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COVID Levels Start to Dip, New Variant Emerges
A new COVID-19 variant called XEC is on the rise, and it has experts who track variants on alert.
Each time a new variant makes a grand entrance onto tracker lists, health officials take notice because it may mean there’s an important change in behavior of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
Countries reporting rising detections of XEC include Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, Australian data scientist Mike Honey posted on the platform X this past week.
XEC’s “characteristic mutations” have been detected in at least 25 states, CBS News reported, with New Jersey, California, and Virginia labs reporting 10 or more cases each. New Jersey detections at least in part stem from the CDC’s testing program for international travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Still, XEC hasn’t gained enough traction in Europe, the United States, or any other part of the world for it to be listed as a standalone variant on official watchlists maintained by the CDC, European Union, or World Health Organization.
However, Eric Topol, MD, executive vice president of Scripps Research and editor-at-large for Medscape, believes XEC is the next variant “to get legs.”
The rate at which a new variant takes the stage doesn’t always predict how severe it will be. Around this time last year, health officials sounded alarms about another Omicron variant called BA.2.86, dubbed Pirola, that ultimately didn’t make major waves.
“CDC is not aware of any specific symptoms associated with XEC or any other co-circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineage,” a CDC spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News.
Its parent lineages are KP.2 and KP.3, and all of these belong to the Omicron family. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates over time, and scientists use the names and labels to identify groups of viral variants based on their similarities and on which strains a mutated descendant came from.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
A new COVID-19 variant called XEC is on the rise, and it has experts who track variants on alert.
Each time a new variant makes a grand entrance onto tracker lists, health officials take notice because it may mean there’s an important change in behavior of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
Countries reporting rising detections of XEC include Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, Australian data scientist Mike Honey posted on the platform X this past week.
XEC’s “characteristic mutations” have been detected in at least 25 states, CBS News reported, with New Jersey, California, and Virginia labs reporting 10 or more cases each. New Jersey detections at least in part stem from the CDC’s testing program for international travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Still, XEC hasn’t gained enough traction in Europe, the United States, or any other part of the world for it to be listed as a standalone variant on official watchlists maintained by the CDC, European Union, or World Health Organization.
However, Eric Topol, MD, executive vice president of Scripps Research and editor-at-large for Medscape, believes XEC is the next variant “to get legs.”
The rate at which a new variant takes the stage doesn’t always predict how severe it will be. Around this time last year, health officials sounded alarms about another Omicron variant called BA.2.86, dubbed Pirola, that ultimately didn’t make major waves.
“CDC is not aware of any specific symptoms associated with XEC or any other co-circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineage,” a CDC spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News.
Its parent lineages are KP.2 and KP.3, and all of these belong to the Omicron family. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates over time, and scientists use the names and labels to identify groups of viral variants based on their similarities and on which strains a mutated descendant came from.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
A new COVID-19 variant called XEC is on the rise, and it has experts who track variants on alert.
Each time a new variant makes a grand entrance onto tracker lists, health officials take notice because it may mean there’s an important change in behavior of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
Countries reporting rising detections of XEC include Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, Australian data scientist Mike Honey posted on the platform X this past week.
XEC’s “characteristic mutations” have been detected in at least 25 states, CBS News reported, with New Jersey, California, and Virginia labs reporting 10 or more cases each. New Jersey detections at least in part stem from the CDC’s testing program for international travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Still, XEC hasn’t gained enough traction in Europe, the United States, or any other part of the world for it to be listed as a standalone variant on official watchlists maintained by the CDC, European Union, or World Health Organization.
However, Eric Topol, MD, executive vice president of Scripps Research and editor-at-large for Medscape, believes XEC is the next variant “to get legs.”
The rate at which a new variant takes the stage doesn’t always predict how severe it will be. Around this time last year, health officials sounded alarms about another Omicron variant called BA.2.86, dubbed Pirola, that ultimately didn’t make major waves.
“CDC is not aware of any specific symptoms associated with XEC or any other co-circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineage,” a CDC spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News.
Its parent lineages are KP.2 and KP.3, and all of these belong to the Omicron family. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates over time, and scientists use the names and labels to identify groups of viral variants based on their similarities and on which strains a mutated descendant came from.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
Nearly 1 in 3 US Adults May Have Low Iron Levels
Nearly one-third of US adults may have low iron levels that can add to problems ranging from fatigue to heart failure.
Researchers in a new study estimated that 7% of US adults have anemia, a blood disorder that can be iron related and is particularly well-known in part because of screenings given during pregnancy. But more striking was the finding in this latest study that a significant portion of the population may have less severe iron deficiencies that have been linked to serious health problems.
The body gets iron from food, and it can store iron for times when there isn’t enough it can access right away. The research team looked at test results that show whether people have enough iron stored, as well as whether their bodies could effectively use available iron. If you don’t have enough iron stored, you have a condition called absolute iron deficiency. And if you have stored iron but problems using it, you have what’s called functional iron deficiency. The study found that an estimated 14% of adults have absolute iron deficiency, and another 15% have functional iron deficiency.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, are based on data from more than 8,000 people who had laboratory iron levels on file as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was done from 2017 to 2020.
Besides anemia, iron deficiency is linked to other serious health problems, including restless legs syndrome, mental and thinking difficulties, reduced physical abilities, and heart failure, the authors noted. The effects of iron deficiency can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
Routine blood work as part of an annual physical doesn’t typically include a check of iron levels unless there is a cause for concern. The out-of-pocket cost without using insurance for a blood test to check iron levels is typically around $60.
“This is a common yet underappreciated public health problem,” study author Leo Buckley, PharmD, MPH, a clinical pharmacology specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, told NBC News. “What’s unique about our study is we were looking at regular people who would not otherwise have been screened or tested.”
Treatment for low iron levels can include changes to your diet, as well as intravenous or oral supplements. Taking an iron supplement should be done under the guidance of a health care provider because of the risk of iron toxicity.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Nearly one-third of US adults may have low iron levels that can add to problems ranging from fatigue to heart failure.
Researchers in a new study estimated that 7% of US adults have anemia, a blood disorder that can be iron related and is particularly well-known in part because of screenings given during pregnancy. But more striking was the finding in this latest study that a significant portion of the population may have less severe iron deficiencies that have been linked to serious health problems.
The body gets iron from food, and it can store iron for times when there isn’t enough it can access right away. The research team looked at test results that show whether people have enough iron stored, as well as whether their bodies could effectively use available iron. If you don’t have enough iron stored, you have a condition called absolute iron deficiency. And if you have stored iron but problems using it, you have what’s called functional iron deficiency. The study found that an estimated 14% of adults have absolute iron deficiency, and another 15% have functional iron deficiency.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, are based on data from more than 8,000 people who had laboratory iron levels on file as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was done from 2017 to 2020.
Besides anemia, iron deficiency is linked to other serious health problems, including restless legs syndrome, mental and thinking difficulties, reduced physical abilities, and heart failure, the authors noted. The effects of iron deficiency can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
Routine blood work as part of an annual physical doesn’t typically include a check of iron levels unless there is a cause for concern. The out-of-pocket cost without using insurance for a blood test to check iron levels is typically around $60.
“This is a common yet underappreciated public health problem,” study author Leo Buckley, PharmD, MPH, a clinical pharmacology specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, told NBC News. “What’s unique about our study is we were looking at regular people who would not otherwise have been screened or tested.”
Treatment for low iron levels can include changes to your diet, as well as intravenous or oral supplements. Taking an iron supplement should be done under the guidance of a health care provider because of the risk of iron toxicity.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Nearly one-third of US adults may have low iron levels that can add to problems ranging from fatigue to heart failure.
Researchers in a new study estimated that 7% of US adults have anemia, a blood disorder that can be iron related and is particularly well-known in part because of screenings given during pregnancy. But more striking was the finding in this latest study that a significant portion of the population may have less severe iron deficiencies that have been linked to serious health problems.
The body gets iron from food, and it can store iron for times when there isn’t enough it can access right away. The research team looked at test results that show whether people have enough iron stored, as well as whether their bodies could effectively use available iron. If you don’t have enough iron stored, you have a condition called absolute iron deficiency. And if you have stored iron but problems using it, you have what’s called functional iron deficiency. The study found that an estimated 14% of adults have absolute iron deficiency, and another 15% have functional iron deficiency.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, are based on data from more than 8,000 people who had laboratory iron levels on file as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was done from 2017 to 2020.
Besides anemia, iron deficiency is linked to other serious health problems, including restless legs syndrome, mental and thinking difficulties, reduced physical abilities, and heart failure, the authors noted. The effects of iron deficiency can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
Routine blood work as part of an annual physical doesn’t typically include a check of iron levels unless there is a cause for concern. The out-of-pocket cost without using insurance for a blood test to check iron levels is typically around $60.
“This is a common yet underappreciated public health problem,” study author Leo Buckley, PharmD, MPH, a clinical pharmacology specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, told NBC News. “What’s unique about our study is we were looking at regular people who would not otherwise have been screened or tested.”
Treatment for low iron levels can include changes to your diet, as well as intravenous or oral supplements. Taking an iron supplement should be done under the guidance of a health care provider because of the risk of iron toxicity.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM JAMA NETWORK OPEN
FDA Investigates Tampons for Potential Lead and Metal Risks
The FDA has launched an investigation of the potential exposure to heavy metals when using tampons, the agency announced.
The move follows the publication earlier this year of concerning laboratory test results that detected the presence of more than a dozen metals in a variety of popular nonorganic and organic tampon products. That small study was a combined effort by researchers from Columbia University, Michigan State University, and the University of California, Berkeley.
“We want the public to know that before tampons can be legally sold in the US, they must meet FDA requirements for safety and effectiveness. Manufacturers must test the product and its component materials before, during, and after manufacturing,” the FDA wrote in the announcement of its own upcoming study. “Before a product is allowed onto the market, biocompatibility testing is undertaken by the manufacturing company, which is part of safety testing, and is reviewed by the FDA prior to market authorization.”
There will be two studies, the FDA said. One of the studies will involve laboratory tests to evaluate metals in tampons and potential exposure people may experience when using them. The other study will be a review of current research regarding the health effects of metals that may be found in tampons.
The earlier study, published by the journal Environment International, found levels of lead in every product the researchers tested and detectable levels of more than a dozen other metals like arsenic and cadmium.
The researchers tested 24 tampon products from a range of major brands as well as store brands. The tampons were purchased at stores and online between September 2022 and March 2023. Metal content tended to differ by whether or not a product was labeled as organic, the researchers reported. Lead concentrations were higher in nonorganic tampons, and organic tampons had higher levels of arsenic.
There is no safe level of lead exposure, the US Environmental Protection Agency says, and the effects are cumulative throughout the course of life. The study authors noted that the average age that girls begin menstruation is 12 years old, and the onset of menopause occurs, on average, at age 51. One study mentioned by the researchers estimated that between 52% and 86% of people who menstruate use tampons.
The FDA plans a more expansive set of analyses than the earlier study, the agency announced.
“While the study found metals in some tampons, the study did not test whether metals are released from tampons when used. It also did not test for metals being released, absorbed into the vaginal lining, and getting into the bloodstream during tampon use,” the FDA announcement stated. “The FDA’s laboratory study will measure the amount of metals that come out of tampons under conditions that more closely mimic normal use.”
The absorbent materials in tampons, like cotton, rayon, and viscose, are potential sources of the metals. Cotton plants are particularly known to readily take up metals from the soil, although there are other ways that metals may enter the products, like during the manufacturing process.
Exposure to metals found in the initial analysis can affect a range of body systems and processes, including the brain, the kidneys, the heart, blood, and the reproductive and immune systems.
The vagina, the researchers noted, is highly permeable and substances absorbed there do not get filtered for toxins, such as by being metabolized or passing through the liver, before entering the body’s circulatory system.
The FDA announcement did not specify a timeframe for the completion of its investigation.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.
The FDA has launched an investigation of the potential exposure to heavy metals when using tampons, the agency announced.
The move follows the publication earlier this year of concerning laboratory test results that detected the presence of more than a dozen metals in a variety of popular nonorganic and organic tampon products. That small study was a combined effort by researchers from Columbia University, Michigan State University, and the University of California, Berkeley.
“We want the public to know that before tampons can be legally sold in the US, they must meet FDA requirements for safety and effectiveness. Manufacturers must test the product and its component materials before, during, and after manufacturing,” the FDA wrote in the announcement of its own upcoming study. “Before a product is allowed onto the market, biocompatibility testing is undertaken by the manufacturing company, which is part of safety testing, and is reviewed by the FDA prior to market authorization.”
There will be two studies, the FDA said. One of the studies will involve laboratory tests to evaluate metals in tampons and potential exposure people may experience when using them. The other study will be a review of current research regarding the health effects of metals that may be found in tampons.
The earlier study, published by the journal Environment International, found levels of lead in every product the researchers tested and detectable levels of more than a dozen other metals like arsenic and cadmium.
The researchers tested 24 tampon products from a range of major brands as well as store brands. The tampons were purchased at stores and online between September 2022 and March 2023. Metal content tended to differ by whether or not a product was labeled as organic, the researchers reported. Lead concentrations were higher in nonorganic tampons, and organic tampons had higher levels of arsenic.
There is no safe level of lead exposure, the US Environmental Protection Agency says, and the effects are cumulative throughout the course of life. The study authors noted that the average age that girls begin menstruation is 12 years old, and the onset of menopause occurs, on average, at age 51. One study mentioned by the researchers estimated that between 52% and 86% of people who menstruate use tampons.
The FDA plans a more expansive set of analyses than the earlier study, the agency announced.
“While the study found metals in some tampons, the study did not test whether metals are released from tampons when used. It also did not test for metals being released, absorbed into the vaginal lining, and getting into the bloodstream during tampon use,” the FDA announcement stated. “The FDA’s laboratory study will measure the amount of metals that come out of tampons under conditions that more closely mimic normal use.”
The absorbent materials in tampons, like cotton, rayon, and viscose, are potential sources of the metals. Cotton plants are particularly known to readily take up metals from the soil, although there are other ways that metals may enter the products, like during the manufacturing process.
Exposure to metals found in the initial analysis can affect a range of body systems and processes, including the brain, the kidneys, the heart, blood, and the reproductive and immune systems.
The vagina, the researchers noted, is highly permeable and substances absorbed there do not get filtered for toxins, such as by being metabolized or passing through the liver, before entering the body’s circulatory system.
The FDA announcement did not specify a timeframe for the completion of its investigation.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.
The FDA has launched an investigation of the potential exposure to heavy metals when using tampons, the agency announced.
The move follows the publication earlier this year of concerning laboratory test results that detected the presence of more than a dozen metals in a variety of popular nonorganic and organic tampon products. That small study was a combined effort by researchers from Columbia University, Michigan State University, and the University of California, Berkeley.
“We want the public to know that before tampons can be legally sold in the US, they must meet FDA requirements for safety and effectiveness. Manufacturers must test the product and its component materials before, during, and after manufacturing,” the FDA wrote in the announcement of its own upcoming study. “Before a product is allowed onto the market, biocompatibility testing is undertaken by the manufacturing company, which is part of safety testing, and is reviewed by the FDA prior to market authorization.”
There will be two studies, the FDA said. One of the studies will involve laboratory tests to evaluate metals in tampons and potential exposure people may experience when using them. The other study will be a review of current research regarding the health effects of metals that may be found in tampons.
The earlier study, published by the journal Environment International, found levels of lead in every product the researchers tested and detectable levels of more than a dozen other metals like arsenic and cadmium.
The researchers tested 24 tampon products from a range of major brands as well as store brands. The tampons were purchased at stores and online between September 2022 and March 2023. Metal content tended to differ by whether or not a product was labeled as organic, the researchers reported. Lead concentrations were higher in nonorganic tampons, and organic tampons had higher levels of arsenic.
There is no safe level of lead exposure, the US Environmental Protection Agency says, and the effects are cumulative throughout the course of life. The study authors noted that the average age that girls begin menstruation is 12 years old, and the onset of menopause occurs, on average, at age 51. One study mentioned by the researchers estimated that between 52% and 86% of people who menstruate use tampons.
The FDA plans a more expansive set of analyses than the earlier study, the agency announced.
“While the study found metals in some tampons, the study did not test whether metals are released from tampons when used. It also did not test for metals being released, absorbed into the vaginal lining, and getting into the bloodstream during tampon use,” the FDA announcement stated. “The FDA’s laboratory study will measure the amount of metals that come out of tampons under conditions that more closely mimic normal use.”
The absorbent materials in tampons, like cotton, rayon, and viscose, are potential sources of the metals. Cotton plants are particularly known to readily take up metals from the soil, although there are other ways that metals may enter the products, like during the manufacturing process.
Exposure to metals found in the initial analysis can affect a range of body systems and processes, including the brain, the kidneys, the heart, blood, and the reproductive and immune systems.
The vagina, the researchers noted, is highly permeable and substances absorbed there do not get filtered for toxins, such as by being metabolized or passing through the liver, before entering the body’s circulatory system.
The FDA announcement did not specify a timeframe for the completion of its investigation.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.
Whooping Cough Likely on Pace for a 5-Year High
Like many diseases, whooping cough reached record low levels during the early days of the COVID pandemic.
More than 10,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the United States so far this year, and weekly reports say cases have more than tripled 2023 levels as of June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023, there were 2815 cases reported during the entire year.
“The number of reported cases this year is close to what was seen at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic,” the CDC reported. There were 18,617 cases of whooping cough in 2019.
There were 259 cases reported nationwide for the week ending Aug. 3, with nearly half occurring in the mid-Atlantic region. Public health officials believe the resurgence of whooping cough is likely due to declining vaccination rates, mainly due to the missed vaccines during the height of the COVID pandemic. The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (DTaP) have been given together since the 1940s, typically during infancy and again during early childhood. In 1941, there were more than 220,000 cases of whooping cough.
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attach to tiny, hair-like extensions in the upper respiratory system called cilia, and toxins released by them damage the cilia and cause airways to swell. Early symptoms are similar to the common cold, but the condition eventually leads to coughing fits and a high-pitched “whoop” sound made when inhaling after a fit subsides. Coughing fits can be so severe that people can fracture a rib.
Vaccinated people may get a less severe illness, compared to unvaccinated people, the CDC says. Babies and children are particularly at risk for severe and even potentially deadly complications. About one in three babies under age 1 who get whooping cough will need to be hospitalized, and among those hospitalized babies, 1 in 100 die from complications.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
Like many diseases, whooping cough reached record low levels during the early days of the COVID pandemic.
More than 10,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the United States so far this year, and weekly reports say cases have more than tripled 2023 levels as of June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023, there were 2815 cases reported during the entire year.
“The number of reported cases this year is close to what was seen at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic,” the CDC reported. There were 18,617 cases of whooping cough in 2019.
There were 259 cases reported nationwide for the week ending Aug. 3, with nearly half occurring in the mid-Atlantic region. Public health officials believe the resurgence of whooping cough is likely due to declining vaccination rates, mainly due to the missed vaccines during the height of the COVID pandemic. The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (DTaP) have been given together since the 1940s, typically during infancy and again during early childhood. In 1941, there were more than 220,000 cases of whooping cough.
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attach to tiny, hair-like extensions in the upper respiratory system called cilia, and toxins released by them damage the cilia and cause airways to swell. Early symptoms are similar to the common cold, but the condition eventually leads to coughing fits and a high-pitched “whoop” sound made when inhaling after a fit subsides. Coughing fits can be so severe that people can fracture a rib.
Vaccinated people may get a less severe illness, compared to unvaccinated people, the CDC says. Babies and children are particularly at risk for severe and even potentially deadly complications. About one in three babies under age 1 who get whooping cough will need to be hospitalized, and among those hospitalized babies, 1 in 100 die from complications.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
Like many diseases, whooping cough reached record low levels during the early days of the COVID pandemic.
More than 10,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the United States so far this year, and weekly reports say cases have more than tripled 2023 levels as of June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023, there were 2815 cases reported during the entire year.
“The number of reported cases this year is close to what was seen at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic,” the CDC reported. There were 18,617 cases of whooping cough in 2019.
There were 259 cases reported nationwide for the week ending Aug. 3, with nearly half occurring in the mid-Atlantic region. Public health officials believe the resurgence of whooping cough is likely due to declining vaccination rates, mainly due to the missed vaccines during the height of the COVID pandemic. The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (DTaP) have been given together since the 1940s, typically during infancy and again during early childhood. In 1941, there were more than 220,000 cases of whooping cough.
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attach to tiny, hair-like extensions in the upper respiratory system called cilia, and toxins released by them damage the cilia and cause airways to swell. Early symptoms are similar to the common cold, but the condition eventually leads to coughing fits and a high-pitched “whoop” sound made when inhaling after a fit subsides. Coughing fits can be so severe that people can fracture a rib.
Vaccinated people may get a less severe illness, compared to unvaccinated people, the CDC says. Babies and children are particularly at risk for severe and even potentially deadly complications. About one in three babies under age 1 who get whooping cough will need to be hospitalized, and among those hospitalized babies, 1 in 100 die from complications.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
Regularly Drinking Alcohol After Age 60 Linked to Early Death
That’s according to the findings of a new, large study that was published in JAMA Network Openand build upon numerous other recent studies concluding that any amount of alcohol consumption is linked to significant health risks. That’s a change from decades of public health messaging suggesting that moderate alcohol intake (one or two drinks per day) wasn’t dangerous. Recently, experts have uncovered flaws in how researchers came to those earlier conclusions.
In this latest study, researchers in Spain analyzed health data for more than 135,000 people, all of whom were at least 60 years old, lived in the United Kingdom, and provided their health information to the UK Biobank database. The average age of people at the start of the analysis period was 64.
The researchers compared 12 years of health outcomes for occasional drinkers with those who averaged drinking at least some alcohol on a daily basis. The greatest health risks were seen between occasional drinkers and those whom the researchers labeled “high risk.” Occasional drinkers had less than about two drinks per week. The high-risk group included men who averaged nearly three drinks per day or more, and women who averaged about a drink and a half per day or more. The analysis showed that, compared with occasional drinking, high-risk drinking was linked to a 33% increased risk of early death, a 39% increased risk of dying from cancer, and a 21% increased risk of dying from problems with the heart and blood vessels.
More moderate drinking habits were also linked to an increased risk of early death and dying from cancer, and even just averaging about one drink or less daily was associated with an 11% higher risk of dying from cancer. Low and moderate drinkers were most at risk if they also had health problems or experienced socioeconomic factors like living in less affluent neighborhoods.
The findings also suggested the potential that mostly drinking wine, or drinking mostly with meals, may be lower risk, but the researchers called for further study on those topics since “it may mostly reflect the effect of healthier lifestyles, slower alcohol absorption, or nonalcoholic components of beverages.”
A recent Gallup poll showed that overall, Americans’ attitudes toward the health impacts of alcohol are changing, with 65% of young adults (ages 18-34) saying that drinking can have negative health effects. But just 39% of adults age 55 or older agreed that drinking is bad for a person’s health. The gap in perspectives between younger and older adults about drinking is the largest on record, Gallup reported.
The study investigators reported no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
That’s according to the findings of a new, large study that was published in JAMA Network Openand build upon numerous other recent studies concluding that any amount of alcohol consumption is linked to significant health risks. That’s a change from decades of public health messaging suggesting that moderate alcohol intake (one or two drinks per day) wasn’t dangerous. Recently, experts have uncovered flaws in how researchers came to those earlier conclusions.
In this latest study, researchers in Spain analyzed health data for more than 135,000 people, all of whom were at least 60 years old, lived in the United Kingdom, and provided their health information to the UK Biobank database. The average age of people at the start of the analysis period was 64.
The researchers compared 12 years of health outcomes for occasional drinkers with those who averaged drinking at least some alcohol on a daily basis. The greatest health risks were seen between occasional drinkers and those whom the researchers labeled “high risk.” Occasional drinkers had less than about two drinks per week. The high-risk group included men who averaged nearly three drinks per day or more, and women who averaged about a drink and a half per day or more. The analysis showed that, compared with occasional drinking, high-risk drinking was linked to a 33% increased risk of early death, a 39% increased risk of dying from cancer, and a 21% increased risk of dying from problems with the heart and blood vessels.
More moderate drinking habits were also linked to an increased risk of early death and dying from cancer, and even just averaging about one drink or less daily was associated with an 11% higher risk of dying from cancer. Low and moderate drinkers were most at risk if they also had health problems or experienced socioeconomic factors like living in less affluent neighborhoods.
The findings also suggested the potential that mostly drinking wine, or drinking mostly with meals, may be lower risk, but the researchers called for further study on those topics since “it may mostly reflect the effect of healthier lifestyles, slower alcohol absorption, or nonalcoholic components of beverages.”
A recent Gallup poll showed that overall, Americans’ attitudes toward the health impacts of alcohol are changing, with 65% of young adults (ages 18-34) saying that drinking can have negative health effects. But just 39% of adults age 55 or older agreed that drinking is bad for a person’s health. The gap in perspectives between younger and older adults about drinking is the largest on record, Gallup reported.
The study investigators reported no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
That’s according to the findings of a new, large study that was published in JAMA Network Openand build upon numerous other recent studies concluding that any amount of alcohol consumption is linked to significant health risks. That’s a change from decades of public health messaging suggesting that moderate alcohol intake (one or two drinks per day) wasn’t dangerous. Recently, experts have uncovered flaws in how researchers came to those earlier conclusions.
In this latest study, researchers in Spain analyzed health data for more than 135,000 people, all of whom were at least 60 years old, lived in the United Kingdom, and provided their health information to the UK Biobank database. The average age of people at the start of the analysis period was 64.
The researchers compared 12 years of health outcomes for occasional drinkers with those who averaged drinking at least some alcohol on a daily basis. The greatest health risks were seen between occasional drinkers and those whom the researchers labeled “high risk.” Occasional drinkers had less than about two drinks per week. The high-risk group included men who averaged nearly three drinks per day or more, and women who averaged about a drink and a half per day or more. The analysis showed that, compared with occasional drinking, high-risk drinking was linked to a 33% increased risk of early death, a 39% increased risk of dying from cancer, and a 21% increased risk of dying from problems with the heart and blood vessels.
More moderate drinking habits were also linked to an increased risk of early death and dying from cancer, and even just averaging about one drink or less daily was associated with an 11% higher risk of dying from cancer. Low and moderate drinkers were most at risk if they also had health problems or experienced socioeconomic factors like living in less affluent neighborhoods.
The findings also suggested the potential that mostly drinking wine, or drinking mostly with meals, may be lower risk, but the researchers called for further study on those topics since “it may mostly reflect the effect of healthier lifestyles, slower alcohol absorption, or nonalcoholic components of beverages.”
A recent Gallup poll showed that overall, Americans’ attitudes toward the health impacts of alcohol are changing, with 65% of young adults (ages 18-34) saying that drinking can have negative health effects. But just 39% of adults age 55 or older agreed that drinking is bad for a person’s health. The gap in perspectives between younger and older adults about drinking is the largest on record, Gallup reported.
The study investigators reported no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM JAMA NETWORK OPEN
Low Alcohol Use Offers No Clear Health Benefits
Do people who drink alcohol in moderation have a greater risk of early death than people who abstain? For years, a drink or two a day appeared to be linked to health benefits. But recently, scientists pointed out flaws in some of the studies that led to those conclusions, and public health warnings have escalated recently that there may be no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Now, yet another research analysis points toward that newer conclusion – that people who drink moderately do not necessarily live longer than people who abstain. The latest results are important because the researchers delved deep into data about people who previously drank but later quit, possibly due to health problems.
“That makes people who continue to drink look much healthier by comparison,” said Tim Stockwell, PhD, lead author of this latest analysis and a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, in a statement.
The findings were published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
The key to their conclusion that drinking isn’t linked to longer life is based yet again on who moderate drinkers are compared to, Dr. Stockwell and his colleagues wrote.
For the study, researchers defined “low volume drinking” as having between one drink per week and up to two drinks per day. When researchers carefully excluded people who were former drinkers and only included data for people who were younger than 55 when they joined research studies, the abstainers and low-volume drinkers had similar risks of early death. But when the former drinkers were included in the abstainer group, the low-volume drinkers appeared to have a reduced risk of death.
When researchers define which people are included in a research analysis based on criteria that don’t reflect subtle but important population characteristics, the problem is called “selection bias.”
“Studies with life-time selection biases may create misleading positive health associations. These biases pervade the field of alcohol epidemiology and can confuse communications about health risks,” the authors concluded.
They called for improvements in future research studies to better evaluate drinking levels that may influence health outcomes, and also noted one of their exploratory analyses suggested a need to delve deeper into the effects of other outside variables such as smoking and socioeconomic status.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Do people who drink alcohol in moderation have a greater risk of early death than people who abstain? For years, a drink or two a day appeared to be linked to health benefits. But recently, scientists pointed out flaws in some of the studies that led to those conclusions, and public health warnings have escalated recently that there may be no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Now, yet another research analysis points toward that newer conclusion – that people who drink moderately do not necessarily live longer than people who abstain. The latest results are important because the researchers delved deep into data about people who previously drank but later quit, possibly due to health problems.
“That makes people who continue to drink look much healthier by comparison,” said Tim Stockwell, PhD, lead author of this latest analysis and a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, in a statement.
The findings were published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
The key to their conclusion that drinking isn’t linked to longer life is based yet again on who moderate drinkers are compared to, Dr. Stockwell and his colleagues wrote.
For the study, researchers defined “low volume drinking” as having between one drink per week and up to two drinks per day. When researchers carefully excluded people who were former drinkers and only included data for people who were younger than 55 when they joined research studies, the abstainers and low-volume drinkers had similar risks of early death. But when the former drinkers were included in the abstainer group, the low-volume drinkers appeared to have a reduced risk of death.
When researchers define which people are included in a research analysis based on criteria that don’t reflect subtle but important population characteristics, the problem is called “selection bias.”
“Studies with life-time selection biases may create misleading positive health associations. These biases pervade the field of alcohol epidemiology and can confuse communications about health risks,” the authors concluded.
They called for improvements in future research studies to better evaluate drinking levels that may influence health outcomes, and also noted one of their exploratory analyses suggested a need to delve deeper into the effects of other outside variables such as smoking and socioeconomic status.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Do people who drink alcohol in moderation have a greater risk of early death than people who abstain? For years, a drink or two a day appeared to be linked to health benefits. But recently, scientists pointed out flaws in some of the studies that led to those conclusions, and public health warnings have escalated recently that there may be no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Now, yet another research analysis points toward that newer conclusion – that people who drink moderately do not necessarily live longer than people who abstain. The latest results are important because the researchers delved deep into data about people who previously drank but later quit, possibly due to health problems.
“That makes people who continue to drink look much healthier by comparison,” said Tim Stockwell, PhD, lead author of this latest analysis and a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, in a statement.
The findings were published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
The key to their conclusion that drinking isn’t linked to longer life is based yet again on who moderate drinkers are compared to, Dr. Stockwell and his colleagues wrote.
For the study, researchers defined “low volume drinking” as having between one drink per week and up to two drinks per day. When researchers carefully excluded people who were former drinkers and only included data for people who were younger than 55 when they joined research studies, the abstainers and low-volume drinkers had similar risks of early death. But when the former drinkers were included in the abstainer group, the low-volume drinkers appeared to have a reduced risk of death.
When researchers define which people are included in a research analysis based on criteria that don’t reflect subtle but important population characteristics, the problem is called “selection bias.”
“Studies with life-time selection biases may create misleading positive health associations. These biases pervade the field of alcohol epidemiology and can confuse communications about health risks,” the authors concluded.
They called for improvements in future research studies to better evaluate drinking levels that may influence health outcomes, and also noted one of their exploratory analyses suggested a need to delve deeper into the effects of other outside variables such as smoking and socioeconomic status.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM THE JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
Young People’s Gut Bacteria May Drive Colorectal Cancer Risk
CHICAGO — Genetics and diet have been among the top theories for what may be fueling the troubling rise of colorectal cancer in young adults. Now,
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) by researchers from Ohio State University. For the analysis, they analyzed genetic data on tumors.
The researchers found signs that a high-fat, low-fiber diet may increase inflammation in the gut that prevents it from naturally suppressing tumors. The cells of young people with colorectal cancer also appeared to have aged more quickly — by 15 years on average — than a person’s actual age. That’s unusual, because older people with colorectal cancer don’t have the same boost in cellular aging.
The rate of colorectal cancer among young people has been rising at an alarming rate, according to a 2023 report from the American Cancer Society. In 2019, one in five colorectal cancer cases were among people younger than 55. That’s up from 1 in 10 in 1995, which means the rate has doubled in less than 30 years.
Need Colon Cancer Screening?
Who needs a colorectal cancer screening? Ask colorectal cancer specialist Nancy Kemeny, MD.
A 2017 analysis estimated that a person’s risk of colorectal cancer increased 12% by eating 3.5 ounces of red or processed meat daily, which is the equivalent of the size of a deck of playing cards. The same study also linked colorectal cancer risk to alcohol intake, citing its ethanol content. Eating a diet high in fiber can reduce a person’s risk.
This latest study aligned with previous findings that link bacteria called Fusobacterium to colorectal cancer. It’s not unusual for Fusobacterium to be present in a person’s mouth, but it is more likely to be found in the intestines of colorectal cancer patients, compared with those of healthy people. One study even found that people with colorectal cancer were five times more likely to have Fusobacterium in their stool, compared with healthy people.
Colorectal cancer is more common among men than women, “likely reflecting differences in risk factor prevalence, such as excess body weight and processed meat consumption,” the authors of the 2023 American Cancer Society report explained.
People younger than 45 should alert their medical provider if they have constipation, rectal bleeding, or sudden changes in bowel movements, which can be symptoms of colorectal cancer. Screening for colorectal cancer should begin for most people at age 45.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
CHICAGO — Genetics and diet have been among the top theories for what may be fueling the troubling rise of colorectal cancer in young adults. Now,
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) by researchers from Ohio State University. For the analysis, they analyzed genetic data on tumors.
The researchers found signs that a high-fat, low-fiber diet may increase inflammation in the gut that prevents it from naturally suppressing tumors. The cells of young people with colorectal cancer also appeared to have aged more quickly — by 15 years on average — than a person’s actual age. That’s unusual, because older people with colorectal cancer don’t have the same boost in cellular aging.
The rate of colorectal cancer among young people has been rising at an alarming rate, according to a 2023 report from the American Cancer Society. In 2019, one in five colorectal cancer cases were among people younger than 55. That’s up from 1 in 10 in 1995, which means the rate has doubled in less than 30 years.
Need Colon Cancer Screening?
Who needs a colorectal cancer screening? Ask colorectal cancer specialist Nancy Kemeny, MD.
A 2017 analysis estimated that a person’s risk of colorectal cancer increased 12% by eating 3.5 ounces of red or processed meat daily, which is the equivalent of the size of a deck of playing cards. The same study also linked colorectal cancer risk to alcohol intake, citing its ethanol content. Eating a diet high in fiber can reduce a person’s risk.
This latest study aligned with previous findings that link bacteria called Fusobacterium to colorectal cancer. It’s not unusual for Fusobacterium to be present in a person’s mouth, but it is more likely to be found in the intestines of colorectal cancer patients, compared with those of healthy people. One study even found that people with colorectal cancer were five times more likely to have Fusobacterium in their stool, compared with healthy people.
Colorectal cancer is more common among men than women, “likely reflecting differences in risk factor prevalence, such as excess body weight and processed meat consumption,” the authors of the 2023 American Cancer Society report explained.
People younger than 45 should alert their medical provider if they have constipation, rectal bleeding, or sudden changes in bowel movements, which can be symptoms of colorectal cancer. Screening for colorectal cancer should begin for most people at age 45.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
CHICAGO — Genetics and diet have been among the top theories for what may be fueling the troubling rise of colorectal cancer in young adults. Now,
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) by researchers from Ohio State University. For the analysis, they analyzed genetic data on tumors.
The researchers found signs that a high-fat, low-fiber diet may increase inflammation in the gut that prevents it from naturally suppressing tumors. The cells of young people with colorectal cancer also appeared to have aged more quickly — by 15 years on average — than a person’s actual age. That’s unusual, because older people with colorectal cancer don’t have the same boost in cellular aging.
The rate of colorectal cancer among young people has been rising at an alarming rate, according to a 2023 report from the American Cancer Society. In 2019, one in five colorectal cancer cases were among people younger than 55. That’s up from 1 in 10 in 1995, which means the rate has doubled in less than 30 years.
Need Colon Cancer Screening?
Who needs a colorectal cancer screening? Ask colorectal cancer specialist Nancy Kemeny, MD.
A 2017 analysis estimated that a person’s risk of colorectal cancer increased 12% by eating 3.5 ounces of red or processed meat daily, which is the equivalent of the size of a deck of playing cards. The same study also linked colorectal cancer risk to alcohol intake, citing its ethanol content. Eating a diet high in fiber can reduce a person’s risk.
This latest study aligned with previous findings that link bacteria called Fusobacterium to colorectal cancer. It’s not unusual for Fusobacterium to be present in a person’s mouth, but it is more likely to be found in the intestines of colorectal cancer patients, compared with those of healthy people. One study even found that people with colorectal cancer were five times more likely to have Fusobacterium in their stool, compared with healthy people.
Colorectal cancer is more common among men than women, “likely reflecting differences in risk factor prevalence, such as excess body weight and processed meat consumption,” the authors of the 2023 American Cancer Society report explained.
People younger than 45 should alert their medical provider if they have constipation, rectal bleeding, or sudden changes in bowel movements, which can be symptoms of colorectal cancer. Screening for colorectal cancer should begin for most people at age 45.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM ASCO 2024
COVID Levels Decline, but Other Viruses Remain High
COVID-19 may be headed toward a springtime retreat.
The indication comes from declining levels of SARS-CoV-2 being detected in wastewater over the past 3 weeks. Virus levels are already considered “low” throughout western U.S. states. Detections are at medium levels in the Midwest and South, while high levels persist in the Northeast, according to WastewaterSCAN.
But it’s not time to let your guard down because high levels of other viruses that cause stomach and respiratory illnesses continue to circulate widely nationwide. Wastewater data currently shows threats from flu, RSV, norovirus, and rotavirus.
The rate of positive flu tests reported to the CDC had been a downward trend since peaking around a rate of 16% in mid-January, but positive test rates are now climbing again, with the most recent weekly rate back around 15%. So far this flu season, 116 children and an estimated 20,000 adults have died from the flu, according to the CDC’s weekly flu publication, FluView.
RSV wastewater detection remains high, especially in the Midwest and Northeast, WastewaterSCAN data shows. But positive RSV test results reported to the CDC are at the lowest point of the 2023 to 2024 season, with less than 2,000 positive results listed for the week of March 9, down from a peak of more than 14,000 cases around Christmas.
About 12% of norovirus tests reported to the CDC in the last 3 weeks of February were positive, mirroring an upward trend observed during the same time period last year. In 2023, norovirus peaked in the U.S. in March with a positive test rate around 16%, CDC data show.
Last year, COVID also followed a downward springtime trend. Around this time last year, there were about 20,000 weekly hospital admissions due to COVID-19, compared to just over 13,000 in early March this year. All COVID metrics, including the positive test rate, hospitalizations, and ER visits, are currently trending downward, the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker indicates. The positive COVID test rate is 5%, and just 1% of ER visits in the U.S. involve a COVID-19 diagnosis.
“We’re seeing a downward trend, which is fantastic,” Marlene Wolfe, PhD, WastewaterSCAN’s program director, told USA Today. “Hopefully, that pattern continues as we enjoy some warmer weather and longer daylight.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
COVID-19 may be headed toward a springtime retreat.
The indication comes from declining levels of SARS-CoV-2 being detected in wastewater over the past 3 weeks. Virus levels are already considered “low” throughout western U.S. states. Detections are at medium levels in the Midwest and South, while high levels persist in the Northeast, according to WastewaterSCAN.
But it’s not time to let your guard down because high levels of other viruses that cause stomach and respiratory illnesses continue to circulate widely nationwide. Wastewater data currently shows threats from flu, RSV, norovirus, and rotavirus.
The rate of positive flu tests reported to the CDC had been a downward trend since peaking around a rate of 16% in mid-January, but positive test rates are now climbing again, with the most recent weekly rate back around 15%. So far this flu season, 116 children and an estimated 20,000 adults have died from the flu, according to the CDC’s weekly flu publication, FluView.
RSV wastewater detection remains high, especially in the Midwest and Northeast, WastewaterSCAN data shows. But positive RSV test results reported to the CDC are at the lowest point of the 2023 to 2024 season, with less than 2,000 positive results listed for the week of March 9, down from a peak of more than 14,000 cases around Christmas.
About 12% of norovirus tests reported to the CDC in the last 3 weeks of February were positive, mirroring an upward trend observed during the same time period last year. In 2023, norovirus peaked in the U.S. in March with a positive test rate around 16%, CDC data show.
Last year, COVID also followed a downward springtime trend. Around this time last year, there were about 20,000 weekly hospital admissions due to COVID-19, compared to just over 13,000 in early March this year. All COVID metrics, including the positive test rate, hospitalizations, and ER visits, are currently trending downward, the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker indicates. The positive COVID test rate is 5%, and just 1% of ER visits in the U.S. involve a COVID-19 diagnosis.
“We’re seeing a downward trend, which is fantastic,” Marlene Wolfe, PhD, WastewaterSCAN’s program director, told USA Today. “Hopefully, that pattern continues as we enjoy some warmer weather and longer daylight.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
COVID-19 may be headed toward a springtime retreat.
The indication comes from declining levels of SARS-CoV-2 being detected in wastewater over the past 3 weeks. Virus levels are already considered “low” throughout western U.S. states. Detections are at medium levels in the Midwest and South, while high levels persist in the Northeast, according to WastewaterSCAN.
But it’s not time to let your guard down because high levels of other viruses that cause stomach and respiratory illnesses continue to circulate widely nationwide. Wastewater data currently shows threats from flu, RSV, norovirus, and rotavirus.
The rate of positive flu tests reported to the CDC had been a downward trend since peaking around a rate of 16% in mid-January, but positive test rates are now climbing again, with the most recent weekly rate back around 15%. So far this flu season, 116 children and an estimated 20,000 adults have died from the flu, according to the CDC’s weekly flu publication, FluView.
RSV wastewater detection remains high, especially in the Midwest and Northeast, WastewaterSCAN data shows. But positive RSV test results reported to the CDC are at the lowest point of the 2023 to 2024 season, with less than 2,000 positive results listed for the week of March 9, down from a peak of more than 14,000 cases around Christmas.
About 12% of norovirus tests reported to the CDC in the last 3 weeks of February were positive, mirroring an upward trend observed during the same time period last year. In 2023, norovirus peaked in the U.S. in March with a positive test rate around 16%, CDC data show.
Last year, COVID also followed a downward springtime trend. Around this time last year, there were about 20,000 weekly hospital admissions due to COVID-19, compared to just over 13,000 in early March this year. All COVID metrics, including the positive test rate, hospitalizations, and ER visits, are currently trending downward, the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker indicates. The positive COVID test rate is 5%, and just 1% of ER visits in the U.S. involve a COVID-19 diagnosis.
“We’re seeing a downward trend, which is fantastic,” Marlene Wolfe, PhD, WastewaterSCAN’s program director, told USA Today. “Hopefully, that pattern continues as we enjoy some warmer weather and longer daylight.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
New Infant RSV Antibody Treatment Shows Strong Results
The new RSV antibody treatment for babies has been highly effective in its first season, according to a first look at data from four children’s hospitals.
Babies who received the new preventive treatment for RSV shortly after birth were 90% less likely to be severely sickened with the potentially deadly respiratory illness, according to the new estimate published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the first real-world evaluation of Beyfortus (the generic name is nirsevimab), which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last July.
RSV is a seasonal illness that affects more people — particularly infants and the elderly — in the fall and winter. Symptoms are usually mild in healthy adults, but infants are particularly at risk of getting bronchiolitis, which results in exhausting wheezing and coughing in babies due to swelling in their airways and lungs. Babies who are hospitalized may need fluids and medical devices to help them breathe.
RSV peaked this season from November to January, with more than 10,000 monthly diagnoses reported to the CDC.
The new CDC analysis was conducted among about 700 babies hospitalized for severe respiratory problems from October to the end of February. Among the babies in the study, 407 were diagnosed with RSV and 292 tested negative. The researchers found that 1% of babies in the study who were diagnosed with RSV had received Beyfortus, while the remaining babies who were positive for the virus had not.
Among the babies hospitalized for other severe respiratory problems, 18% had received Beyfortus. Overall, just 59 babies among the nearly 700 in the study received Beyfortus, perhaps reflecting the short supply of the medicine the first season it was available. The report authors noted that babies in the study who did receive Beyfortus also tended to have high-risk medical conditions.
The number of babies nationwide who received Beyfortus during this first season of availability is unclear, but a January CDC survey showed that 4 in 10 parents said their babies under 8 months old had received the treatment. The Wall Street Journal reported recently that a shortage last fall resulted from underestimated demand and from production plans that were set before the CDC decided to recommend that all infants under 8 months old receive Beyfortus if their mothers did not get a maternal vaccine that can protect infants from RSV.
Both the antibody treatment for infants and the maternal vaccine were shown in clinical trials to be about 80% effective at preventing severe illness stemming from RSV.
The authors of the latest CDC report concluded that “this early estimate supports the current nirsevimab recommendation for the prevention of severe RSV disease in infants. Infants should be protected by maternal RSV vaccination or infant receipt of nirsevimab.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
The new RSV antibody treatment for babies has been highly effective in its first season, according to a first look at data from four children’s hospitals.
Babies who received the new preventive treatment for RSV shortly after birth were 90% less likely to be severely sickened with the potentially deadly respiratory illness, according to the new estimate published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the first real-world evaluation of Beyfortus (the generic name is nirsevimab), which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last July.
RSV is a seasonal illness that affects more people — particularly infants and the elderly — in the fall and winter. Symptoms are usually mild in healthy adults, but infants are particularly at risk of getting bronchiolitis, which results in exhausting wheezing and coughing in babies due to swelling in their airways and lungs. Babies who are hospitalized may need fluids and medical devices to help them breathe.
RSV peaked this season from November to January, with more than 10,000 monthly diagnoses reported to the CDC.
The new CDC analysis was conducted among about 700 babies hospitalized for severe respiratory problems from October to the end of February. Among the babies in the study, 407 were diagnosed with RSV and 292 tested negative. The researchers found that 1% of babies in the study who were diagnosed with RSV had received Beyfortus, while the remaining babies who were positive for the virus had not.
Among the babies hospitalized for other severe respiratory problems, 18% had received Beyfortus. Overall, just 59 babies among the nearly 700 in the study received Beyfortus, perhaps reflecting the short supply of the medicine the first season it was available. The report authors noted that babies in the study who did receive Beyfortus also tended to have high-risk medical conditions.
The number of babies nationwide who received Beyfortus during this first season of availability is unclear, but a January CDC survey showed that 4 in 10 parents said their babies under 8 months old had received the treatment. The Wall Street Journal reported recently that a shortage last fall resulted from underestimated demand and from production plans that were set before the CDC decided to recommend that all infants under 8 months old receive Beyfortus if their mothers did not get a maternal vaccine that can protect infants from RSV.
Both the antibody treatment for infants and the maternal vaccine were shown in clinical trials to be about 80% effective at preventing severe illness stemming from RSV.
The authors of the latest CDC report concluded that “this early estimate supports the current nirsevimab recommendation for the prevention of severe RSV disease in infants. Infants should be protected by maternal RSV vaccination or infant receipt of nirsevimab.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
The new RSV antibody treatment for babies has been highly effective in its first season, according to a first look at data from four children’s hospitals.
Babies who received the new preventive treatment for RSV shortly after birth were 90% less likely to be severely sickened with the potentially deadly respiratory illness, according to the new estimate published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the first real-world evaluation of Beyfortus (the generic name is nirsevimab), which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last July.
RSV is a seasonal illness that affects more people — particularly infants and the elderly — in the fall and winter. Symptoms are usually mild in healthy adults, but infants are particularly at risk of getting bronchiolitis, which results in exhausting wheezing and coughing in babies due to swelling in their airways and lungs. Babies who are hospitalized may need fluids and medical devices to help them breathe.
RSV peaked this season from November to January, with more than 10,000 monthly diagnoses reported to the CDC.
The new CDC analysis was conducted among about 700 babies hospitalized for severe respiratory problems from October to the end of February. Among the babies in the study, 407 were diagnosed with RSV and 292 tested negative. The researchers found that 1% of babies in the study who were diagnosed with RSV had received Beyfortus, while the remaining babies who were positive for the virus had not.
Among the babies hospitalized for other severe respiratory problems, 18% had received Beyfortus. Overall, just 59 babies among the nearly 700 in the study received Beyfortus, perhaps reflecting the short supply of the medicine the first season it was available. The report authors noted that babies in the study who did receive Beyfortus also tended to have high-risk medical conditions.
The number of babies nationwide who received Beyfortus during this first season of availability is unclear, but a January CDC survey showed that 4 in 10 parents said their babies under 8 months old had received the treatment. The Wall Street Journal reported recently that a shortage last fall resulted from underestimated demand and from production plans that were set before the CDC decided to recommend that all infants under 8 months old receive Beyfortus if their mothers did not get a maternal vaccine that can protect infants from RSV.
Both the antibody treatment for infants and the maternal vaccine were shown in clinical trials to be about 80% effective at preventing severe illness stemming from RSV.
The authors of the latest CDC report concluded that “this early estimate supports the current nirsevimab recommendation for the prevention of severe RSV disease in infants. Infants should be protected by maternal RSV vaccination or infant receipt of nirsevimab.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
Vaccinated People Have Up to 58% Lower Risk of Long COVID
, a new study from Michigan shows.
The findings were published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. Researchers analyzed data for 4695 adults in Michigan, looking for people reporting COVID symptoms for more than 30 or more than 90 days after infection. They then looked at whether people had completed a full, initial vaccination series or not. Vaccinated people were 58% less likely than unvaccinated people to have symptoms lasting at least 30 days, and they were 43% less likely to have symptoms for 90 days or more.
The researchers did their study because previous estimates of how much vaccination protects against long COVID have varied widely due to different ways of doing the research, such as mixed definitions of long COVID or including a limited set of people in the unvaccinated comparison group. The researchers wrote that their study offers more certainty because the people who took part in it more widely represent the general population. All of the people in the study had lab test-confirmed infections of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) between March 2020 and May 2022.
Among vaccinated and unvaccinated people combined, 32% of infected people said they had symptoms for at least 30 days, and nearly 18% said they had symptoms for 90 days or more, according to a summary of the study published by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. The researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated people multiple ways and consistently showed at least a 40% difference in long COVID.
In 2022, 6.9% of US adults self-reported that they had had long COVID, which researchers defined as symptoms for at least 3 months after testing positive or being diagnosed by a doctor, according to a report last week from the CDC. That report also showed that the states with the highest rates of long COVID in 2022 were Alabama, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming. West Virginia had the highest rate of self-reported long COVID, at 10.6% of adults.
People with long COVID may have one or more of about 20 symptoms, including tiredness, fever, and problems that get worse after physical or mental effort. Other long-term signs are respiratory and heart symptoms, thinking problems, digestive issues, joint or muscle pain, rashes, or changes in menstrual cycles. The problems can be so severe that people may qualify for disability status.
About 8 in 10 US adults got the initial round of COVID vaccines, but just 22% of people reported receiving the latest version that became available in the fall of 2023.
The authors of the Michigan study wrote that “COVID-19 vaccination may be an important tool to reduce the burden of long COVID.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
, a new study from Michigan shows.
The findings were published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. Researchers analyzed data for 4695 adults in Michigan, looking for people reporting COVID symptoms for more than 30 or more than 90 days after infection. They then looked at whether people had completed a full, initial vaccination series or not. Vaccinated people were 58% less likely than unvaccinated people to have symptoms lasting at least 30 days, and they were 43% less likely to have symptoms for 90 days or more.
The researchers did their study because previous estimates of how much vaccination protects against long COVID have varied widely due to different ways of doing the research, such as mixed definitions of long COVID or including a limited set of people in the unvaccinated comparison group. The researchers wrote that their study offers more certainty because the people who took part in it more widely represent the general population. All of the people in the study had lab test-confirmed infections of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) between March 2020 and May 2022.
Among vaccinated and unvaccinated people combined, 32% of infected people said they had symptoms for at least 30 days, and nearly 18% said they had symptoms for 90 days or more, according to a summary of the study published by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. The researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated people multiple ways and consistently showed at least a 40% difference in long COVID.
In 2022, 6.9% of US adults self-reported that they had had long COVID, which researchers defined as symptoms for at least 3 months after testing positive or being diagnosed by a doctor, according to a report last week from the CDC. That report also showed that the states with the highest rates of long COVID in 2022 were Alabama, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming. West Virginia had the highest rate of self-reported long COVID, at 10.6% of adults.
People with long COVID may have one or more of about 20 symptoms, including tiredness, fever, and problems that get worse after physical or mental effort. Other long-term signs are respiratory and heart symptoms, thinking problems, digestive issues, joint or muscle pain, rashes, or changes in menstrual cycles. The problems can be so severe that people may qualify for disability status.
About 8 in 10 US adults got the initial round of COVID vaccines, but just 22% of people reported receiving the latest version that became available in the fall of 2023.
The authors of the Michigan study wrote that “COVID-19 vaccination may be an important tool to reduce the burden of long COVID.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
, a new study from Michigan shows.
The findings were published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. Researchers analyzed data for 4695 adults in Michigan, looking for people reporting COVID symptoms for more than 30 or more than 90 days after infection. They then looked at whether people had completed a full, initial vaccination series or not. Vaccinated people were 58% less likely than unvaccinated people to have symptoms lasting at least 30 days, and they were 43% less likely to have symptoms for 90 days or more.
The researchers did their study because previous estimates of how much vaccination protects against long COVID have varied widely due to different ways of doing the research, such as mixed definitions of long COVID or including a limited set of people in the unvaccinated comparison group. The researchers wrote that their study offers more certainty because the people who took part in it more widely represent the general population. All of the people in the study had lab test-confirmed infections of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) between March 2020 and May 2022.
Among vaccinated and unvaccinated people combined, 32% of infected people said they had symptoms for at least 30 days, and nearly 18% said they had symptoms for 90 days or more, according to a summary of the study published by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. The researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated people multiple ways and consistently showed at least a 40% difference in long COVID.
In 2022, 6.9% of US adults self-reported that they had had long COVID, which researchers defined as symptoms for at least 3 months after testing positive or being diagnosed by a doctor, according to a report last week from the CDC. That report also showed that the states with the highest rates of long COVID in 2022 were Alabama, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming. West Virginia had the highest rate of self-reported long COVID, at 10.6% of adults.
People with long COVID may have one or more of about 20 symptoms, including tiredness, fever, and problems that get worse after physical or mental effort. Other long-term signs are respiratory and heart symptoms, thinking problems, digestive issues, joint or muscle pain, rashes, or changes in menstrual cycles. The problems can be so severe that people may qualify for disability status.
About 8 in 10 US adults got the initial round of COVID vaccines, but just 22% of people reported receiving the latest version that became available in the fall of 2023.
The authors of the Michigan study wrote that “COVID-19 vaccination may be an important tool to reduce the burden of long COVID.”
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY