor responsiveness to clopidogrel through non-genetic factors. Studies show that response to clopidogrel is affected by genetic variants involving enzymes responsible for absorption and bio-activation of the medication.
A study of obese children found pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, and reduced HDL cholesterol levels, indicating impaired endothelial function. The degree of obesity correlated with vessel dysfunction, and self-healing capacity was compromised. These findings suggest a high risk of cardiovascular disease in young adults.
The guidelines focus on non-cardiac surgery, with an emphasis on assessing clinical risk factors and testing for ischaemic heart disease. Recommended medications include beta-blockers, statins, aspirin, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
Women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the 30 days following an acute coronary syndrome, but this difference appears to be due to factors such as severity and type of ACS. After adjusting for clinical characteristics and angiographic data, no significant difference in 30-day mortality was found.
Heat waves pose a significant threat to older adults and individuals with chronic diseases, who are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to impaired thermoregulation. Air conditioning and working fans can reduce the risk of mortality by up to 80% and 30%, respectively.
A study of 7,689 admissions found that early intensive care unit admission significantly reduces mortality in critically ill patients with haematological malignancy. Factors associated with increased risk of death include bone marrow transplantation and severe sepsis.
Visceral fat accumulation during menopause is strongly linked to increasing testosterone levels, according to a study published in Obesity. The research found that bioavailable testosterone was the strongest predictor of visceral fat, with estradiol levels bearing little relationship to the amount of visceral fat.
A new national study found that low-income children between 11-16 reported having sex, with the average age of first intercourse being 12.77 years old. Boys reported their first sexual intercourse at a younger age than girls.
A preliminary study found that patients with peripheral arterial disease who exhibit a negative, inhibited personality type (type D) are at higher risk of death over four years. The study suggests that screening for this personality trait may be important in secondary prevention.
Recent studies published by the American Society for Nutrition provide no evidence that consuming animal foods increases breast cancer risk. In fact, researchers suggest that moderate and mindful consumption of these foods can be important in attaining optimal nutrition, particularly for women who may not consume enough iron and calcium.
A study of 23,513 German adults found that four healthy lifestyle factors—never smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and following a healthy diet—were associated with an 80% reduction in the risk of developing chronic diseases. The largest reduction was seen in individuals with a BMI lower than 30.
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that approximately 25% of men and women who develop hip fractures will die within five years, as well as 16% of those with spine fractures. The study also highlights the importance of fall prevention strategies, osteoporosis medications, and rehabilitation to re...
A new study by Louis Potters and colleagues found that permanent prostate brachytherapy is an effective treatment option for younger patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, with success rates comparable to older patients. The study analyzed data from 2,119 patients and showed that age didn't impact the long-term therapeutic outcome of...
A new study identifies vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) as a strong predictor of hip and knee joint replacement due to severe osteoarthritis. Elevated VCAM-1 levels were found in individuals who underwent joint replacement, mirroring active cartilage damage or an inflammatory component in OA.
Research in Finland found that childhood financial difficulties and family conflicts are associated with an increased risk of developing peptic ulcers. Long-lasting financial difficulties had the greatest influence on the development of peptic ulcers.
A new article assesses government reports on preventing mental health problems among young people. Early intervention programs using certain interventional approaches have been shown to identify and treat risk factors, reducing the likelihood of disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.
Two studies published in JAMA found that adopting a healthy lifestyle reduces lifetime risk of heart failure, with men who exercised regularly, drank moderately, and had a balanced diet having a lower risk. The studies also found an association between adherence to modifiable lifestyle factors and a significantly lower incidence of hyp...
A study of 83,882 young adult women found that adopting six low-risk lifestyle factors was independently associated with lower risk of developing high blood pressure. The combination of normal BMI, daily vigorous exercise, DASH-style diet, modest alcohol intake, and folic acid supplementation resulted in an 80% lower risk of hypertension.
A new epigenetic model suggests that environmental factors play a significant role in shaping disease risk and heritability. The study provides a theoretical foundation for future public health interventions to reduce genetic risk by limiting or eliminating epigenetic changes.
A study found that men who exercised regularly, drank moderately, didn't smoke, were not overweight, and followed a healthy diet had a lower lifetime risk of heart failure. The remaining lifetime risk was approximately 2-4% higher in men with hypertension compared to those without.
Researchers found cardiovascular disease is increasing in adults under 50 and those of lower socioeconomic status in Canada. Untreated cardiovascular disease can lead to heart failure, coronary artery disease, and death, making it the most common cause of hospitalization in North America.
A new Canadian study reveals that cardiovascular disease is on the rise in younger Canadians, with increased rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The study found that people of lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately affected, facing greater health risks and burdening healthcare resources.
A team of experts at Columbia University will conduct the largest ever study on suicide and mental health among military personnel, using $50 million in funding. The study aims to identify risk and protective factors for suicide among soldiers and provide a science base for effective interventions.
A recent study published in Radiology found that obesity is strongly associated with an increased risk of rapid cartilage loss in the knees. The study, which analyzed data from over 3,000 participants, identified baseline BMI as a key predictor of rapid cartilage loss.
Two studies found a strong association between PTSD and increased Alzheimer's risk, but moderate alcohol consumption was shown to lower this risk. Adults also had limited knowledge about the relationship between heart health and brain health.
A study published in Cell Metabolism identifies 20 genes that regulate cellular cholesterol levels, potentially pointing to new risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These findings may also pave the way for new cholesterol-lowering drugs.
A large-scale study has identified genetic variations across five genes as risk factors for the development of gliomas, the most frequent type of brain tumor. The study found that individuals with certain variations have a higher risk of developing glioma, with those with eight or more variations having a three-fold increased risk.
A study published in Human Reproduction found that women with endometriosis are at a higher risk of premature birth, C-sections, and other pregnancy complications. The researchers also found that women with endometriosis were more likely to have difficulty conceiving and required assisted reproduction technology.
A new study examined cases of TB associated with anti-TNF therapy and found that the risk of TB is higher for patients receiving anti-TNF monoclonal antibody therapy. The study also showed that the risk of TB was higher during the first year of anti-TNF treatment, favoring the reactivation of latent TB.
Several biomarkers, including CRP and N-BNP, showed minimal added benefit in predicting cardiovascular events compared to conventional risk factors. The use of these biomarkers did not result in significant improvements in reclassification of individuals to new risk categories or changes in therapy.
A new study links a history of periodontitis to an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, particularly ischemic stroke, in men. The study found that periodontal bone loss, not current inflammation, was associated with the incidence of cerebrovascular disease.
The percentage of patients lowering 'bad' cholesterol to within target levels has nearly doubled over the last decade, with significant improvements in low-risk and high-risk groups. Researchers found that 75% of patients were taking statin drugs, and only 30% of very high-risk patients achieved their LDL target.
A University of Rochester Medical Center study found that including socioeconomic status in the Framingham Risk Scoring tool can nearly double the number of patients at risk for death or disease. This could lead to increased eligibility for cholesterol-lowering medications and other treatments, with a potential 15% increase.
A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found that current alcohol drinking and a high body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24.0 kg/m2 are independent risk factors for colon and rectal cancer. Former alcohol consumption and a positive family history of cancer are also linked to an increased risk of colon cancer.
A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that stably married women had better sleep quality than unmarried or recently widowed women. Women who had gained a partner over eight years also experienced similar subjective sleep quality but more restless sleep.
The Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) study will follow a cohort of up to 1,200 pregnant women who already have a child with autism to investigate early risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Researchers will collect data on possible environmental risk factors and their interplay with genetic susceptibility duri...
A new study reveals that only heavy alcohol consumption above 5 drinks per day significantly raises the risk of chronic pancreatitis. Dose-dependent smoking also contributes to the risk, with smokers having more severe pancreatitis and longer smoking history.
Researchers found that high blood pressure, excessive weight, smoking, and diabetes significantly increased the size of the heart's left ventricle over short-term (4 years) and long-term (16 years) periods. These risk factors can be directly targeted for prevention and lowering may potentially lower heart failure burden.
A new study found a significant association between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease in French farm workers, especially those using organochlorine insecticides. The study suggests that environmental risk factors like professional pesticide exposure may contribute to neurodegeneration.
Research suggests that childhood physical and mental stress may have long-lasting negative impacts on adult health. Effective strategies for reducing chronic morbidity and premature death are needed.
A study found that waist circumference and BMI are significant predictors of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children, regardless of neck circumference. Metabolic factors play a crucial role in childhood SDB, suggesting alternative treatment options beyond adenotonsillectomy.
A new study found that all HLA-DRB1 shared epitope alleles strongly interact with smoking in conferring an increased risk of ACPA-positive RA. Smoking is identified as the main risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis, with a strong gene-environment interaction observed.
Researchers found that donor steatosis does not affect liver disease progression, but transplants from donors with higher Donor Risk Index scores negatively impact HCV-positive recipients' outcomes. The studies suggest using high-risk grafts carefully in HCV-positive patients.
People taking cholesterol-lowering statins after a stroke are less likely to have another stroke and die within 10 years. Statin use reduces recurrent stroke risk by 35% and mortality risk by 57%. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of statins may contribute to this benefit.
A study found that individuals with a low response to alcohol are at a higher risk for developing alcohol-use disorders across adulthood. The research, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, suggests that this unique risk factor is not solely related to other factors such as family history or age of onset.
Research suggests different invasive breast cancer subtypes have distinct etiologic pathways and prognoses. Patients with specific subtypes exhibit varying demographics, lifestyle traits, and risk factors, highlighting the need for refined tumor subtyping to elucidate development patterns.
A new risk index has been developed to predict the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease in people aged 65 and older. The 15-point scale identifies individuals at high risk, who are more likely to develop dementia within six years, and highlights surprising factors such as being underweight or having had coronary bypass surgery.
Research suggests that individuals with strong negative mood-related drinking motives may be vulnerable to developing both major depression and alcohol dependence. The study found that familial factors contributing to mood-related drinking motives also contribute to the overlapping risk for MD and AD.
A study found an association between low cognitive function and early-age related macular degeneration in older adults. The research suggests that the two conditions share similar complex pathogenesis and risk factors, including hypertension and vascular changes.
A study of 13,877 people found that just over 11% had been diagnosed with heart disease before displaying symptoms. The majority of diabetic patients were not diagnosed until they became symptomatic, highlighting the need for improved screening and education to reduce heart disease before symptoms occur.
A 25-year study found that 3/4 of Iceland's CHD mortality decrease was due to reduced cholesterol, smoking, and blood pressure levels, highlighting the importance of comprehensive strategies promoting tobacco control and healthy diets. Population trends showed worsening diabetes and obesity rates.
A study found African-Americans at greater risk after PCI with significantly worse outcomes, despite researchers' efforts to provide optimal care. Possible explanations include delayed treatment, advanced coronary disease, and poor medication adherence.
A study of older people living at home found that up to 1 in 6 were under-nourished and at risk of malnutrition, with women facing a higher risk than men. Depression was also identified as a significant factor increasing the risk of malnutrition, particularly among men.
Certain patients with heart attack who experience abnormal heart rhythms before or after a coronary artery intervention have a significantly higher risk of death within 90 days. VT/VF episodes were more common in late catheterization and associated with lower blood pressure, higher heart rate, and lack of beta-blockers.
A recent study found that even mild prematurity increases risk of medically attended RSV infection, with highest risks among babies born between 33-36 weeks gestational age. This research contributes to growing evidence that late-preterm infants face greater morbidity and healthcare costs.
Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that repeatedly going to work when ill increases the chances of taking long-term sick leave. Workers who did this at least half a dozen times were more likely to take extended absences, even after accounting for other risk factors.