underwriting

Testosterone Treatment Tied to Worse Cardiac Outcomes

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After adjustment for the presence of coronary artery disease, testosterone therapy was associated with a greater risk of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke 3 years after angiography (25.7% versus 19.9%; HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.58), according to P. Michael Ho, MD, PhD, of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Denver, and colleagues.

via Testosterone Tx Tied to Worse Cardiac Outcomes.

How come the television commercials don’t tell you this information when they try to make you think you have a disease called Low T?

Annual prescriptions for testosterone increased more than five-fold from 2000 to 2011. In 2011, the total number of prescriptions numbered 5.3 million and make up a market of 1.6 billion, the authors wrote.

Never mind.

FDA and Opioids – WTF?

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The U.S. already consumes 99% of the hydrocodone used in the world.

 

In 2010, Vicodin was the most prescribed medication in the U.S. with 131 million filled prescriptions. That same year, more than 16,000 people died of overdoses from narcotic painkillers, up from about 4,000 in 1999.

via FDA and Opioids: What’s Going On Here?.

Bisphosphonates Raise Afib Risk

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Bisphosphonate use was associated with significantly increased risks of atrial fibrillation and serious atrial fibrillation, researchers found.

A systematic review of randomized controlled studies and observational studies showed use of bisphosphonates was associated with a 27% increased risk of atrial fibrillation (95% CI 1.16-1.39) in observational studies and, in randomized controlled trials alone, with a 40% increased odds of serious atrial fibrillation (95% CI 1.02-1.93), according to Abhishek Sharma, MD, of Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and colleagues.

via Bisphosphonates Raise Afib Risk.

Calcium Score Beats Lipids for Telling CVD Risk

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Measurement of coronary artery calcium stratified patient risk for cardiovascular disease regardless of dyslipidemia burden or definition, researchers found.

When measured across lipid abnormality categories, patients with a coronary artery calcium score of 100 or more had a 22.2 to 29.2 incidents of cardiovascular disease per 1,000 person-years versus 2.4 to 6.2 events per 1,000 person-years among those with arterial calcium scores of 0, according to Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, of Baptist Health South Florida in Miami Beach, and colleagues.

via Calcium Score Beats Lipids for Telling CVD Risk.

Stroke Numbers Up Worldwide

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In 2010, there were 16.9 million people who had a first stroke, 33 million stroke survivors, and 5.9 million people who died from a stroke — increases of 68%, 84%, and 26% respectively since 1990, according to Valery Feigin, MD, of the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, and colleagues.

Stroke mortality rates fell significantly in both groups of countries: by 37% in high-income countries and by 20% in low- and middle-income countries.

via Stroke Numbers Up Worldwide.

Acute Hepatitis and Liver Failure Following the Use of a Dietary Supplement Intended for Weight Loss or Muscle Building — May–October 2013

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On September 9, 2013, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) was notified of seven patients with severe acute hepatitis and fulminant liver failure of unknown etiology. Patients were previously healthy and sought medical care during May-September 2013. Clinicians reported that the seven patients had all used OxyELITE Pro, a dietary supplement marketed for weight loss and muscle gain, before illness onset.

via Notes from the Field: Acute Hepatitis and Liver Failure Following the Use of a Dietary Supplement Intended for Weight Loss or Muscle Building — May–October 2013.

Oops.