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Health care spending rose 6.1% in 2007. But this increase was the smallest since 1998, the Associated Press reported January 6. The primary reason for a slower increase was more use of generic drugs. Several things swelled the use of generics. Insurers charged less for generics and more for brand names. Major retailers offered generics for very low prices. And a few major brand-name drugs lost patent protection. Competitors then offered generic copies for lower prices.

U.S. officials are warning about a serious side effect from two drugs taken together. The drugs are used to lower cholesterol and control heart rhythm. Some people taking both have had severe muscle damage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the drugs August 8. The cholesterol drugs involved are simvastatin (Zocor) and Vytorin. They are from a group called statins. The heart rhythm drug is amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone). All statin drugs can lead to muscle damage. However, usually the risk is low. The FDA says doctors could switch people who take the risky combination to another statin. The Associated Press wrote about the warning August 8.

A vaccine against pneumonia also may reduce heart attack risk, a new study suggests. The vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. It is recommended for babies, older adults and some others. Researchers looked at data on nearly 5,000 people. They were not known to have plaque in their arteries. But they did have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. All of these conditions increase heart attack risk. About 7% of those who received the pneumonia vaccine later had a heart attack. The rate was 11.6% for those who did not get the vaccine. Reuters Health wrote about the study October 6. It appeared in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

A high level of Lp(a), a form of LDL cholesterol is an important risk factor for heart disease. A new study suggests that it is a cause of – not just a risk factor for – coronary artery disease. Researchers studied the genes of 3,245 people with coronary arery disease and 3,352 people without disease. Having certain genes was associated with increased Lp(a) levels and cardiac risk. But it was the Lp(a) levels, not whether a person had the genes themselves, that was most strongly associated with heart disease. The study appeared in the December 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Many elderly people need someone to make decisions about their end-of-life health care, a new study finds. Researchers said it shows the need to write down what kind of care you want when you are still able to do so. The study included 3,746 elderly people. About 3 out of 10 were unable to make an important treatment decision before they died. Some developed dementia or had a stroke before dying. These are some of the reasons that people can’t make their own decisions. About 2 out of 3 of those who weren’t able to make a decision had a living will or had given someone a written proxy to decide on their behalf. The Associated Press wrote about the study April 1. It appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A Maine lawmaker has proposed a law that would require cell phones to carry warnings that they may cause brain cancer. Maine would be the first state to have such a law. But research on cell phones and cancer has had mixed results, the National Cancer Institute says. No long-term studies have been completed. The Federal Communications Commission says cell phones are safe. Under the Maine bill, the warnings would urge users keep cell phones away from their head and body. The city of San Francisco also is considering a cell phone ordinance. It would require phones to display their “specific absorption rate.” This is the maximum amount of radiofrequency energy that the head absorbs from a particular type of phone. The Associated Press wrote about the proposed laws December 21.

Taking sildenafil (Viagra) may improve sexual response in women who take medicine for depression, a study finds. Sexual problems often occur as a side effect of depression drugs. The study included 98 women who were having this problem. They were given pills to take before having sex for eight weeks. Half of the women received Viagra. The others got identical placebos. Nearly 3 out of 4 women who took Viagra reported better sexual response. This compares with 1 out of 4 women who took placebo pills. The Associated Press wrote about the study July 22. It appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The federal tax on cigarettes is going up 62 cents on April 1. Public health experts told Reuters Health news service that the increase may lead to 1 million smokers quitting. The additional tax money will go to a government health insurance program for children who don’t have insurance. Raising cigarette prices has been shown to increase quit rate among adult smokers and prevent children and young adults from starting to smoke. Smoking kills about 440,000 Americans every year, according to the CDC. Reuters Health News Service wrote about the increase on March 15.

More Americans are skimping on medical care because of money troubles, the Associated Press reported October 23. A new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed the trend. People were asked if they have put off medical care or tests. More people said yes than a similar poll showed in April. Fewer prescriptions are being filled, too. The drop occurred in the quarter that ended in June. IMS Health, which collected the data, said it was the first drop ever.

High levels of a blood protein may indicate more risk of type 2 diabetes, a study suggests. The study included about 400 people in their 70s. None had diabetes. Within 6 years, 135 had diabetes. Some people had high levels of a protein called fetuin-A. Their diabetes rate was twice as high as for people with the lowest levels of the protein. Researchers said fetuin-A could help identify people at high risk of diabetes. They could make a special effort to lose weight and exercise. HealthDay News reported on the study July 8. It was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.