The results of this study seem sort of obvious to me but still may be of some benefit for the younger members of our profession.
Lifelong Learning
CKD Risk and High HgbA1c
The more we know, the less we know. The study population is small, but the findings merit our collective attention. Think about these things the next time you are considering credits for the absence of retinopathy and/or albuminuria in a diabetic applicant.
Watch, Listen and Learn – Sleeping is Good for Your Heart
Now I have another excuse for naps. Lack of Sleep & CAD
Listen and Learn – Guess Which City Has the Highest Suicide Rate?
Las Vegas: The Suicide Capital Of America : NPR
Who said travel risk is irrelevant?
Vitamin D and All-Cause Mortality
Follow this link to The American Academy of Dermatology homepage to download a PDF version of the AAD’s position statement on Vitamin D. We are seeing a lot more older age applicants and it is critical for underwriters to factor in low Vitamin D levels when assessing such risks.
Very few foods in nature contain Vitamin D (but you already knew that, didn’t you?).
Low levels of Vitamin D have a higher risk of all-cause mortality.
Click this link to access a good article on Vitamin D deficiency and higher all-cause mortality.
Primary Care Metabolic Group – Vitamin D Deficiency
May I recommend a couple of glasses of soymilk daily?
Loss of a Part by Melting or Vaporization
Catheter Ablation Versus Antiarrhythmic Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation (A4 Study)
I’ve added a category titled Clinical Trials. These reports will be of interest to the life underwriter but exercise caution when interpreting the results as some populations under study may be small and the findings statistically insignificant.
Watch, Listen and Learn – Do COPD Meds Really Raise CV Risk?
The numbers in the study are small. Hence, this is a non-issue for underwriting purposes.
Watch, Listen, and Learn – Antiplatelet Therapy
Clinical Review: Antiplatelet Therapy Post ACS and Stenting
The clinical review videos from the ACC website are quite good. Make these mandatory for your underwriting staff. They are short and very informative.
Watch, Listen, and Learn – Ablation
Ablation for WPW, Afl, and SVT
A while back I asked this question in a post: How much medical information is enough for the underwriter? When I first pondered this question I thought underwriters needed to know as much as a family care MD/DO. Having come to a better understanding of what medical students need to know, I’ve changed my tune. Underwriters don’t have to be doctors.
Underwriters still need to know what kills people. But we don’t have to know as much as a doctor. More knowledge is better than less knowledge and experience remains the ultimate teacher. I’m still working on the answer.
But in the meantime, keep learning. I love short videos like this one. Like Yogi says, you can observe a lot by just watching.
Listen and Learn – Drugs and Death in Mexico
The U.S.-Mexican Border: A Changing Frontier : NPR
Several posts ago I wrote briefly about some of the problems our neighbor to the South is having with the illegal drug trade. I did extensive work in this area while advising a US based life company on its possible entry into the Latin life markets. This is a quick audio series that provides a good overview of what’s happening. If you’re writing business on the border or in Mexico you need to know what’s happening in order to keep your risk assessment brain cells sharp.
I’ve been to Mexico quite a few times. Bogota is safer now.
lifeunderwriter.net 
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