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Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics new
Modelled early pandemic costs rise more from too little control than from too much
In models fitted to first-year COVID-19 cases in 110 countries, controlling transmission five points below the cost-optimal level carried excess costs above 400%, against 10-80% five points above.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceSmoking and vaping new
Real cigarette prices rose 2.9% a year across 195 countries
Inflation-adjusted cigarette prices across 195 countries rose 2.9% a year between 2008 and 2024, with over a fifth of nominal prices unchanged between successive periods.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Data, models and systemsValue in health new
Treating drug-resistant TB contacts up to age 45 was modelled as cost-effective
A model of 189 countries found that offering preventive treatment to household contacts of drug-resistant tuberculosis up to age 45, rather than only under-15s, was cost-effective in 160 countries.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics confirms
Digital reminders raised child vaccination coverage in low- and middle-income countries
A meta-analysis of 22 randomised trials in low- and middle-income countries found reminders raised the share of children vaccinated relative to usual care (RR 1.27), though trial results varied widely.
Peer-reviewed -
Tomorrow's worldInnovation in treatment new
Oral orforglipron is tested for cardiovascular safety against insulin in type 2 diabetes
A phase 3 trial randomised 2749 adults with type 2 diabetes and heart or kidney disease to oral orforglipron or insulin glargine, and followed them for a median two years.
Peer-reviewed -
Tomorrow's worldMedicine at a distance refines
Systolic pressure was 5.8 mmHg lower with apps and wearables after stroke
Across 29 studies in 8,389 stroke and transient ischaemic attack survivors, systolic blood pressure was 5.8 mmHg lower with mobile applications or wearables, though prediction intervals crossed the null.
Peer-reviewed -
Data, models and systemsHealth systems and access confirms
Adult mortality is 26% higher for those whose fathers held lower-ranked jobs
A meta-analysis of 102 cohort studies covering about 8.5 million people in 24 countries found adult all-cause mortality 26% higher for those whose fathers held lower-ranked occupations.
Peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics refines
Modelling puts maternal deaths 68,489 above pre-pandemic trends over 2020 to 2023
Models fitted to WHO/UN estimates for 2000 to 2019 put maternal deaths for 2020 to 2023 at 68,489 above the projected path, with excess detectable in 113 of 195 countries.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Health todayDementia confirms
Lithium use was associated with 37% lower dementia risk in pooled cohort studies
A meta-analysis of 23 studies pooled four cohort studies to a hazard ratio of 0.63 for dementia among lithium users, although the authors state that causality is not established.
Peer-reviewed -
Health todayHeart and stroke new
Kidney disease progressed less often on a GLP-1 drug plus SGLT2 inhibitor
Among 32,448 matched adults with chronic kidney disease, those adding a GLP-1 drug to an SGLT2 inhibitor had 0.70 times the rate of kidney disease progression over a median year.
Peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics refines
COVID-19 antibody levels overstate protection in people on immunosuppressive therapy
Binding antibody levels after mRNA vaccination were 54.5 times lower in people on B-cell depleting drugs than in healthy controls, and protection was lower at any given antibody level.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Health todayHeart and stroke refines
GLP-1 drugs lower stroke risk by 17%, little of it explained by blood pressure
A meta-analysis of seven randomised trials in type 2 diabetes found that GLP-1 receptor agonists lowered stroke risk by 17%, with blood pressure lowering explaining about a quarter of it.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed
