The Lancet Digest May 3-9, 2008
An important global health analysis concerning blood pressure and associated disease in this week’s issue of The Lancet. Four out of five high blood pressure related deaths occur in developing countries. A research Article assesses the global burden of disease relating to hypertension or high blood pressure. Most of the disease burden caused by high blood pressure is borne by low income and middle income countries, by people in middle age, and by people with lesser degrees of high blood pressure. If prevention and treatment strategies are restricted to high-income countries only, many blood pressure related diseases will be missed, conclude the authors of the study
Also this week we published online (April 29) and in print a genetic association study implicating two gene mutations with an increased risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures.
Another research Article highlights how more than a quarter of Americans report feeling pain at any point in time, and those with lower incomes and less education are the most likely to spend the most time in pain.
Time to strengthen public confidence at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): an Editorial discusses the issues surrounding the election of a new head at the international agency on cancer. A related Lancet Oncology Article details seven possible candidates who could succeed the current IARC Chief, Peter Boyle.
A Seminar takes a look at peanut allergy; immunotherapy for peanut allergy should be available in five years time.
And Look out for a World Report about how Ethiopia is stepping up its fight against obstetric fistula. Women with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia have a better chance of receiving care than other patients in Africa, thanks to the country’s dedicated hospital for the condition. But still too few can access treatment and too many new injuries happen every year. Wairagala Wakabi reports.
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