In November 2004 The Lancet published a study showing that assessment and preventative health interventions for elderly people in the UK were of no benefit. In this week’s issue we publish a large systematic review and meta-analysis which suggests that, community based interventions to prevent disability and referral to nursing homes and hospitals in the UK are actually beneficial. This study is also the main feature of this week’s Lancet podcast and worth a listen.

The long Editorial this week takes a close look at George W Bush’s governments efforts in funding overseas health programmes, notably Pepfar (HIV/AIDS), the PMI (malaria), and the neglected diseases initiative. The Editorial comments that while his administration may best be remembered for conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan, the world should also consider (and of course time will tell) whether Bush’s foreign aid programmes for health have resulted in the saving of many lives, especially in Africa.

In World Report this week - a Special Report from Russia as that country is soon to elect its new President. In his last years in office, President Vladimir Putin ploughed billions of dollars into Russia’s ailing health system, investing in high-tech medicine and hospitals. But Russia’s next president will have to do more than that to address the country’s mortality crisis, say experts in Helen Womack’s report.

In research, there are some interesting clinical topics:

A study suggesting that guidelines concerning the diagnosis of diabetes may have to be reassessed, based on results of 3 studies of diabetic retinopathy. 

Also look out for the Article showing how double lung transplantation is more effective than single transplantation for young people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

And a study from Uganda highlights the potential of home-based antiretroviral therapy to reduce HIV incidence and mortality in developing countries

This week’s Seminar gives a comprehensive overview of menopause.

Happy reading!

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This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 3:54 pm and is filed under The Lancet Digest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can trackback from your own site.