[Editorial] Turning climate change legislation into public health policy
The effects of climate change are inextricably entwined with health: ranging from the WHO estimate of 7 million deaths from breathing polluted air indoors and outdoors; through the impact of weather-related natural disasters; negative effects on crop yields and food security; and changing patterns of vector-borne diseases; to the shaping of social and environmental determinants of health. 2018 marks 10 years of the UK's 2008 Climate Change Act, which mandated reduction of UK carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050 to 1990 levels, and legislated an independent Committee on Climate Change. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 11, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: The Lancet Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
[Department of Error] Department of Error
Global Burden of Disease Health Financing Collaborator Network. Trends in future health financing and coverage: future health spending and universal health coverage in 188 countries, 2016 –40. Lancet 2018; 391: 1783–98—In table 2 of this Article, a digit was mistakenly omitted from after the decimal point in the value for universal health coverage index in high-income countries in 2030 under the worse scenario. This correction has been made to the online version as of May 3, 20 18, and the printed version is correct. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Tags: Department of Error Source Type: research
[Department of Error] Department of Error
Stephenson J, Heslehurst N, Hall J, et al. Before the beginning: nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception period and its importance for future health. Lancet 2018; 391: 1830 –41—In figure 1 of this Series paper (published online first on April 16, 2018), definitions for the use of * and † symbols were added to the legend. This correction has been made to the online version as of May 3, 2018, and the printed Series paper is correct. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Tags: Department of Error Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Determining the worldwide prevalence of obesity – Authors' reply
Although different measures of adiposity might differentially classify people as overweight or obese, studies that have compared body-mass index (BMI) with other measures of adiposity have found that, at higher BMIs (eg, 30 kg/m2 and above), classification using BMI gives similar results to other approaches, such as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.1 More broadly, in selecting risk factor metrics for population health reporting, two other issues should be kept in mind. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Majid Ezzati, Mariachiara Di Cesare, James Bentham Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Determining the worldwide prevalence of obesity
The NCD Risk Factor Collaboration study (Dec 16, 2017, p 2627)1 is a landmark description of the progress of the obesity pandemic, but substantially underestimates the scale of the problem. The study1 defined obesity using body-mass index (BMI) in adults and BMI-for-age in children and adolescents. Systematic reviews2 –4 of a large amount of high-quality and consistent evidence show that the use of BMI to define obesity (the degree of excess body fat) is highly specific, but has low to moderate sensitivity. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: John J Reilly, Asmaa El-Hamdouchi, Adama Diouf, Andries Monyeki, Serge A Somda Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Late effects of childhood cancer – Authors' reply
We thank Amanda Friend and colleagues for their comments. Although our Article1 reflects the most extensive and comprehensive clinical characterisation of long-term morbidities had by adult survivors of childhood cancer to date, we are actively working on additional studies beyond this initial report to expand the list of clinically assessed chronic health conditions. We agree with Friend and colleagues that mental wellbeing is a fundamental component of health. As underscored in their Correspondence, our team has reported on the importance of neurocognitive and psychological outcomes among adult survivors of childhood can...
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Nickhill Bhakta, Melissa M Hudson, Yutaka Yasui, Leslie L Robison Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Late effects of childhood cancer
Nickhill Bhakta and colleagues1 (Dec 9, 2017, p 2569) report a large case-control study (St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study) of survivors of childhood cancer from a single institution in North America.1 The study defines the prevalence of many of the late effects of cancer in children and young people. However, we were disappointed to note the omission of two key areas, mental health and female fertility, limiting the ability to describe the report as a comprehensive description of the late morbidity burden associated with survival from childhood cancer. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Amanda J Friend, Richard G Feltbower, Hannah L Newton, Helen M Picton, Adam W Glaser Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] PRIMA, non nocere: a reply from the authors
We thank John Harvin and Lillian Kao for their Comment1 on our Article.2 Harvin and Kao stated, on the basis of the results of the PRIMA trial, that we cannot conclude that there are no increased short-term risks associated with use of prophylactic mesh. The short-term results were published in Annals of Surgery in 2015,3 and it is true that we did not specifically power our study with the short-term outcomes in mind. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: An P Jairam, Lucas Timmermans, Johan F Lange, Johannes Jeekel Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Implementing sexual and reproductive health care in humanitarian crises – Authors' reply
In response to our Series paper1 calling for more rigorous research on health interventions in humanitarian settings, we very much welcome the letter by Sarah Chynoweth and colleagues, which raises the important issue that humanitarian health actors can also fail to apply existing evidence, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive health. In their letter, the authors note that there are proven examples of effective interventions for family planning, neonatal health, and sexual violence that the humanitarian community still fail to adequately deliver. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Bayard Roberts, Karl Blanchet Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Implementing sexual and reproductive health care in humanitarian crises
We applaud the call made by Karl Blanchet and colleagues (Nov 18, 2017, p 2287)1 for more systematic and rigorous research on health interventions in humanitarian settings. However, we wish to highlight a key concern that the authors did not directly address in their paper: humanitarian health actors' insufficient application of existing evidence, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive health. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Sarah K Chynoweth, Ribka Amsalu, Sara E Casey, Therese McGinn Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Dengue vaccination: a more ethical approach is needed
Since 2016, we have discussed the risks behind the recommendation and use in mass vaccination programmes of Dengvaxia —a dengue vaccine produced by Sanofi Pasteur (Lyon, France)—without immunological pretesting.1,2 By using differential equation models and statistical methods, my colleagues and I reassessed publicly available data from vaccine trials, and found a substantial reduction in the number of hospital admissions when Dengvaxia was given only to seropositive individuals (ie, those with a history of a previous infection from dengue virus), and a substantial increase in the number of hospital admissions over 5 ye...
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Ma íra Aguiar Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Lassa fever in Nigeria: the tale of a reactive health system
The World Report by Talha Burki (Feb 24, p 728)1 described an unprecedented astronomical rise in Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, for which the first case was reported in 1969 and the epidemiology and endemicity are well understood. Failure of the Nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of Lassa fever, which requires robust laboratory facilities, trained health personnel, and coordinated epidemiological surveillance.2 Therefore, we propose a four-pronged plan to ensure consistent and proactive preventive activities that could ameliorate the high proportion of fatali...
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Victor J Animasahun, Helena J Chapman Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Obituary] David Albert Cooper
HIV researcher and global champion of patients' rights. Born in Sydney, NSW, Australia, on April 19, 1949, he died there with a haemophagocytic syndrome on March 18, 2018, aged 68 years. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Geoff Watts Tags: Obituary Source Type: research
[Perspectives] Moral injury in time of war
The word injury derives from the Latin injuria meaning a wrong. Applied to both physical and psychological wounds, it is now used as a label for the impact that a moral and ethical dilemma might have on an individual's wellbeing. Although the term moral injury is relatively recent, examples can readily be found in the aftermath of past conflicts. As the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1 approaches, it is opportune to explore how its survivors attempted to come to terms with so much death —doctors at war like Arthur Osburn. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Edgar Jones Tags: Perspectives Source Type: research
[Perspectives] Roger Glass: celebrating the Fogarty at 50
At the Fogarty International Center, “we're small, but we're catalytic”, says Roger Glass, the centre's Director and Associate Director for International Research at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Fogarty celebrates its 50th anniversary this month and has been under Glass's leadership since 2006. By training scient ists, supporting research, and building partnerships, the Fogarty serves a bridge between the NIH and the global health community. Since its creation in 1968, about 6000 scientists have received research training through its programmes and the centre funds about 500 projects. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Marianne Guenot Tags: Perspectives Source Type: research
