all-cause mortality

Friends and Mortality

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Well – What Are Friends For? A Longer Life – NYTimes.com

There was a time in my working career when I complained about the lack of a social life. Work, take care of family, work, repeat. Well, a couple of years ago I started reconnecting. My significant other was truly amazed. I was amazed.

Add this to your list of stuff underwriters don’t routinely ask about. A 22% reduction in risk is significant. Be sure to read the Australian study abstract. Then tell your boss you’re designing the first mortality risk friendship questionnaire.

Size Matters – J-Shaped Mortality Curve With BMI

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While browsing the online Lancet website I came accross the following article.  A J-shaped mortality curve should come as no surprise.

The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 18 March 2009

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60318-4Cite or Link Using DOI
Editors’ note: Around the world, increasing body-mass index (BMI) is a major public concern. Rightly so, according to this international collaborative analysis of almost 1 million people, followed from middle age in 57 prospective studies. A J-shaped mortality curve is observed, with optimal survival at a BMI of 22•5–25 kg/m2. Above this range, mortality from several causes—especially vascular diseases—was increased. Moderate obesity (BMI 30–35) was associated with 3 years’ loss of life. People with extreme obesity (BMI 40–50) lost 10 years of life, equivalent to the years lost by lifetime smoking.

AF + DM = 61% Greater Risk of All-Cause Mortality

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Medical News: Atrial Fibrillation Predicts Poor Outcome in Diabetes – in Cardiovascular, Diabetes from MedPage Today

Among the findings:

  • Over 4.3 years of follow-up, 879 patients died and 53% of those deaths were from cardiovascular causes
  • 15% of the deaths occurred in patients with atrial fibrillation
  • Atrial fibrillation was associated with a 77% risk of cardiovascular death (P<0.0001) and a 68% increase in risk of death from heart failure (P=0.0002) over the course of the study
  • Atrial fibrillation was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (P=0.0006)
  • 26% of patients with atrial fibrillation at baseline were on anticoagulant therapy
  • Among patients taking oral anticoagulant therapy at baseline, the “adjusted HRs associated with [atrial fibrillation] were 2.16 (95% CI 1.15 to 4.07; P=0.02) and 2.32 (95% CI 1.06 to 5.12, P=0.04) for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death, respectively.”

Vitamin D and All-Cause Mortality

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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?