Our weekly roundup of the latest news in the world of health. This week we look at the cost-effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in adult women, at a new angioplasty method that goes in through the wrist to unclog heart arteries, and at a link between arsenic in water and the risk of type 2 diabetes. We also look at a newly approved treatment that targets a major symptom of Huntington's disease.
Stay well.
This Issue:
Gardasil Less Cost-Effective Over Time Angioplasty Through the Wrist Arsenic and Type 2 Diabetes New Drug for Huntington's In the News:
Gardasil Less Cost-Effective Over Time The vaccine that protects against cervical cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) is cost-effective when given to young teens but not for women in their 20s and older. A Harvard study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, used computer models to predict the health outcomes of girls and women who get the vaccine as well as screening tests for cervical cancer. Researchers calculated the cost of the vaccine, as well as of screenings and treatment for cervical cancer and other conditions caused by HPV. They found that the cost of vaccinating each 12-year-old girl was well within the widely accepted limits for cost-effectiveness, based on the amount society is willing to spend to extend a person's life by a year. Their calculations found it was not as cost-effective for women in their 20s, however. The Associated Press quotes other experts who note that the calculations assume the vaccine gives lifelong protection and won't require a booster, something that isn't really known yet. And costs could rise if there is an increase in cancer caused by HPV strains the vaccine doesn't cover, the AP reports.
Angioplasty Through the Wrist
Angioplasties performed through the wrist -- rather than through the groin -- could have some advantages, including a lower risk of bleeding and less discomfort afterward. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions looked at data from a national registry on more than half a million angioplasties performed at 600 U.S. hospitals from 2004 and 2007. The angioplasties were all first-time, non-emergency cases. Only 1.3% of the angioplasties were done through the wrist; the rest were done via the femoral artery in the groin. While both methods were equally good at clearing blocked heart arteries, the wrist method cut the bleeding risk by nearly 60%. However, the researchers note that many cardiologists have not received the necessary training to perform the wrist-entry angioplasty, the Associated Press reports.
Arsenic and Type 2 Diabetes
Even low-level arsenic exposure could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at 788 adults and found that those who had low arsenic concentrations in their urine were four times more likely to have the disease than people with lower levels. The study adds to evidence of previous studies that linked arsenic to diabetes, the Associated Press reports. The researchers say their findings suggest that new safe drinking water standards may be needed, if the results are confirmed by additional studies. The AP quotes critics who say urinary arsenic could reflect exposures from all sources, making it difficult to isolate the main culprit. It's not known exactly how arsenic may cause diabetes.
New Drug for Huntington's
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first treatment specifically for Huntington's disease, a hereditary neurological disorder. The drug, Xenazine, does not cure the disease, but can treat one of the most severe symptoms -- jerky involuntary movements known as chorea. The medication works by reducing the amount of the brain chemical dopamine. It carries some significant side effects, including an increased risk of depression and suicidal behavior, the Associated Press reports.
Used with the permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. The above summaries are not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor are they intended to be a substitute for consultation with a physician.
