Insidermedicine in 60 - August 15, 2007

August 15, 2007 (Insidermedicine)

From Washington - The US has dropped precipitously in rankings for longevity. Despite having the most expensive healthcare system, the average American can expect to live 78 years- good enough for 42nd place. The low rates are believed to be related to the 40 million plus who are not insured, high infant mortality rates and the swelling numbers with obesity.

From Ottawa - The Canadian health system isn't perfect. One in ten hospital admissions ends in an acute infection and the chances of a patient receiving a wrong medication or incorrect dose is also one in 10. The study also showed that the chance of having foreign objects- like a sponge- left in the body after surgery is only 1 in 3,000.

Back to Washington - Vaccination against HPV virus should not be used to treat those with active HPV infections. A study of over 1,000 women with HPV showed no difference in clearance rates of the virus at 6 months or 1 year when those who were given the vaccine were compared to to those who didnt receive it.

And finally from Boston - A diet high in red meat and fat is not good for the colon. In a study 1,000 patients with known colon cancer, those who ate a high meat, high fat diet were nearly 3 times more likely to have recurrence of their cancer.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Yi Ning Strube.

Technorati: cancer colon fat healthcare hospital hpv infant infection insurance life longevity meat medical obesity red span vaccine