Weekly Prevention Update 14 July 2010
ProCor Weekly Prevention Update 14 July 2010
[Editor's note: Please take our ProCor user survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/procor]
Prevention News
-------------------
Asia: Diabetes overwhelming Pacific health services
In many pacific island nations, health services lack the staff and resources to deal with diabetes and heart disease according to local health managers. The majority of health services in the Pacific is geared towards dealing with infectious diseases and is unequipped for the rapid growth of diabetes in the region. Obesity and inactivity have been cited as the primary causes of this outbreak of diabetes in the Pacific, as well as Asia as a whole.
"Asia-Pacific faces diabetes challenge"
The Lancet 2010; 375(9733): 2207-2210 (open access)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2961014-8/fulltext
Ethiopia: Chewing Khat increases blood pressure
Regular chewing of Khat increases diastolic blood pressure, according to new research. Compared to non-Khat users, regular Khat chewers were 25% more likely to have hypertension, 45% more likely to have sub-optimal diastolic blood pressure (greater than 80 mmHg), as well as have higher diastolic blood pressure and higher heart rates. The Khat plant (Catha edulis) contains Cathinone, an alkaloid chemical substance which has shown to increases the diastolic blood pressure amongst those who chew it.
"Regular Khat chewing is associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure among adults in Butajira, Ethiopia"
BMC Public Health 2010, 10:390 (open access)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/390/abstract
Global: Increasing number of open access papers
One fifth of scientific journal articles are now available for free on the internet, according to the first global study of online research papers. Almost 9% of all papers published were freely accessible on publishers' websites, while an additional 12% were available on authors' or departmental websites. The study found that among certain disciplines (particularly Earth science) and geographic areas (India, Central America) journals were more likely to be open access. The number of open access articles is likely to grow 1%-1.5% a year. Science and Development Network.
http://www.scidev.net/en/news/global-open-access-slowly-growing-study-finds-.html
Hong Kong: Obesity linked to cancer deaths
Overweight and obese Asians are more likely to die from cancer, according to a study of more than 400,000 people. Compared to normal weight individuals, obese participants were 21% more likely to acquire cancer and overweight participants were 6% more likely to acquire cancer. It has long been known that obesity was correlated with cancer in the Western world, but this is the first conclusive study making such a connection in Asia. In recent years, obesity in Asia has skyrocketed due to an increasingly westernized food culture and urban, sedentary lifestyle. Reuters.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE65T4LK20100630rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&rpc=401
Japan: First smoke-free beach opens
The Zushi beach in Yokohama is the first smoke-free beach in Japan. Smoking is completely banned aside from five smoking areas, and local residents will voluntarily patrol the beach asking people to smoke in the designated areas. Governor Shigefumi Matsuzawa spoke at the beach opening ceremony, "We'd like to create clean and safe beaches that all the people - both smokers and nonsmokers - can enjoy...Since Kanagawa beaches have many visitors...we need to fully enforce the new rule." The Japan Times.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20100626a8.html
Kuwait: Public support for smoking ban
The Kuwait government has found strong public support for their initiative to enforce a 15 year old smoking ban in public places. The Ministry of Health is looking to ramp up its enforcement of the smoking ban by increasing the cooperation between different ministry officials and ensuring fines are handed out for those who break the rules. Non-smokers and smokers alike expressed their support of this initiative, calling smoking both "annoying" and "harmful." The Kuwait Times.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=OTQzNjkxNDM3
Scotland: Tailored approach to CHD prevention in low-income areas
Coronary heart disease prevention efforts targeting socio-economically disadvantaged areas should be tailored specifically to the needs of individual communities, according to new research. Researchers found that, compared to larger social marketing campaigns, face-to-face interactions was a far more effective tool for engaging members of the community and educating them about the dangers of CHD. Participants characterized the social marketing campaign as "demanding and inflexible," while the face-to-face canvassing was more understandable and far superior at recruiting volunteers.
"Overcoming barriers to engaging socio-economically disadvantaged populations in CHD primary prevention"
BMC Public Health 2010, 10:391 (open access)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/391/abstract
South Korea: Smoking rates higher than OECD average
The average number of smokers in South Korea remains significantly higher than any other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development country. Almost 43% of South Korean men smoke, compared to the OECD average of 28%. Although 59% of smokers in a recent study said they wanted to quit, the overall prevalence has dropped only 0.5% over the past six months. Respondents in that survey felt that creating and enforcing non-smoking areas were the most effective way to get people to quit. The Korea Times.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/07/113_68996.html
Spain: Government supports anti-smoking legislation
The Spanish parliament recently unanimously supported new legislation prohibiting smoking in closed public spaces. The only concern raised by the parliament was that the bill is "lacking ambition," since it doesn't apply to stadiums or terraces. The Minister of Health, Trinidad Jimenez, is optimistic about this legislation passing and hopes that political support will allow for even "more ambitious" regulations. Typically Spanish.
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_26499.shtml
Tanzania: Stroke rates higher than developed countries
For people aged 65-84 years, stroke rates in urban Tanzania are almost three times higher than rural areas and developed countries, according to new research. When age-standardized to the WHO world population, the annual stroke incidence rate in urban Dar-es-Salaam was 315.9 per 100,000 people compared to 108.6 per 100,000 in the rural town Hai. Hypertension is the primary cause of stroke in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting (at least partially) for two-thirds of all stroke incidents.
"Stroke incidence in rural and urban Tanzania: a prospective, community-based study"
The Lancet 2010; 4422(10): 70144-7 (open access)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(10)70144-7/fulltext
US: Anxiety disorder increases cardiovascular events
For people with pre-existing heart disease, anxiety disorders increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and death, according to new research. Those with previous heart disease problems and anxiety disorders have a 74% greater chance for having another cardiovascular event. It is estimated that 24%-31% of people with heart disease also have anxiety symptoms. Evaluation of anxiety disorder may be a behavioral marker indicating future prognosis of future cardiovascular events.
"Scared to death? Generalized anxiety disorder and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease"
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010; 67(7): 750-758
http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2010a/0705.dtl#4
Resources
-------------------
Caring for people with chronic conditions
WHO report includes sections on the burden of chronic disease in Europe; economic aspects of chronic disease; integrating chronic care; preventing chronic disease; supporting self-management; human resource challenges; decision support; and paying for chronic disease care. WHO.
(PDF 1.88 MB) http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/96468/E91878.pdf
Donor funding for health in low- & middle-income countries, 2001-2008
Report on Official Development Assistance commitments for health provided by donors (countries and multilateral organizations) between 2001 and 2008. Kaiser Family Foundation.
(PDF 400 KB) http://www.kff.org/globalhealth/upload/7679-04.pdf
Guidance on the prevention of cardiovascular disease at the population level
Guidelines for population-level prevention of CVD. Includes 18 recommendations on population efforts to reduce salt and fats, food marketing towards children, commercial interests, labeling, advice for restaurant industries, as well as food provision, physical activity, and health impact. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/PH25
Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
Global policy recommendations to improve the recruitment and retention of health workers in underserved areas. Provides 16 recommendations as well as a guide for policy-makers to choose the most appropriate interventions. WHO.
(PDF 828KB) http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241564014_eng.pdf
CVD Calendar
-------------------
12th Annual Meeting of the SRNT Europe
Location: Bath, England
Date: 6 September 2010 - 9 September 2010
Contact Email: events@purevisionevents.com
http://www.srnteurope.org
Tobacco-free Aotearoa Conference
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Date: 4 November 2010 - 5 November 2010
Contact Email: Jennifer@hsc.org.nz
http://www.smokefree.co.nz/conference2010/
Tomorrow for tomorrow's people
Location: Waikato, New Zealand
Date: 22 September 2010 - 24 September 2010
Contact Email: pha@pha.org.nz
http://nzphaconference.info/tomorrow-for-tomorrow-s-people-he-ao-mo-nga-whakatupuranga-o-apopo/
WCRF International 2-day conference
Location: London, UK
Date: 12 September 2010 - 13 September 2010
Contact Email: conference@wcrf.org
http://www.wcrfconference.org
[Editor's note: Please take our ProCor user survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/procor]
Prevention News
-------------------
Asia: Diabetes overwhelming Pacific health services
In many pacific island nations, health services lack the staff and resources to deal with diabetes and heart disease according to local health managers. The majority of health services in the Pacific is geared towards dealing with infectious diseases and is unequipped for the rapid growth of diabetes in the region. Obesity and inactivity have been cited as the primary causes of this outbreak of diabetes in the Pacific, as well as Asia as a whole.
"Asia-Pacific faces diabetes challenge"
The Lancet 2010; 375(9733): 2207-2210 (open access)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2961014-8/fulltext
Ethiopia: Chewing Khat increases blood pressure
Regular chewing of Khat increases diastolic blood pressure, according to new research. Compared to non-Khat users, regular Khat chewers were 25% more likely to have hypertension, 45% more likely to have sub-optimal diastolic blood pressure (greater than 80 mmHg), as well as have higher diastolic blood pressure and higher heart rates. The Khat plant (Catha edulis) contains Cathinone, an alkaloid chemical substance which has shown to increases the diastolic blood pressure amongst those who chew it.
"Regular Khat chewing is associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure among adults in Butajira, Ethiopia"
BMC Public Health 2010, 10:390 (open access)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/390/abstract
Global: Increasing number of open access papers
One fifth of scientific journal articles are now available for free on the internet, according to the first global study of online research papers. Almost 9% of all papers published were freely accessible on publishers' websites, while an additional 12% were available on authors' or departmental websites. The study found that among certain disciplines (particularly Earth science) and geographic areas (India, Central America) journals were more likely to be open access. The number of open access articles is likely to grow 1%-1.5% a year. Science and Development Network.
http://www.scidev.net/en/news/global-open-access-slowly-growing-study-finds-.html
Hong Kong: Obesity linked to cancer deaths
Overweight and obese Asians are more likely to die from cancer, according to a study of more than 400,000 people. Compared to normal weight individuals, obese participants were 21% more likely to acquire cancer and overweight participants were 6% more likely to acquire cancer. It has long been known that obesity was correlated with cancer in the Western world, but this is the first conclusive study making such a connection in Asia. In recent years, obesity in Asia has skyrocketed due to an increasingly westernized food culture and urban, sedentary lifestyle. Reuters.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE65T4LK20100630rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&rpc=401
Japan: First smoke-free beach opens
The Zushi beach in Yokohama is the first smoke-free beach in Japan. Smoking is completely banned aside from five smoking areas, and local residents will voluntarily patrol the beach asking people to smoke in the designated areas. Governor Shigefumi Matsuzawa spoke at the beach opening ceremony, "We'd like to create clean and safe beaches that all the people - both smokers and nonsmokers - can enjoy...Since Kanagawa beaches have many visitors...we need to fully enforce the new rule." The Japan Times.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20100626a8.html
Kuwait: Public support for smoking ban
The Kuwait government has found strong public support for their initiative to enforce a 15 year old smoking ban in public places. The Ministry of Health is looking to ramp up its enforcement of the smoking ban by increasing the cooperation between different ministry officials and ensuring fines are handed out for those who break the rules. Non-smokers and smokers alike expressed their support of this initiative, calling smoking both "annoying" and "harmful." The Kuwait Times.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=OTQzNjkxNDM3
Scotland: Tailored approach to CHD prevention in low-income areas
Coronary heart disease prevention efforts targeting socio-economically disadvantaged areas should be tailored specifically to the needs of individual communities, according to new research. Researchers found that, compared to larger social marketing campaigns, face-to-face interactions was a far more effective tool for engaging members of the community and educating them about the dangers of CHD. Participants characterized the social marketing campaign as "demanding and inflexible," while the face-to-face canvassing was more understandable and far superior at recruiting volunteers.
"Overcoming barriers to engaging socio-economically disadvantaged populations in CHD primary prevention"
BMC Public Health 2010, 10:391 (open access)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/391/abstract
South Korea: Smoking rates higher than OECD average
The average number of smokers in South Korea remains significantly higher than any other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development country. Almost 43% of South Korean men smoke, compared to the OECD average of 28%. Although 59% of smokers in a recent study said they wanted to quit, the overall prevalence has dropped only 0.5% over the past six months. Respondents in that survey felt that creating and enforcing non-smoking areas were the most effective way to get people to quit. The Korea Times.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/07/113_68996.html
Spain: Government supports anti-smoking legislation
The Spanish parliament recently unanimously supported new legislation prohibiting smoking in closed public spaces. The only concern raised by the parliament was that the bill is "lacking ambition," since it doesn't apply to stadiums or terraces. The Minister of Health, Trinidad Jimenez, is optimistic about this legislation passing and hopes that political support will allow for even "more ambitious" regulations. Typically Spanish.
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_26499.shtml
Tanzania: Stroke rates higher than developed countries
For people aged 65-84 years, stroke rates in urban Tanzania are almost three times higher than rural areas and developed countries, according to new research. When age-standardized to the WHO world population, the annual stroke incidence rate in urban Dar-es-Salaam was 315.9 per 100,000 people compared to 108.6 per 100,000 in the rural town Hai. Hypertension is the primary cause of stroke in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting (at least partially) for two-thirds of all stroke incidents.
"Stroke incidence in rural and urban Tanzania: a prospective, community-based study"
The Lancet 2010; 4422(10): 70144-7 (open access)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(10)70144-7/fulltext
US: Anxiety disorder increases cardiovascular events
For people with pre-existing heart disease, anxiety disorders increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and death, according to new research. Those with previous heart disease problems and anxiety disorders have a 74% greater chance for having another cardiovascular event. It is estimated that 24%-31% of people with heart disease also have anxiety symptoms. Evaluation of anxiety disorder may be a behavioral marker indicating future prognosis of future cardiovascular events.
"Scared to death? Generalized anxiety disorder and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease"
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010; 67(7): 750-758
http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2010a/0705.dtl#4
Resources
-------------------
Caring for people with chronic conditions
WHO report includes sections on the burden of chronic disease in Europe; economic aspects of chronic disease; integrating chronic care; preventing chronic disease; supporting self-management; human resource challenges; decision support; and paying for chronic disease care. WHO.
(PDF 1.88 MB) http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/96468/E91878.pdf
Donor funding for health in low- & middle-income countries, 2001-2008
Report on Official Development Assistance commitments for health provided by donors (countries and multilateral organizations) between 2001 and 2008. Kaiser Family Foundation.
(PDF 400 KB) http://www.kff.org/globalhealth/upload/7679-04.pdf
Guidance on the prevention of cardiovascular disease at the population level
Guidelines for population-level prevention of CVD. Includes 18 recommendations on population efforts to reduce salt and fats, food marketing towards children, commercial interests, labeling, advice for restaurant industries, as well as food provision, physical activity, and health impact. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/PH25
Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
Global policy recommendations to improve the recruitment and retention of health workers in underserved areas. Provides 16 recommendations as well as a guide for policy-makers to choose the most appropriate interventions. WHO.
(PDF 828KB) http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241564014_eng.pdf
CVD Calendar
-------------------
12th Annual Meeting of the SRNT Europe
Location: Bath, England
Date: 6 September 2010 - 9 September 2010
Contact Email: events@purevisionevents.com
http://www.srnteurope.org
Tobacco-free Aotearoa Conference
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Date: 4 November 2010 - 5 November 2010
Contact Email: Jennifer@hsc.org.nz
http://www.smokefree.co.nz/conference2010/
Tomorrow for tomorrow's people
Location: Waikato, New Zealand
Date: 22 September 2010 - 24 September 2010
Contact Email: pha@pha.org.nz
http://nzphaconference.info/tomorrow-for-tomorrow-s-people-he-ao-mo-nga-whakatupuranga-o-apopo/
WCRF International 2-day conference
Location: London, UK
Date: 12 September 2010 - 13 September 2010
Contact Email: conference@wcrf.org
http://www.wcrfconference.org
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