Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Wed, Feb 26 1992 Date: Wed, 26 Feb 92 06:30:01 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Feb. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network CHOLESTEROL CONFUSES DOCTORS: This whole good cholesterol, bad cholesterol thing is getting pretty confusing. So confusing, that even some doctors are having a tough time with it, says Dr. William Castelli, director of the Framingham (Mass.) Heart Study. "In the current algorithm ... it's too complex," he says. Experts will discuss the problem and other cholesterol matters through Friday at a meeting in Bethesda, Md. (For more, see special Cholesterol package below.) SENIORS SEE CARE COSTS RISING: Medicare's creation three decades ago has failed to control the elderly's out-of-pocket health-care costs, a report released Tuesday said. Out-of-pocket costs now account for $1 of every $6 spent in the average senior citizen's household, according to a study by Families USA, a public interest group pushing for health-care cost controls. HEALTH-CARE EXPENSES DOUBLE: Adjusted for inflation, after-tax health-care expenses that are not paid by Medicare or private insurance have doubled for seniors since 1961. The average household headed by someone 65 or older spent $3,305, or 17.1% of its income, on out-of-pocket health care bills in 1991, the report said. In 1961, such a household spent $347, or 10.6% of its income. SCREENINGS ARE NOT FOLLOWED UP: Newborns who test positive in state-mandated screenings for diseases such as sickle cell anemia may not be getting the timely medical treatment they need, a study in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association suggests. Without immediate care, infants may suffer expensive, chronic illnesses or death. The study head said parents should be told directly when tests are positive. ASTHMA DRUGS LINKED TO DEATHS: Doctors are re-examining the way they prescribe drugs to treat asthma. One new study shows that treatment with a class of inhaled drugs called beta-2 agonists - especially fenoterol - was closely associated with deaths and near-fatal attacks. The study, using insurance databases from Saskatchewan, Canada, found 129 such cases among 12,301 asthma patients. TV HAS GOOD, BAD POINTS: Television gets a "satisfactory" on its social report card, the American Psychological Association said Tuesday. But it also contributes to sexual and racial stereotyping and aggressive behavior. Good TV can spread health messages, the report says. It also says that for every hour a child watches TV, the probability he or she will become obese goes up 2%. MEASLES SHOTS DO JOB: With measles outbreaks flaring in many regions, cities are scrambling to immunize more 2-year-olds. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that modest improvements in immunization can bring major benefits. It found that when 70% of an area is immunized, there are just 1.7 cases of measles per 1,000 people. No cases are reported when 80% get the shot. SMOKING CAN COMPLICATE BIRTH: Researchers have found another reason pregnant women shouldn't smoke: A link to an excess of amniotic fluid that can cause birth complications. The risk of polyhydramnios from smoking was about equal to the risk of getting the condition that a non-smoker would face after two uncomplicated pregnancies. The report was published in the February American Journal of Public Health. EAR INFECTION VACCINE TESTED: A vaccine that could prevent recurring ear infections in children is being tested at Vanderbilt University. Researchers hope to develop a vaccine that could be given to a child as young as 6 months, said Dr. Kathryn Edwards, who is supervising the trials. The vaccine could cut medical bills because it would eliminate the need for doctor's visits and antibiotics to treat infections. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON CHOLESTEROL: STANDARD SET FOUR YEARS AGO: Four years ago, the National Cholesterol Education Program's expert panel suggested people should know their total cholesterol and LDL ("bad" cholesterol). Total cholesterol over 240 is high; those above 200 total, or LDL above 130, should see a doctor annually and go on a low-fat diet. But Dr. William Castelli thinks it's important to find out levels of other blood fats. TESTS MISS SOME WHO ARE AT RISK: Data from the Framingham (Mass.) Heart Study, the world's longest-running heart study, have shown about 75% of attacks occur among people with cholesterol in the 150 to 250 range, Castelli says. "There are many people (at risk) still being missed." He says the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL ("good cholesterol") is a better predictor of those who need diet or drug therapy. EDUCATION COULD CLEAR PROBLEM: Having a high HDL ratio means "you're on the fast track" to heart disease, he says. But that would be even more confusing, says Dr. Stephen B. Hulley. People are just catching on to the current recommendation. "We just need to educate doctors and people to use it well." (End of package.) Health Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002260000D0226 INSU- R K Seniors-see-care-costs-rising......... A D0226 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM