Research on death rates and what drives them. Covers cancer-linked stroke, COVID underreporting, hemoglobin levels, and education and survival.
Researchers developed a new system, RTerg, that can identify tsunami earthquakes in real-time, giving local residents minutes to evacuate. The system uses algorithmic tools to analyze seismic data and sends alerts to warning centers, potentially saving lives.
A €2.6 million research program is training Malawian clinical officers to improve prenatal care and reduce childbirth mortality rates. The goal is to educate 50 clinical officers, who will then teach others, and ultimately assess the impact on mortality rates.
A study of 309 hospitals found that higher hospital spending is not associated with better short-term survival rates for sepsis patients. Hospitals that spent more on care had mortality rates similar to those that spent less.
A study published in the Annals of Surgery found that high-quality trauma hospitals have significantly lower death rates and spending compared to average-quality hospitals. The research suggests that achieving better quality may be less expensive in the long run, with fewer patient complications translating into cost savings.
The UK's failure to address its alcohol problem could result in a significant increase in liver deaths, with the country facing a projected 77,000 excess deaths over 20 years if it doesn't adopt effective policies. The authors argue that increasing alcohol quality and limiting availability of cheap products can help reduce death rates.
Researchers found a correlation between lithium levels in tap water and lower mortality rates in Japanese municipalities. In experiments with the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, lithium treatment led to increased longevity. The findings suggest that low-dose lithium may have life-prolonging effects in humans.
A study published in Annals of Epidemiology analyzed breast cancer mortality data from 1975 to 2005 in Spanish provinces. The research found that geographical differences in death rates began to level out due to the uniform distribution of early prevention programs, reproductive therapy, and lifestyle factors.
Researchers predict nearly 1.3 million cancer deaths in Europe in 2011, with a 7% drop in men's death rates and a 6% decrease in women's mortality. The number of lung cancer deaths is increasing steadily, particularly among Polish and UK women, while breast cancer mortality falls.
A new study found that Super Bowl losses are associated with increased cardiac death rates, particularly among older patients. The research revealed a 15% increase in circulatory deaths in men and a 27% increase in women following the loss.
Researchers found that African Americans have a lower mortality rate after being hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke compared to whites. They were also more likely to receive aggressive treatment measures during their hospitalization.
The Electronic Mass Casualty Assessment and Planning Scenarios (EMCAPS) software provides first responders with realistic casualty figures for catastrophic events. The program allows users to customize scenarios and estimate the number of likely casualties based on variables such as population density.
A new nomogram developed by Matthias Egger and colleagues corrects mortality rate biases in HIV treatment programs, allowing for more accurate estimates of patients lost to follow-up. This method provides a valuable tool for programmatic mortality estimates, helping to keep the HIV treatment effort on track.
Research reveals that smoking is behind 40-60% of the gender gap in mortality across Europe. The study found that deaths related to smoking and respiratory diseases were significantly higher for men than women.
A study by Harvard Medical School researchers found significant disparities in common measures of hospital-wide mortality rates, highlighting the complexity and variability of diagnoses. The authors propose alternative methods to construct a more limited portfolio of mortality results for individual common conditions.
A UCLA-led study found nearly two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke died or were rehospitalized within a year. Hospital mortality and readmission rates varied widely nationwide, indicating opportunities to improve stroke care.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has shown that individually tailored dietary treatment for acutely hospitalized elderly can significantly reduce mortality rates. The study found a 64% decrease in death rates among those receiving intensive nutritional treatment compared to the control group.
Two papers review cases of vascular trauma in battle-injured service personnel, highlighting high lethality of torso injuries and the importance of limb salvage. Additionally, a study on primary blast injury to the abdomen finds that abdominal PBI has significant potential for death and illness, with key findings on incidence rates and...
A new study found that five avoidable causes, including birth asphyxia and pneumonia, account for nearly 1.5 million child deaths in India each year. The research suggests that improved delivery and postnatal care can reduce these deaths, with the introduction of vaccines and expanded neonatal care also shown to be effective.
A study by the University of Leicester found that undetected high blood pressure is associated with a higher risk of dying from coronary heart disease. The research reveals that areas with greater deprivation, more smokers, and more people with diabetes have a higher mortality rate from coronary heart disease.
Researchers found that Americans aged 55 to 64 have higher rates of chronic diseases than their peers in England, but died at the same rate. In contrast, Americans age 65 and older had a lower death rate than similar people in England due to better medical care.
A new study reveals that malaria deaths in India are 13 times higher than currently estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The research suggests that approximately 205,000 malaria deaths occur annually in India before age 70, with a cumulative probability of death from malaria at 1.8% for individuals under 70 years old.
A team-based training program incorporating aviation crew practices significantly reduced surgical mortality rates in hospitals participating in the program. The study found a 50% greater decrease in annual surgical mortality rate among trained facilities compared to non-trained facilities.
A study found that Medicare's hospital comparison website does not effectively help patients choose high-quality hospitals for high-risk surgeries. Compliance scores on the website did not correlate with patient mortality rates, suggesting that current data may not be useful in identifying better-performing facilities.
A recent study by CARDIAC in West Virginia found that nearly 20% of fifth-grade students have high blood pressure. The comprehensive screening program used upper-level students to help with readings and adapted to the chaotic school environment to measure blood pressure.
A landmark study found that annual mammography screenings for women aged 40-49 reduces breast cancer deaths by nearly 30%. The results confirm that age 50 as a screening threshold is unfounded, and women should begin getting annual mammograms at age 40.
The UCLA-developed Combat Casualty Care educational program provides critical training for U.S. armed forces medical personnel in traumatic injury management, applicable to both military and civilian settings. The program incorporates cutting-edge video footage, patient cases, and ultrasound training modules to enhance trauma care.
The amount of development aid to maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) doubled between 2003 and 2008, but its proportion relative to overall aid remained unchanged. The largest increases were made by the US, UK, EU, GAVI, and Global Fund, while others saw stagnation or fluctuations.
The study found that between 1970 and 2009, the average woman aged 25 and over saw a doubling of her years in education. This increase in education is estimated to have prevented 4.2 million children's deaths globally in 2009.
The latest global under-5 mortality rates show significant declines in many regions, with reductions of at least 50% in most areas except sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia, and Oceania. However, the planet is not on track to meet MDG4's goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.
Research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that increased education among women of reproductive age led to a significant reduction in child mortality rates. Between 1970 and 2009, 51% of the reduction in child deaths can be attributed to improved education levels.
The amount of development aid for maternal, newborn and child health in developing countries doubled between 2003 and 2008. However, the aid was not highly targeted to countries with the highest rates of maternal and child mortality, resulting in some recipient countries receiving far more aid per birth and per child than others.
A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that uninsured minority pedestrians are at a significantly higher risk of death in car accidents compared to their insured white counterparts. The research also revealed that minority pedestrians are more likely to be struck by cars and experience increased mortality rates even after adjust...
Spanish researchers found that reducing emergency response time from 25 to 15 minutes can cut the risk of death by one-third. The study, based on data from the Directorate General for Traffic, suggests that faster medical responses can save lives, especially on conventional roads where deaths increase with waiting time.
A retrospective study of 17 surgical programs from 13 countries found that the operative death rate was 0.2 percent, suggesting safe surgery is possible in these settings. The study highlights the need for quality improvement programs and global minimum standards for surgical care in humanitarian contexts.
A study published in The Lancet found that specialist retrieval teams significantly reduce mortality rates among children transferred to pediatric intensive care units. Children admitted from other hospitals had better outcomes and lower mortality rates when transferred by specialist teams compared to non-specialist transfers.
A new study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research found that increasing alcohol taxes can significantly reduce death rates from diseases caused by chronic heavy drinking. The study analyzed data from 1969 to 2004 and estimated that adjusting for inflation, would save around 1,500 Floridian lives per year.
Sepsis and septic shock are common complications in general surgery patients, with a death rate of approximately 34% within 30 days. The study identified risk factors for sepsis and septic shock, including age, emergency surgery, and co-occurring illness.
A new study found that planned home births are associated with a tripling of the neonatal mortality rate compared to planned hospital deliveries. Women giving birth at home experienced fewer medical interventions, but their infants had higher rates of respiratory distress and failed resuscitation.
A new study finds that death rates from type 1 diabetes have steadily improved over the past few decades, with more recent diagnoses showing a lower risk of mortality. However, women and African-Americans are still disproportionately affected, with higher mortality rates compared to men and Caucasians.
New research published in Public Health found that deprivation is only one factor contributing to Glasgow's poor health outcomes. The study revealed that additional factors, such as alcohol and drug use, may also play a role in the city's high mortality rates.
A study of 193,804 trauma patients found that uninsured individuals were more likely to die from injuries than those with private insurance. Patients covered by Medicaid or other insurance plans had better mortality rates for all injuries compared to those without insurance.
A study analyzing Medicare data found that heart failure patients experienced a decrease in in-hospital mortality and length of stay, but an increase in hospital readmissions and skilled nursing facility discharges between 1993 and 2006.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have found that mortality rates from alcohol-related diseases are over four times higher in deprived areas compared to less deprived areas. Deaths from such diseases are increasing despite public awareness campaigns, highlighting the need for targeted policies to reduce harm caused by alcohol.
The Powered Rope Ascender technology, developed by ONR in collaboration with industry partners, allows warfighters to efficiently climb and descend vertical surfaces at high speeds. This innovation increases the functionality of naval operations, such as boarding enemy vessels or evacuating remote casualties.
The study reveals that global child under-5 deaths have declined by 60% since 1970, with neonatal mortality dropping by 57%. Many poorer countries are making accelerated progress, while high-income countries like the UK and US are lagging behind. Only 31 developing countries are on track to meet MDG4.
Researchers found that ICU-acquired infection rates do not correlate with death rates for at-risk patients, despite being used as a measure of quality in hospital report cards. Hospitals with high infection rates had similar survival rates to those with low infection rates, highlighting the limitations of using these rates as a metric.
A recent study published at the ATS 2010 International Conference found that HIV-infected patients who are falsely diagnosed with tuberculosis have higher mortality rates compared to those who receive correct diagnoses. The study evaluated 600 HIV-infected patients treated at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, and discovered that fals...
A study published in the Journal of Political Economy suggests that government regulation of nurses' pay leads to higher death rates in U.K. hospitals. The research found a significant association between regulated wages and increased heart attack death rates.
Research reveals a stark social divide in assault-related deaths in Scotland, with the poorest facing a 32-fold increased risk. The study analyzed 1,109 certified deaths due to assault between 1980 and 2005, finding that violence costs the Scottish economy £3 billion annually.
A Mayo Clinic study reveals a 50% decrease in the number of patients listed for a second liver transplant within three years, indicating improved treatment outcomes for some patients with hepatitis B. Researchers found that new medications have improved ability to control hepatitis B recurrence.
A new study highlights the importance of osteoporosis screenings for fracture patients, who are at a high risk of future fractures. Women should ask their physicians questions about their bone health to educate themselves and receive timely treatment.
The study reveals a significant increase in inequality in adult mortality, with men in Swaziland facing a nine-fold higher probability of premature death than Cyprus. The United States has fallen behind other countries in reducing deaths, ranking 49th for women and 45th for men by 2010.
The study reveals that Australia and South Korea have some of the highest annual rates of decline in adult mortality. Iceland and Cyprus rank as the lowest risk countries for men and women, respectively. However, the HIV epidemic and social dysfunction in former Soviet states have contributed to high mortality rates in many countries.
Studies find that civic engagement is associated with lower violent crime rates and all-cause mortality rates in communities. A robust civic climate, including institutions like churches and civic associations, and mechanisms like voting, is key to understanding community social problems.
Researchers found airway obstructions in young children have a surprisingly high mortality rate of 3.4%, highlighting the need for better education and regulations to prevent such injuries.
Significant increases in death rates from falls, motorcycle crashes, machinery use, and unintentional poisoning have been observed among older Americans. The overall change in injury mortality for individuals aged 65 years and older increased by three percent, with the greatest increase seen in whites.
The Lancet Editorial highlights improved NHS trust standards in England, with registration and inspections required. Continuous monitoring and enforceable penalties ensure trusts meet benchmarks.
Researchers found an inverse association between high systolic blood pressure and mortality risk, with those having high BP having a favorable prognosis. Patients with higher systolic BP had lower mortality rates compared to those with lower BP levels.
Diabetes patients who struggle with trust and social relationships have a 33% higher mortality rate than those who easily interact with others and seek support. This association holds true even after controlling for other risk factors.
A Stanford study finds urban CO2 domes cause local temperature increases and worsen air pollution, leading to increased deaths. The research contradicts current cap-and-trade proposals that fail to account for local emissions' health impacts.