BMJ 2008;336:130-133 (19 January), by S Gates et al.
Evidence that multifactorial fall prevention programmes in primary care, community, or emergency care settings are effective in reducing the number of fallers or fall related injuries is limited. Data were insufficient to assess fall and injury rates.
Archive for January, 2008
Preventing falls
Posted in ALZHEIMER, bmj, chronic disease, health, RISKS on January 31, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Predictor of long term survival in stroke patients
Posted in bmj, chronic disease, diagnosis, Editor, health, news, Research, RISKS, Vascular disease on January 30, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Karsten Bruins Slot and colleagues – BMJ 29 January 2008
What this study adds:
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Functional status of patients six months after onset of an ischaemic stroke has a significant and substantial effect on their long term survival
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Less than half those alive with severe disability at six months will survive five years; a survival statistic comparable with that of several malignancies.
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If you want to read the whole study report, then click here…
Aspirin resistance in cardiovascular disease
Posted in bmj, CHEST PAIN, chronic disease, Editor, health, HEART, HEART ATTACKS, RISKS on January 29, 2008| Leave a Comment »
BMJ 2008;336:166-167 (26 January).Editorials by Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai, assistant professor in cardiology et al.
Aspirin resistance in cardiovascular disease carries a worse prognosis, but may be indicative of pre-existing higher risk.
Aspirin has clear benefits in cardiovascular disease. It reduces total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular morbidity in people with cardiovascular disease or those at high risk of the disease; it is also cheap, relatively safe, and easy to use.
To date, most research has focused on whether aspirin resistance really exists. We don’t know whether aspirin resistance is a true abnormal response or whether it reflects normal variability in drug activity. Management of patients with aspirin resistance should include a comprehensive appraisal of thrombotic and bleeding risks, the likelihood of non-adherence to treatment, and access to other antiplatelet agents.
Improve dementia services, says Public Accounts Committee
Posted in ALZHEIMER, bmj, cancer, chronic disease, health, HEART, news on January 27, 2008| Leave a Comment »
News by Zosia Kmietowicz – BMJ, 25 January 2008
Services for people with dementia should be accorded the same priority as services for cancer and coronary heart disease, the public health spending watchdog for England has said.
Osteoarthritis of the knee in primary care
Posted in bmj, chronic disease, Editor, health, Orthopaedics on January 21, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Editorials: BMJ 2008;336:105-106 (19 January), by Paul Dieppe.
Many older people have pain in one or both knees from time to time, and the most likely cause is osteoarthritis. And Topical NSAIDS are as effective as oral NSAIDs, and patients prefer them.
MPs criticise influence of pharmaceutical industry on GP prescribing
Posted in bmj, drug companies, health, news on January 20, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Too many GPs are influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, says a report from the Public Accounts Committee.
And the NHS spends at least £200m more than it should on medicines because GPs do not heed official guidelines and continue to prescribe branded medicines rather than generics, says the report.
Calcium supplements may increase heart attacks in older women
Posted in bmj, chronic disease, health, HEART, HEART ATTACKS, RISKS on January 16, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Mark J Bolland and colleagues, Department of Medicine, Auckland, New Zealand, – BMJ, 15 January 2008
In 1400 healthy postmenopausal women, daily calcium supplementation was associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction over five years. This effect could outweigh any benefits on bone from calcium supplements.
Call for shake-up in how NICE reviews drug cost effectiveness
Posted in bmj, chronic disease, Clinical review, health, news, NICE on January 11, 2008| Leave a Comment »
News: Andrew Cole – BMJ, 11 January 2008
The House of Commons health select committee has called for a major shake-up in the way the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) assesses new treatments.
Survival times in people with dementia
Posted in ALZHEIMER, bmj, chronic disease, Editor, health, news on January 11, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Jing Xie and colleagues – 10 January 2008 BMJ
In a large population based sample from England and Wales, survival after the estimated onset of dementia was 4.6 years for women and 4.1 years for men.
In caring for people with dementia, the focus should be on what can be done rather than on the lack of a cure, say Murna Downs and Barbara Bowers in an accompanying editorial.
Clinical review of (Viral) Meningitis
Posted in bmj, Clinical review, diagnosis, health, INFECTIONS on January 7, 2008| Leave a Comment »
BMJ 2008;336:36-40 (5 January). Clinical review
by: Sarah A E Logan, specialist registrar, Eithne MacMahon, consultant Infection and Immunology:
- Bacterial and viral meningitis cannot reliably be differentiated clinically, and all suspected cases should be referred to hospital
- Viral meningitis is most common in young children; the incidence decreases with age
- Enteroviruses are the most common cause at all ages
- Although most cases are self limiting, morbidity may be considerable
- Herpes simplex virus causes viral meningitis, which may recur
- Genital herpes infection may be acquired from a partner after many years within a monogamous relationship
- Meningitis is a feature of HIV seroconversion
- In the absence of associated encephalitis, the prognosis is usually good
GP Essentials 