QT Interval Duration and Mortality

November 12, 2011November 12, 2011 / SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

Watch those QT’s.

Conclusion: Shortened and prolonged QT-interval durations, even within a reference range, are associated with increased mortality risk in the general population.

via Arch Intern Med — Abstract: QT-Interval Duration and Mortality Rate: Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, October 24, 2011, Zhang et al. 171 (19): 1727.

Life Expectancy Shorter After TIA

November 12, 2011 / SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

Nine years after discharge, the survival of patients hospitalized with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) was 20% lower than expected in the general population.

via Medical News: Life Expectancy Shorter After TIA – in Cardiovascular, Strokes from MedPage Today.

Hepatitis C Now Bigger Killer than HIV

November 10, 2011November 10, 2011 / SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

Nearly two days, no aftershocks, no earthquakes. Time to get back to underwriting!

A CDC review of death certificate data from 1999 through 2007 found that mortality due to hepatitis C virus HCV has risen dramatically, overtaking deaths due to HIV in 2006.

via Medical News: AASLD: Hepatitis C Now Bigger Killer than HIV – in Meeting Coverage, AASLD from MedPage Today.

Pradaxa Bleeding Deaths

November 4, 2011October 18, 2012 / SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

Medical News: Pradaxa Bleeding Deaths Raise Concern – in Cardiovascular, Strokes from MedPage Today

Dabigatran Etexilate: A Novel Oral Direct Thrombin Inhibitor: Abstract and Introduction

We are talking about a direct thrombin inhibitor, yes? Then this news should not be surprising.

ADHD Drugs and CV Events

November 3, 2011November 3, 2011 / SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

ADHD Drugs and Serious Cardiovascular Events in Children and Young Adults — NEJM

In conclusion, in our study involving children and young adults with 2.5 million person-years of follow-up, there were 3.1 serious cardiovascular events per 100,000 person-years. Although the point estimates of the relative risks for ADHD drugs did not indicate increased risk, the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval suggested that a doubling in the risk could not be ruled out. However, the absolute magnitude of any increased risk would be low.

The entire article is worth reading given the potential serious side effects of the drugs in question.

FME’s – 2011

November 1, 2011November 1, 2011 / SupremeCmdr / Leave a comment

CDC Features – Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the U.S.

Overdose deaths from prescription painkillers have skyrocketed in the past decade. Every year, nearly 15,000 people die from overdoses involving these drugs—more than those who die from heroin and cocaine combined.

Thinking About Heath..Just Another FME | Underwriting Solutions LLC

It’s been over three years since I posted about Heath Ledger and his unfortunate FME (Fatal Medication Error). Fresh research from the CDC indicates the problem is getting worse. The current state of the US economy virtually guarantees the staggering increase in prescription painkiller abuse and overdose will get worse before it gets better.