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    Monday, February 27, 2012

    Autism increases in the US

    Almost one percent of American children had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large CDC surveillance study whose lead author called the condition a "significant public health issue."

    Across 11 sites in the U.S., ASD prevalence in 2006 ranged from about one out of 80 children to one out of every 240 children, with an overall prevalence of one in 111 youngsters, according to a report by investigators from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disorders Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

    Among 10 ADDM sites that reported data in both 2002 and 2006, there was an average 57% increase in ASD prevalence. No single factor could explain the rise, researchers said. Overall ASD prevalence was 4.5 times higher in boys than in girls: about one in every 70 boys and one in every 315 girls.

    From 2002 to 2006, prevalence increased 60% in boys and 48% in girls (P<0.001 for both).

    The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all children be screened for autism when they are 18 and 24 months old which is especially important, as early recognition and treatment improves outcomes.

    ASD diagnosis was made at a slightly younger age in 2006 than in 2002, but it was still delayed to an average age of 53 months. That was so despite the fact that anywhere from 70% to 95% of children had developmental concerns noted in their records before age 3. Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Tuesday, February 7, 2012

    Abdominal surgeries riskier for older adults than previously thought

    About 2 million older adults undergo abdominal surgeries in the U.S. every year, a number that's expected to grow as the proportion of older adults increases rapidly: by 2020, one in six adults is expected to be older than 65, and 15% will be over 85.

    The patient records came from the Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System, a state-wide database that contains information on the age, sex, zip code, and billed charges of patients, as well as the codes for their diagnosis and procedures.

    The study focused on complications that occurred within 90 days of discharge and deaths within 90 days of hospital admission.

    After adjusting for various factors, including hospital volume and patient characteristics, the study found that the odds of early death after abdominal surgery increased considerably for each five-year increase in age beyond 65. These associations held for patients with cancer and other diagnoses, and for both elective and nonelective procedures (P<0.001).

    The likelihood of complications increased as patients aged beyond 65 years, with the researchers finding the following associations between age and complication frequency (trend test, P<0.001):

    65 to 69 years, 14.6%
    70 to 74 years, 16.1%
    75 to 79 years, 18.8%
    80 to 84 years, 19.9%
    85 to 89 years, 22.6%
    90 and older, 22.7%

    Similarly, older patients were at higher risk of mortality. Death rates by age group were (trend test, P<0.001):

    65 to 69 years, 2.5%
    70 to 74 years, 3.8%
    75 to 79 years, 6.0%
    80 to 84 years, 8.1%
    85 to 89 years, 12.6%
    90 and older, 16.7%
    http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
    Massarweh N, et al "Impact of advancing age on abdominal surgical outcomes" Archttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifh Surg 2009; 144: 1108-14.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com