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April 28–May 4, 2012
This Week in Medicine
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Changing fortunes A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Europe and Central Asia region warns that obesity and diet-related disorders could emerge as major challenges in the next two decades, while undernourishment will become less of a problem. Hunger affects less than 5% of the regional population currently, but is more widespread in parts of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Population decline The population of Japan fell by 295 000 (0·2%) in 2011— the largest drop since comparable records began in 1950, according to government data. Meanwhile the proportion of the population aged 65 years or older increased to 23·3%— an all-time high for the country, and the highest such rate in the world. www.thelancet.com Vol 379 April 28, 2012
Emergency plans 7 years after Hurricane Katrina, a US Government report reveals that although most of the nation’s 16 000 nursing homes now have natural disaster plans, these plans are commonly inadequate. None of the 24 homes investigated had 7-day drinking water supplies, only two had a cover system for staff unable to reach work, and few had comprehensive evacuation plans. Miners act More than 6000 former gold miners from South Africa and Lesotho who have silicosis are to file a class action against their former employers, including some of South Africa’s biggest gold mining companies. South Africa is home to an estimated 288 000 people with potentially compensable silicosis, which is common in ex-miners. Waiting game According to the UK’s Patients Association, waiting times for surgical procedures increased by an average of 6% between 2010 and 2011. The study, based on information acquired under the Freedom of Information Act from 93 National Health Service hospital trusts in England, contradicts claims by the UK Department of Health that waiting times are falling. Indigenous health-service cuts Funding has been cut to the main group dedicated to improving health outcomes for Canadian Inuit women. Reductions in the federal budget mean that Health Canada will not fund translation of health promotion resources into local dialects nor projects focusing on perinatal care, HIV research, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Accidental child deaths In the USA, child death rates from unintentional injury dropped by nearly 30% between 2000 and 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the overall figure hid striking increases in some causes: suffocation rates in infants rose by 54% and poisoning deaths in adolescents by 91%. Treatment illiteracy According to a government report, the prevalence of HIV infection in Nepal has fallen in the adult population since 2005, but poor understanding of antiretroviral therapy (treatment illiteracy) is threatening to negate this progress. Poor compliance with treatment and policies that do not address the educational, nutritional, and financial aspects of HIV/AIDS management need to be addressed. Hospital smokers A “secret investigation” into smoking on hospital premises in China by the Ministry of Health has revealed modest progress. The average score out of 100 was 70·6 in 2011 compared with 63·4 in 2010, with those in large cities such as Beijing, Chongqing, and Shanghai scoring the highest. The government had urged medical institutions to become smoke-free by 2011.
For the report on homelessness and mental health in the UK see http://www.nhsconfed.org/ Publications/briefings/Pages/ mental_health_homelessness. aspx For the Save the Children report on child wellbeing see http:// www.savethechildren.org.uk/ resources/online-library/ progress-child-well-beingbuilding-what-works For the Food and Agriculture Organization report on food security in Europe and Central Asia see http://www.fao.org/ docrep/meeting/024/md453e. pdf For the Patients Association report on waiting times for surgical procedures in England see http://www.patientsassociation.com/Portals/0/Public/ Files/Research%20Publications/ The%20Waiting%20Game.pdf For the CDC report on accidental injury deaths in US children see http://www.cdc. gov/mmwr/preview/ mmwrhtml/mm61e0416a1. htm?s_cid=mm61e0416a1_w For the report on HIV rates in Nepal see http://www.unaids. org/en/dataanalysis/ monitoringcountryprogress/ progressreports/2012countries/ ce_NP_Narrative_Report.pdf For Tourette’s Hero see http:// www.touretteshero.com
Tic-ed off A blog written by a woman with Tourette’s syndrome is causing a stir. Tourette’s Hero offers support and aims to celebrate the creativity and diversity of tics experienced by patients. A gallery of artwork inspired by tics, and individuals’ perspectives on Tourette’s syndrome offers a candidly humorous way of understanding the disorder better.
Sam Robinson
Progress in child wellbeing A Save the Children report shows that child wellbeing worldwide has improved over the past two decades, with lower mortality rates, increasing education levels, and higher gender equality. Countries that received the most development assistance made the most progress; however, aid was most effective where governmental commitment already existed.
Corbis
Mental health and homelessness A report from the UK Mental Health Network and homelessness charity St Mungos says the National Health Service needs to improve support for homeless people with mental health problems. The report makes suggestions such as the use of nonclinical settings and more cooperation with other related services such as dependency clinics.
i
AFP/Getty Images
Changing fortunes A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Europe and Central Asia region warns that obesity and diet-related disorders could emerge as major challenges in the next two decades, while undernourishment will become less of a problem. Hunger affects less than 5% of the regional population currently, but is more widespread in parts of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Population decline The population of Japan fell by 295 000 (0·2%) in 2011— the largest drop since comparable records began in 1950, according to government data. Meanwhile the proportion of the population aged 65 years or older increased to 23·3%— an all-time high for the country, and the highest such rate in the world. www.thelancet.com Vol 379 April 28, 2012
Emergency plans 7 years after Hurricane Katrina, a US Government report reveals that although most of the nation’s 16 000 nursing homes now have natural disaster plans, these plans are commonly inadequate. None of the 24 homes investigated had 7-day drinking water supplies, only two had a cover system for staff unable to reach work, and few had comprehensive evacuation plans. Miners act More than 6000 former gold miners from South Africa and Lesotho who have silicosis are to file a class action against their former employers, including some of South Africa’s biggest gold mining companies. South Africa is home to an estimated 288 000 people with potentially compensable silicosis, which is common in ex-miners. Waiting game According to the UK’s Patients Association, waiting times for surgical procedures increased by an average of 6% between 2010 and 2011. The study, based on information acquired under the Freedom of Information Act from 93 National Health Service hospital trusts in England, contradicts claims by the UK Department of Health that waiting times are falling. Indigenous health-service cuts Funding has been cut to the main group dedicated to improving health outcomes for Canadian Inuit women. Reductions in the federal budget mean that Health Canada will not fund translation of health promotion resources into local dialects nor projects focusing on perinatal care, HIV research, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Accidental child deaths In the USA, child death rates from unintentional injury dropped by nearly 30% between 2000 and 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the overall figure hid striking increases in some causes: suffocation rates in infants rose by 54% and poisoning deaths in adolescents by 91%. Treatment illiteracy According to a government report, the prevalence of HIV infection in Nepal has fallen in the adult population since 2005, but poor understanding of antiretroviral therapy (treatment illiteracy) is threatening to negate this progress. Poor compliance with treatment and policies that do not address the educational, nutritional, and financial aspects of HIV/AIDS management need to be addressed. Hospital smokers A “secret investigation” into smoking on hospital premises in China by the Ministry of Health has revealed modest progress. The average score out of 100 was 70·6 in 2011 compared with 63·4 in 2010, with those in large cities such as Beijing, Chongqing, and Shanghai scoring the highest. The government had urged medical institutions to become smoke-free by 2011.
For the report on homelessness and mental health in the UK see http://www.nhsconfed.org/ Publications/briefings/Pages/ mental_health_homelessness. aspx For the Save the Children report on child wellbeing see http:// www.savethechildren.org.uk/ resources/online-library/ progress-child-well-beingbuilding-what-works For the Food and Agriculture Organization report on food security in Europe and Central Asia see http://www.fao.org/ docrep/meeting/024/md453e. pdf For the Patients Association report on waiting times for surgical procedures in England see http://www.patientsassociation.com/Portals/0/Public/ Files/Research%20Publications/ The%20Waiting%20Game.pdf For the CDC report on accidental injury deaths in US children see http://www.cdc. gov/mmwr/preview/ mmwrhtml/mm61e0416a1. htm?s_cid=mm61e0416a1_w For the report on HIV rates in Nepal see http://www.unaids. org/en/dataanalysis/ monitoringcountryprogress/ progressreports/2012countries/ ce_NP_Narrative_Report.pdf For Tourette’s Hero see http:// www.touretteshero.com
Tic-ed off A blog written by a woman with Tourette’s syndrome is causing a stir. Tourette’s Hero offers support and aims to celebrate the creativity and diversity of tics experienced by patients. A gallery of artwork inspired by tics, and individuals’ perspectives on Tourette’s syndrome offers a candidly humorous way of understanding the disorder better.
Sam Robinson
Progress in child wellbeing A Save the Children report shows that child wellbeing worldwide has improved over the past two decades, with lower mortality rates, increasing education levels, and higher gender equality. Countries that received the most development assistance made the most progress; however, aid was most effective where governmental commitment already existed.
Corbis
Mental health and homelessness A report from the UK Mental Health Network and homelessness charity St Mungos says the National Health Service needs to improve support for homeless people with mental health problems. The report makes suggestions such as the use of nonclinical settings and more cooperation with other related services such as dependency clinics.
i