Harvard Health Content API

The U.S. diabetes rate could double or even triple in the next 40 years, health officials say. If trends continue, as many as 1 out of 3 adults could have the disease by 2050. So says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report’s lower-end estimate was 1 out of 5, still double the current rate. These are much higher than previous numbers. That’s partly because they include people who have diabetes but don’t know it, one author told the Associated Press. Researchers also used new population growth estimates for some groups. Finally, the numbers reflect some good news — the fact that people with diabetes are living longer. Diabetes growth has been closely tied to population aging and obesity. Risk of type 2 diabetes is higher among people who are older or overweight. The journal Population Health Metrics published the report online October 22.

An expert panel has recommended that U.S. drug officials not approve Qnexa, a new weight loss drug. The vote was 10-6 against the drug. Panel members expressed concern about side effects. They also noted the lack of long-term data on use. Patients in studies were followed for only a year. Qnexa is made by Vivus Inc. It combines two drugs already on the market. Phentermine is a stimulant. It helps to suppress appetite. Topiramate is an anti-seizure drug. In Qnexa, it helps people feel full faster. Members of the panel agreed that Qnexa helps people lose weight. In studies, people lost about 10% of their body weight on average. But some people had serious side effects. They included memory problems, suicidal thoughts, heart palpitations and birth defects. The panel provides advice to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

A study released this week has left further questions about how to deal with menopause symptoms, The Providence Journal reported October 21. The new study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It included long-term statistics on women who took hormone replacement therapy. They were part of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative. That study reported in 2002 that taking hormone replacement therapy for more than five years increased the risk of breast cancer and heart disease. The new study kept track of the women for an average of 11 years. It confirmed the women’s higher risk of breast cancer. And it found the cancers were also more likely to be advanced and deadly. Experts interviewed by the Journal disagreed on whether women should take hormones for menopause symptoms. One said hormones in a different form may be safe.

A program of structured teamwork has helped to reduce surgery deaths at VA medical centers, researchers report. The program began in 2003. It changed the way surgical teams work together. Under the traditional system, surgeons were in charge and other team members not always encouraged to speak up. The new system included briefings before, during and after surgery. Before the procedure, team members went through a checklist to make sure everyone agreed on the procedure and other details. Patients said their names and what surgery they were getting. They listened to the briefing and could speak up if anything sounded wrong. In the first 74 VA hospitals to use the system, surgery deaths dropped 18% in 3 years, researchers reported. Death rates were lowest where people had the most teamwork training. The system now is in use at all VA centers.