Insidermedicine in 60 - March 18, 2009

From Oxford - According to research in The Lancet, severe obesity can shorten lifespan as much as lifelong smoking. In a review of 57 studies involving 895,000 people, researchers found that a BMI of 30 to 35 can shorten life expectancy by up to 4 years, while a BMI of 40 to 50 can shorten it by up to 10 years. The rate of death was lowest among those with a BMI of 23 to 24.

From Boston - According to research in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators may not be beneficial in older patients. In a study of over 14,000 patients, researchers found that ICDs offered little benefit to patients 65 and older with major comorbidities. In addition, the survival benefit of ICDs dropped each time a patient was admitted for heart failure.

And finally, from Washington - According to a study from the Washington, D.C. health department, the rate of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. capital exceeds the UN threshold for an epidemic. According to the report, 3% of D.C. residents over age 12 are infected with HIV/AIDS, with black men and people between the ages of 40 and 49 most affected. The UN defines an epidemic as 1% of the population of a geographic area.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Christina Leung.

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