Tag: mortality

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High Mortality Risk for Anorexia Nervosa Patients with Psychiatric Conditions

The researchers said they measured empathy “as perceived by patients rather than self-reported by physicians” – a metric they said was in contrast to most other research, which deployed “physician self-reported measures of empathy”…reports Asian Lite News

Empathetic doctors are better at relieving back pain than indifferent or aloof practitioners, according to research by US-based scientists. 

A team from Johns Hopkins University and the University of North Texas found patients ended up with “significantly better and clinically relevant outcomes pertaining to pain, function, and health-related quality of life” after seeing “very empathic” physicians, compared to others who saw “slightly empathetic” doctors.

The study, which looked at almost 1,500 people being treated for chronic low back pain and was published by the American Medical Association, found doctor empathy to be “more strongly associated with favourable outcomes” than even “nonpharmacological treatments, opioid therapy, and lumbar spine surgery”.

The researchers said they measured empathy “as perceived by patients rather than self-reported by physicians” – a metric they said was in contrast to most other research, which deployed “physician self-reported measures of empathy”.

They hinted that the findings could have wider implications for treatments, describing “the patient-physician relationship” as “fundamental to the practice of medicine”.

According to the Harvard Medical School, patients are more likely to stick with treatments and self-care plans if recommended to them by an empathetic medic.

In a paper published in January by the journal Annals of Internal Medicine and based on a review of randomised trials, UK-based doctors said they found “practitioners who deliver enhanced empathy” to typically “improve patient satisfaction with care”.

ALSO READ-Covid-19 Vaccination Cuts Mortality Risk in Heart Failure Patients

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Covid-19 Vaccination Cuts Mortality Risk in Heart Failure Patients

Heart Failure is a life-threatening syndrome affecting more than 64 million people globally…reports Asian Lite News

Patients with heart failure who are vaccinated against Covid-19 are 82 per cent more likely to live longer than those who are not vaccinated, a new study said on Saturday.

The study presented at Heart Failure 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database to obtain information on vaccinations and clinical outcomes.

Participants who received two or more doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were described as “vaccinated”, and those who were not vaccinated or had received just one dose were defined as “unvaccinated”.

Heart Failure is a life-threatening syndrome affecting more than 64 million people globally.

“In this large study of patients with heart failure, Covid-19 vaccination was associated with a lower likelihood of contracting the infection, being admitted to hospital because of heart failure, or dying from any cause during a six-month period compared with remaining unvaccinated,” said study author Dr Kyeong-Hyeon Chun of the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Republic of Korea.

The study comprised 651,127 heart failure patients over the age of 18. The average age was 69.5 years, and 50 per cent were female. Of the whole study population, 538,434 (83 per cent) were classified as vaccinated, and 112,693 (17 per cent) as unvaccinated.

The researchers found that vaccination was associated with an 82 per cent lower risk of all-cause mortality, 47 per cent lower risk of hospitalisation for heart failure, and 13 per cent reduced risk of Covid-19 infection compared with no vaccination.

Regarding cardiovascular complications, vaccination was associated with significantly lower risks of stroke, heart attack, myocarditis/pericarditis, and venous thromboembolism compared to no vaccination, the researchers mentioned.

“The study provides strong evidence to support vaccination in patients with heart failure. However, this evidence may not be applicable to all patients with heart failure, and the risks of vaccination should be considered in patients with unstable conditions,” Chun said.

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Never ignore your heart health

As per a study done by Saffolalife, 63 per cent of people in top cities, who sleep less are at heart risk. Another factor that can cause heart risk is stress…writes Puja Gupta.

The number of heart patients is increasing day by day as our lifestyle and food habits have changed drastically. As per global reports by the World Health Organization, heart-related ailments have remained the leading cause of mortality at the global level for the last 20 years.

India is leading the race, as research reports suggest that mortality from cardiovascular diseases in India has grown exponentially, from 2.26 million in 1990 to 4.77 million in 2020.

Heart (ANI)

“Non-communicable diseases, especially heart disease, are major killers and we need to be proactive about heart health and make lifestyle changes,” says Shashank Joshi, Consultant, Lilavati Hospital. So, on World Health Day, it becomes important to have a conversation about this very important aspect of our health — our heart health.

In a larger conversation about health, heart health is often ignored. Not because people don’t think that the heart is important, but heart health is really considered only when a problem occurs. So if someone has high cholesterol or a more severe condition, steps are taken only then to control it. However, did you know that making small changes to our lifestyles proactively, can actually help reduce the risks to heart health in a big way?

It is a known fact that an unhealthy lifestyle leads to several health issues. This is true for heart-related issues too. Our fast-paced lifestyles sometimes push us to make unhealthy choices without realising the impact it could have in the long term. Sedentary lifestyles are on the rise and that coupled with unhealthy eating habits, including skipping meals, can take a toll on one’s heart health. While these are known factors, there are also a few other factors that are not as well known; but can increase the risk to heart health. Lack of sleep is one.

As per a study done by Saffolalife, 63 percent of people in top cities, who sleep less are at heart risk. Another factor that can cause heart risk is stress. The same study found that 65 percent of people in cities, who suffer from stress are at heart risk. What is interesting to note in the study is that 58 percent of people, who are at heart risk due to stress, do not consider stress among the top 3 heart risk factors, in top metros. This lack of awareness can be a huge impediment to living a heart-healthy lifestyle.

“Heart-related issues are not confined to any one sex as both are equally at high risk due to lifestyles. However, small changes can really go a long way in reducing this risk for both men and women. Food is a very important contributor to help you stay heart healthy. Ensuring that you eat healthy by including more vegetables and fibre in your diet, choosing a good heart-healthy oil to cook your food in, and making sure you eat your meals on time can really help kickstart your heart-healthy lifestyle. Taking some time out to exercise will also definitely help with heart health,” says the doctor.

He recommends that an individual exercise for 45 minutes a day for at least 4 days a week for optimal health. Adequate sleep is also an important aspect to consider. It is recommended that one gets 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep every night.

“For physical and mental health, managing your stress can make a big difference. Doing meditation and taking time to de-stress is very helpful for your heart health as well as overall health. And of course, opting for regular check-ups can help enormously by keeping you informed about the state of your health.”

He adds: “As we move towards a more technologically advanced society, which makes life more stressful and less active, we need to be more proactive in our approach to health and heart health. So this World Health Day take a pledge to make you and your family’s future, a heart-healthy one.”

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