Diabetes and the Heart: Risk Greater in Women

Diabetes and the Heart: Risk Greater in Women.

Data from 64 studies with both male and female participants yielded a 44% greater multiple-adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) for incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in women compared with men (RRR 1.44, 95% CI 1.27-1.63), Rachel Huxley, DPhil, of the University of Queensland in Sydney, Australia, and colleagues found.

Pooled data from 52 studies indicated that women also had a 44% greater chance than men of dying from fatal CHD associated with diabetes, Huxley and colleagues reported online in the journal Diabetologia.

Falls and Fall Injuries Among Adults with Arthritis – United States, 2012

Falls and Fall Injuries Among Adults with Arthritis — United States, 2012.

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older adults, with more than one in three older adults falling each year,* resulting in direct medical costs of nearly $30 billion (1). Some of the major consequences of falls among older adults are hip fractures, brain injuries, decline in functional abilities, and reductions in social and physical activities (2).

One in Three Patients Not Filling Prescriptions, Study Finds – AAFP News

OK boys and girls, listen up.  When you see the terms non-adherence or non-compliance in that APS you’re reading does this mean the risk is better or worse?

One in Three Patients Not Filling Prescriptions, Study Finds — AAFP News — AAFP.

For the study, Canadian researchers evaluated the electronic health records of 15,961 patients in a primary care network that included 131 physicians to estimate the incidence of primary nonadherence (failure to fill a first-time prescription) and to ferret out which drug, patient and physician characteristics might be associated with nonadherence. Patients’ health records were linked to insurer data on drugs dispensed by community-based pharmacies in relation to specific office visits.

The researchers found that slightly more than 31 percent of all initial drug prescriptions were not filled within nine months. Nonadherence was highest for expensive drugs and preventive therapies for chronic conditions such as ischemic heart disease and depression. In addition, patients with higher copayments, recent hospitalization and more severe comorbid conditions were at increased risk for nonadherence.

Daily Aspirin – Yes or No?

Aspirin: FDA Says ‘No’ Others Say ‘Yes’.

I found this article quite helpful in my own decision regarding whether or not to continue my daily aspirin 81 mg dose.

The bump I gave myself on the shin a few weeks ago that bled profusely and took hours to clot was also quite helpful in my decision regarding whether or not to continue my daily aspirin 81 mg dose. 

Update 06.06.14

Check out the following link.  If you’re an older male you might find this of interest.

http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/news/20110303/regular-use-of-painkillers-linked-to-ed

Update 07.26.14

This link takes you to the 2012 Circulation article.

Aspirin.

Update 08.04.14

More links for your reading and research pleasure.

Aspirin May Not Protect Against Cardiovascular Disease – Prevention.com.

Benefits of aspirin more modest than previously believed — St George’s, University of London.

Researchers from Professor Kausik Ray’s group at St George’s, University of London investigated the drug’s effectiveness in primary prevention and the prevalence of side effects. They also assessed if aspirin had any impact on the risk of death from cancer among people considered at risk of cardiovascular disease.

They analysed data from nine clinical trials involving over 100,000 participants without a history of cardiovascular disease. Half of the participants took aspirin and half took a placebo. The average participant in the aspirin arm of these trials took aspirin for about six years.

The researchers found that although aspirin in conventional daily or alternate day doses reduced the risk of total cardiovascular disease events by 10 per cent, this was largely due to a reduction in non-fatal heart attacks. It did not include a reduction in other cardiovascular disease events including death from heart attack, or fatal or non-fatal stroke.

The study also showed that this benefit was almost entirely offset by a 30 per cent increase in risk of life-threatening or debilitating internal bleeding events. This means that while one cardiovascular disease event was averted for every 120 people treated with aspirin for about six years, one in 73 people suffered from potentially significant bleeding during the same period.

Remote Life Insurance Underwriters Jobs – Ketterling Group – Charlotte, NC | Indeed.com

There seem to be more life underwriting positions opening up around the industry.  But as I suspected, there are some disturbing trends entering our business and profession.  The ad below is pulled from Indeed.com.  The bold highlights are mine.  These positions are part-time positions.  Compensation is fee based.

To say this disturbs me would be an understatement.

Remote Life Insurance Underwriters job – Ketterling Group –Charlotte, NC | Indeed.com.

Remote Life Insurance Underwriters
Ketterling Group – Charlotte, NC
  • Position is eligible for remote work.

Our client is the market leader in medical information services that help our clients make informed decisions and improve the lives of those they serve.

About the opportunity: Our client’s Underwriting Department is seeking experienced Life and LTC Underwriters to do medical summarizations, as well as provide full underwriting, quick quotes and support other lines of underwriting business. This is a part-time (fee based) 30 – 35 hour a week position Monday – Friday. Plus, weekends and overtime as business needs demand. There is opportunity for growth into salaried positions.

Professional Abilities:
Proven track record of critical thinking capabilities
Commitment to excellence while maintaining required productivity levels
Ability to think ‘outside the box’ and determine areas of process improvements
Focused on continued education and professional growth
Team player and detail oriented

5+ years of life underwriting in a home office environment
Proven ability to work in a virtual office setting
Must be able to work independently and efficiently
Knowledgeable in Microsoft Office products
Well versed in internet applications
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong computer skills, including the ability to work with multiple systems
Experience
Undergraduate degree and/or equivalent professional work experience
Completion of insurance related coursework and/or accreditations 
CareerBuilder – 1 day ago