Diabetes and pre-diabetes accounted for $218 Billion in costs in 2007

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Jan 14,2010

Novo Nordisk-Funded Analysis Underscores Need to Address Spiraling Diabetes Cost

A new analysis found that the cost of diabetes and pre-diabetes reached $218 billion in 2007, with the exploding number of cases of type 2 diabetes responsible for the majority of the costs. The National Changing Diabetes® Program (NCDP), a program of Novo Nordisk, commissioned the analysis, published online as a Web First article today in Health Affairs and performed by researchers at The Lewin Group.

According to the study, diagnosed type 2 diabetes accounted for $174.4 billion of 2007 spending on diabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes was responsible for $18 billion in costs. Spending on type 1 diabetes totaled $14.9 billion in 2007. Pre-diabetes, a state of elevated blood glucose that affects one in every four adults in the U.S. and is a precursor to diabetes, cost $25 billion. Gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy, was associated with $636 million in costs.

“Families dealing directly with the disease know how out-of-pocket medical expenses and reduced earnings can be fiscally disastrous, but diabetes hurts every American,” said Tim Dall, managing director of The Lewin Group, who led the research. “The burden of diabetes and pre-diabetes — $700 for every man, woman and child in the country in 2007 — represents a hidden ‘tax’ that we all pay through higher insurance premiums.”

The analysis examined both direct medical costs, which accounted for $153 billion in spending, and $65 billion in indirect costs associated with absenteeism and disease-related productivity losses.

Spending on each case of type 1 diabetes totaled about $15,000 in 2007. Type 2 diabetes cost nearly $10,000 per patient per year. In contrast, those with pre-diabetes required an average of only $443 in additional medical costs.

But a growing body of research has shown that low-cost pre-diabetes patients can cut their risk of developing diabetes with lifestyle modifications. The landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) trial found that lifestyle modifications including increases in physical activity and moderate weight loss in patients at risk for diabetes could cut their rate of developing diabetes by as much as 58 percent compared with a control group. Additionally, a 10-year follow-up of DPP patients published last year found that the benefits originally seen persisted for at least a decade, with individuals in the lifestyle modification intervention experiencing a 34 percent lower risk of diabetes than those who received no intervention.

“Diabetes, in the late stages, is an expensive disease to treat. Our best chance of keeping the cost of diabetes manageable is to take the lessons of the DPP and work to prevent diabetes in those at highest risk,” said Michael Mawby, the chief government affairs officer at Novo Nordisk. “The only way to make this effort work on a large scale is through thoughtful, nationally funded programs.”

Without intervention, costs are expected to skyrocket. Research published last year in the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care projected that the country’s diabetes population will double over the next 25 years and direct annual medical spending on the disease is projected to hit $336 billion by 2034.

Source: National Changing Diabetes Program

Small signs of memory loss can lead to big problems

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Jan 13,2010

If you are over 65 and feel like you might have an issue with your memory it is more important than ever to have an open dialogue with your doctor.

A new study published in the January 11, 2010 issue of the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, finds that symptoms of cognitive decline can be experienced some 20 years before an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. According to the long term study led by Dr. Barry Reisberg director of The Fisher Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Resources Program at NYU Langone Medical Center, healthy older adults with subjective memory loss are 4.5 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

The study tracked 213 adults over an average of 7 years with data collection taking nearly two decades. According to the authors, physicians and scientists can now target the prevention of eventual Alzheimer’s disease in the subjective cognitive impairment stage.

“This is the first study to use mild cognitive impairment and dementia as an outcome criterion showing that subjective cognitive impairment may for some be a forerunner of eventual Alzheimer’s disease,” said Barry Reisberg, MD.

Dr. Reisberg’s research over the past quarter century has significantly advanced the current understanding and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. He was the first to describe many of the most important symptoms of Alzheimer’s and the characteristic clinical course of the disease and authored the “Clinical Stages of Alzheimer’s.”

“Memory problems should be treated just like any other health issue. If you feel you are having problems with your memory, it is wise to schedule a memory checkup with your doctor,” says Kent Karosen, President & CEO of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Primary funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health. Additional funding was provided by the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation and Mr. Leonard Litwin.

Source: Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

Study shows Pine Bark naturally relieves symptoms of Acute Hemorrhoids

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Jan 12,2010

Research reveals Pycnogenol(R) is effective in reducing severe symptoms, including bleeding

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, about half of the U.S. population will have hemorrhoids by the age of 50. While the most common prescription to treat hemorrhoids is over-the-counter remedies, most patients do not report symptoms of acute hemorrhoidal attacks to their doctor until they are in severe distress, including bleeding. A study published in a recent issue of Phytotherapy Research reveals Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, has important anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties that may be beneficial in patients with hemorrhoids, both for acute and chronic treatment, and in preventing new attacks.

“Topical medications, lifestyle changes and careful hygiene are all that is needed for most patients to control symptoms of hemorrhoids,” said Professor Peter Rohdewald, a co-author of the study. “In this study, both topical and oral Pycnogenol® treatment reduced the intensity and duration of hemorrhoidal pain and bleeding. Pycnogenol® even reduced the number of procedures and hospital admissions caused by severe cases.”

The randomized, controlled study conducted by G D’Annunzio University in Italy investigated 84 patients suffering from an acute episode of external hemorrhoids, lasting 24 to 48 hours prior to inclusion in the study. The most frequently observed signs and symptoms, including hemorrhoidal bleedings, severe perineal pain and intravascular thrombus, were evaluated during the study period of two weeks. Patients were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups, as follows: Treatment of Group 1 consisted of initial 300 mg of Pycnogenol® tablets daily for four days, followed by 150 mg per day for the following three days; Group 2 received the same treatment as Group 1, plus 0.5% Pycnogenol® topical cream; and Group 3 was a placebo treatment group. Symptoms of hemorrhoidal attacks were assessed, and duration of peak pain was observed and recorded, from the initial signs and symptoms to the disappearance of severe, incapacitating pain.

Results were measured by monitoring the following: variation in signs and symptoms (bleeding severity, acute intravascular thrombus, severe perineal pain, tenderness); quality of life parameters (impairment in walking, standing, sitting, embarrassment or social withdrawal); duration of peak pain time, and the costs associated with lost working days.

The complication of hemorrhoidal bleedings was completely absent in the Pycnogenol® groups after seven days and thereafter, while it was still observed in the placebo group during two weeks of follow up. Results for quality of life parameters confirmed a significant improvement in social functions by using Pycnogenol® orally, with the important added benefit of a topical application of Pycnogenol®. Results also confirmed the duration of peak pain was significantly lower in the combined oral plus topical Pycnogenol® group. Finally, there was a decrease in the number of lost working days, as well as a decrease in the recurrence of complications and overall treatment costs the month following in both Pycnogenol® groups.

Results showed that Pycnogenol® significantly lowered acute peri-anal pain using a grading scale ranging from 0 to maximum 4 from an average 3.2 at baseline to 0.8 in Group 1, an average 3.3 at baseline to 0.3 in Group 2, and an average 3.4 at baseline to 1.2 in Group 3. The scores progressively decreased in all groups during the two-week observation period. The decrease in symptoms was significantly higher in the Pycnogenol® groups as compared to the control group showing the efficacy of Pycnogenol® in relieving the signs and symptoms of acute external hemorrhoids.

“This study clearly indicates that Pycnogenol® is an effective, natural solution in controlling this common, disabling problem and may contribute to relieve hemorrhoidal attacks and offer pain relief,” said Professor Rohdewald. “Individuals never affected by hemorrhoids cannot imagine what people go through. Hemorrhoids can affect every aspect of your daily routine; it represents a tragedy most people don’t realize. Our study suggests that Pycnogenol® may help with all major symptoms. Further studies with Pycnogenol® are in progress investigating preventative effects for new attacks and in the general management of hemorrhoids.”

Pycnogenol® dietary supplements are readily available in health food stores, grocery stores or on the Internet but a topical formula specifically for hemorrhoids is in the development phase while additional research is ongoing.

Source: Natural Health Science Inc.

U.S. News Media Group releases America’s Best Nursing Homes

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Jan 12,2010

2010 rankings include more than 15,000 facilities nationwide

U.S. News Media Group unveiled its 2010 America’s Best Nursing Homes rankings online at www.usnews.com/nursinghomes. As the American population ages at an unprecedented rate, the U.S. News Best Nursing Homes guide is a valuable resource for families facing the difficult process of looking for a nursing home.

America’s Best Nursing Homes provides objective, quality information on over 15,000 homes nationwide and identifies facilities with excellent standards of care. On USNews.com, visitors can find the exclusive U.S. News Honor Roll of 11 homes that received perfect five-star ratings from the federal government for four straight quarters in all three areas in which homes are judged. Also featured: surprising information about the special care being delivered by progressive nursing homes, powerful search tools, and helpful advice on the best way to find a nursing home for a loved one. Best Nursing Homes also includes a list of facilities with long histories of inadequate care.

“Finding a good nursing home that meets the needs of your parent or loved one is difficult and often confusing,” said Avery Comarow, Health Rankings Editor at U.S. News & World Report. “The Best Nursing Homes rankings and search tools were designed to help families navigate through the best information available, and find homes based on individual needs, such as proximity to family, religious affiliation, and insurance coverage.”

The 2010 America’s Best Nursing Homes rankings, which will be updated quarterly, rely on data and ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As part of its Nursing Home Compare program, the agency gives homes one to five stars according to how well they do in the three categories of health inspections, nurse staffing, and measures of care. For the America’s Best Nursing Homes rankings, U.S. News added features to boost reliability and flexibility in search, including the following:

Ranking the homes: To get at relative quality, homes are presented in tiers within each star category, based on their total stars for all three specific measures.
Honor Roll: Homes that have received four straight quarters of perfect five-star ratings by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in all three categories.
Special Focus Facilities: Homes that have been singled out by the state where they operate and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services because of notably long histories of subpar or inconsistent health inspections.
Combined search: Visitors to USNews.com can conduct multifaceted searches that extend beyond geography to include factors such as specific star ratings and whether a home has a religious affiliation.
Automated help: Visitors can plug in partial names and other bits of information they have about nursing homes and a list of homes will be automatically generated.

In addition to the rankings, America’s Best Nursing Homes provides information and tips for considering long-term care options, including Nursing Homes’ New Face, 6 Tips for Long-Term-Care Shoppers, and The Troubled Histories of Special Focus Facilities. The February issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine will also include a list of 173 homes that received either perfect or close to perfect ratings in all 3 federal rating categories, plus the highest possible rating in health inspections, in the most recent federal analysis.

For more information on America’s Best Nursing Homes, visit www.usnews.com/nursinghomes.

Source: U.S. News Media Group