Harvard Health Content API

In a new study, about half of sudden infant deaths occurred in babies who had been placed in unsafe sleeping positions. The study was presented October 17 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP also released expanded guidelines to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The new study looked at 91 recent SIDS cases or other unexplained infant deaths. Doctors have recommended putting babies on their backs to sleep for nearly 20 years. But in half of the deaths studied, the baby had been in some other position. About half were sharing a bed. Nearly 3 out of 4 were sleeping on a surface such as a sofa or pillow. The AAP says these practices are unsafe. MedPage Today wrote about the study. The AAP issued its new SIDS guidelines October 18. For the first time, they say that cribs should not have bumper pads.

Women who smoke tend to hit menopause a bit earlier than nonsmokers, a new research analysis finds. The study looked at 11 previous studies. They included about 6,000 women. On average, nonsmokers reached menopause between ages 46 and 51. In all but 2 of the studies, smokers hit menopause a bit earlier. The average age was 43 to 50. Researchers also looked at 5 other studies that included 43,000 women. They were grouped according to whether they had “early” or “late” menopause. The cutoff for “late” menopause was age 50 or 51. Women who smoked were 43% more likely to have early menopause. Early menopause has been linked with greater risk of several diseases, such as heart disease. But women with later menopause are thought to have a higher risk of breast cancer. The journal Menopause published the study online. Reuters Health news service wrote about it October 16.

The percentage of Americans with coronary artery disease has dropped in the last few years, a study suggests. This condition is the cause of heart attacks. Many people just call it heart disease. A person with coronary artery disease has a buildup of deposits inside the arteries near the heart. The new study used results from a major U.S. health survey that is done each year. Researchers compared numbers from two recent years. In 2010, 6% of adults said they had coronary artery disease. This was down from 6.7% in 2006. For men, the most recent rate was 7.8%, compared with 4.6% for women. Rates also varied by state, ethnic group and education. Highest rates were in Southern states and among Native Americans and those with less than a high school education. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did the study. HealthDay News wrote about it October 13.

A large study showed more deaths in a group of women who took daily vitamins, compared with a group of women who did not. The deaths were from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The study included more than 38,000 women. Their average age was about 61. They filled out questionnaires in 1986, 1997 and 2004. Results showed more deaths in women who took multivitamins, vitamin B₆, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper. The link was strongest with iron. But the study also showed fewer deaths in women who took calcium supplements. The study was published Oct. 10 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. USA Today wrote about it Oct. 11.

Guidelines that recommend regular screening and monitoring for esophageal cancer may need to be re-evaluated, a new study says. Screening is done by inserting an endoscope (flexible tube) into the esophagus to examine the cells that line it. Danish researchers examined 11,028 patients from 1992 to 2009. They all had been diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus. This condition is often caused by GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). It also is a risk factor for developing esophageal cancer. But researchers found that the risk is smaller than previously estimated. The risk of cancer is higher in those patients who have more severe cellular changes. Other factors, such as age, race, sex and weight, also play a part. The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. HealthDay News reported on it Oct. 12.

Taking vitamin E pills, once thought to help prevent prostate cancer, appears to actually increase a man’s risk of the disease, a new study finds. The study included more than 35,000 men. They were healthy and at least age 50 when the study began. They were randomly divided into 4 groups. One group took a high-dose vitamin E pill each day. One group took selenium, another nutrient. One group took both. The fourth group took placebo (fake) pills. The study was halted after about 5 years because it was clear that the pills were providing no benefit. Early results also suggested a higher prostate cancer risk with vitamin E. But researchers still kept track of the men. The new follow-up study confirmed a 17% higher prostate cancer risk for the men who took vitamin E. In a 7-year period, there were 76 cases diagnosed per 1,000 men in this group.