Low cholesterol levels associated with higher death rates in critically ill patients

This study was published in Shock 2014 Apr 10

 

Study title and authors:

Cholesterol Rather Than PCT or CRP Predicts Mortality in Patients With Infection.

Biller K, Fae P, Germann R, Drexel H, Walli AK, Fraunberger P.

Medical Central Laboratories, Feldkirch, Austria

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24727873

This study investigated the association between various factors and survival levels in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit. The study included 76 patients.

Regarding cholesterol levels, the study found non survivors had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared to survivors.

Biller concluded: "Our data show, that low cholesterol levels in patients with infectious disease have a prognostic value and may be useful markers to identify high risk patients already at admission".

The risk of statins for contracting norovirus disease may have considerable consequences for the Western world

This study was published in Epidemiology and Infection 2011 Mar;139(3):453-63

 

Study title and authors:

Norovirus disease associated with excess mortality and use of statins: a retrospective cohort study of an outbreak following a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Rondy M, Koopmans M, Rotsaert C, Van Loon T, Beljaars B, Van Dijk G, Siebenga J, Svraka S, Rossen JW, Teunis P, Van Pelt W, Verhoef L.

National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center for Infectious Diseases Control, Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. marc.rondy@rivm.nl

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20492742

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that can cause gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is an infection of the gut (intestines) which usually causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

This study examined the association of statins with norovirus. The study examined a group of psychiatric patients returning from Lourdes (France).

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 290% increased risk of contracting norovirus compared to non-users.
(b) Death rates were 1990% higher in patients infected with norovirus.

The lead author of the study Dr Marc Rondy concluded: "The newly identified risk of statins for contracting norovirus disease may have considerable consequences for the Western world"

94% of physicians have a financial relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. Could this affect their judgement when prescribing drugs?

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine 2007 Apr 26;356(17):1742-50

 

Study title and authors:

A national survey of physician-industry relationships.

Campbell EG, Gruen RL, Mountford J, Miller LG, Cleary PD, Blumenthal D.

Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital-Partners Health Care System and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. ecampbell@partners.org

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17460228

This study investigated the financial associations of physicians with the pharmaceutical and other medically related industries. The study included 3,167 physicians.

The study found:
(a) 83% of physicians received gifts from the pharmaceutical industry (including food and beverages in the workplace and tickets to cultural and sporting events).
(b) 78% of physicians received drug samples from the pharmaceutical industry.
(c) 35% of physicians received reimbursement for costs associated with professional meetings or continuing medical education from the pharmaceutical industry.
(d) 28% of physicians received payments for consulting, giving lectures, or enrolling patients in trials from the pharmaceutical industry.
(e) Overall, 94% of physicians reported some type of relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.

Most physicians (94%) reported some type of relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.

Could this affect their judgement when they prescribe drugs or give advice?

Vegetarians are less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment

This study was published in PLoS One 2014 Feb 7;9(2):e88278

Studytitle and authors:
Nutrition and health - the association between eating behavior and various health parameters: a matched sample study.

Burkert NT, Muckenhuber J, Großschädl F, Rásky E, Freidl W.
Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24516625

The aim of the study was to analyse the health effects of different dietary habits. The study included 1,320 subjects who were put into four dietary groups (330 for each form of diet) that reflected the animal fat intake for each dietary habit (i) vegetarian diet, (ii) carnivorous diet rich in fruits and vegetables, (iii) carnivorous diet less rich in meat, (iv) carnivorous diet rich in meat).

The study found:
(a) The vegetarian group had a lower BMI and less frequent alcohol consumption than the carnivorous groups.
(b) Overall, vegetarians were in a poorer state of health compared to the carnivorous groups.
(c) Concerning self-reported health, vegetarians significantly reported poorer health compared to the carnivorous groups.
(d) Vegetarians had higher levels of impairment from disorders compared to the carnivorous groups.
(e) Vegetarians had higher levels of chronic diseases compared to the carnivorous groups.
(f)  Significantly more vegetarians suffered from allergies, cancer, and mental health ailments (anxiety, or depression) than the carnivorous groups.
(g) Vegetarians had a lower quality of life compared to the carnivorous groups. (Concerning physical health, environment, social relationships etc).

Burkert concluded: "Our study has shown that Austrian adults who consume a vegetarian diet are less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment".

High fat diets recommended for management of type 2 diabetes

This study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition 2014 Mar 25:1-12

 

Study title and authors:

Comparison of the long-term effects of high-fat v. low-fat diet consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with abnormal glucose metabolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Schwingshackl L, Hoffmann G.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstreet 14 UZA II, Vienna A-1090, Austria.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24666665

The aim of the review and meta-analysis was to examine the long-term (more than 12 months) effects of high-fat v low-fat diet consumption on specific markers of cardiovascular risk in pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals. The analysis included 14 trials and 1,753 subjects.

The study found:
(a) Those on high fat regimens had a significant decrease in triglyceride levels.
(b) Those on high fat regimens had a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure.
(c) Those on high fat regimens had a significant decrease in fasting glucose levels levels.
(d) Those on high fat regimens had a significant increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

The high fat diet improved specific markers of cardiovascular risk in pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals.

The lead researcher of the review, Lukas Schwingshackl from the University of Vienna, concluded: "High fat and low fat diets might not be of equal value in the management of either pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, leading to emphasis being placed on the recommendations of high fat diets".