Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Upped Incidence of Anemia in Older Adults
Daily low-dose aspirin increased incident anemia among otherwise healthy older adults, a secondary analysis of the randomized ASPREE trial showed. Over a median of 4.7 years, the incidence of anemia was 51.2 events per 1,000 person-years in the aspirin group compared with 42.9 events per 1,000 person-years in the placebo group (HR 1.20, 95% CI […]
Insomnia Symptoms Tied to Stroke a Decade Later
Insomnia symptoms were associated with an increased risk for stroke, according to a population-cohort study using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). People reporting less severe insomnia (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02-1.33) and more severe insomnia (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.29-1.77) saw an increased risk of stroke over an average 9 years of […]
Certain Toxic Effects Higher With Newer Prostate Cancer Therapies
Second-generation anti-androgens (AAs) for the treatment of prostate cancer are associated with an increased risk of cognitive and functional toxic effects, according to results from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Across 12 randomized trials involving over 13,000 patients, increased risks of cognitive toxic effects (risk ratio [RR] 2.10, 95% CI 1.30-3.38, P=0.002) and fatigue (RR […]
Childhood Cancer Survivors Have Increased Rates of Late, Major Surgeries
Childhood cancer survivors have increased rates of undergoing late, major surgical procedures 5 or more years after diagnosis, according to data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Among more than 25,000 survivors diagnosed with cancer from 1970 to 1999 when they were under age 21, the likelihood of having subsequent major surgery was 80% higher […]
Sleep Apnea Patients Prone to Higher Long COVID Risk
Preexisting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with up to a 75% increased risk of long COVID in adults, an analysis from the NIH RECOVER collaboration found. Unadjusted odds of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) were significantly higher for adult and pediatric patients with a prepandemic OSA diagnosis, according to electronic health record (EHR) data […]
CDC: Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Increased 279% Over Recent Years
Drug overdose death rates involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine increased from 2016 through 2021, CDC researchers said. The age-adjusted overdose death rate involving fentanyl rose by 279%, from 5.7 per 100,000 standard population in 2016 to 21.6 per 100,000 in 2021, reported Merianne Rose Spencer, MPH, an epidemiologist in the Division of Analysis and Epidemiology […]
Higher BMI Tied to Other Severe Respiratory Infections Too
A higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with increased risks for hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 and other respiratory infections as well, according to a study using data from the U.K. Biobank. After a mean follow-up of 11.8 years, the hazard ratios per 10-unit higher BMI was 2.26 (95% CI 2.05-2.49) for severe […]
Behavior patterns of people who achieve clinically significant weight loss: Study finds widespread poor adoption of heart-healthy measures in US adults
A new study analyzing data on over 20,000 U.S. adults links a healthier diet and increased exercise to weight loss that reduces heart disease risk — while associating skipping meals and taking prescription diet pills with minimal weight loss, weight maintenance or weight gain. For many in the study sample, however, losing a “clinically significant” […]
Mint-Flavored E-Cigarettes Linked to Worse Lung Function
Use of electronic cigarettes with added menthol flavoring increased the number of inhaled particles and was associated with worse lung function in current or former combustion cigarette smokers, according to a study that used a specially designed robotic system that mimics the mechanics of breathing. Compared with e-cigarettes with liquids that were not flavored with […]
Broccoli consumption protects gut lining, reduces disease, in mice: Researchers discover that a certain molecule in broccoli interacts with a receptor in mice to promote gut health
Broccoli is known to be beneficial to our health. For example, research has shown that increased consumption of the cruciferous vegetable decreases incidence of cancer and type 2 diabetes. In a recent study, researchers at Penn State found that broccoli contains certain molecules that bind to a receptor within mice and help to protect the […]