GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A CT SCAN:
Percentage of 966 patients undergoing cardiac CT scan that had incidental findings: 42% (1)
Number of patients and number of diagnostic tests and procedures done on these incidental findings: 80 / 164
Percentage of findings deemed “significant: .01%
PSA SCREENING TEST:
Number of men treated unnecessarily for an elevated PSA level in past 20 years: 1 million (2)
WATCHING TV:
Per cent increased risk of dying of cardiac disease for each hour of watching TV: 18% (3)
Per cent increased risk of obesity in children per hour of TV watching: 5% (4)
LONGER LIFE SPANS IN U.S.:
Number of certified geriatrician for every 2546 older Americans: 1
Estimated year that the ratio will be 1 geriatrician for 5000 older Americans: 2030 (5)
STEM CELL RESEARCH ADVANCES DISEASE TREATMENT:
Year that the first baby conceived by IVF (In Vitro Fertilization using donated eggs) was born: 1978
Date that New York State first allowed the use of public funds to pay women for donating their eggs to such research/maximum amount permitted: June 2009 / $10,000 (6)
Number of excess frozen eggs currently stored in Massachusetts: 20,000
A BEAUTIFUL TAN:
Per cent of increased risk for cutaneous melanoma associated with use of tanning devices before age 30: 75%. (7)
The equivalent number of hours of sunlight of 20 minutes in a tanning booth: 5 (8)
Proposed tax on tanning booth companies in health care reform bill: 10%
Decreased readmission rate of patients with pneumonia or congestive heart failure after a 20% improvement in hospital discharging planning: 1% (9)
Number of one million ER patients in 2005 that had head injuries from toys: 13,663 (10)
Per cent decrease in alcohol-related fatalities since the 1988 launching of Designated Driver campaign: 25% (11)
Ratio of number of medical-marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles to number of Starbucks: 4 to 1 (12)
Per cent decrease in tibial fractures after invention of toe-release ski bindings in 1937: 86% (13)
Toe-release bindings were conceputalized by skiing champion Hjalmar Hvam while recovering from a broken leg.
Factor that risk of an auto accident increased in people with sleep apnea: x2 (14)
Per cent of truck drivers who have sleep apnea: 17% (15)
Number of people required to produce as much waste material as one cow: 25 (16)
Decrease in death rate among women who drink at least 5 to 7 cups of coffee a week: 26% (17)
Per cent caffeine in regular coffee: 2%
Number of other active ingredients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids) in coffee: 1000
Per cent decrease in occurrence of diabetes in people who drink coffee: 42%
Per cent decrease in occurrence of diabetes in people who drink alcohol: 43% (18)
Number of annual deaths in U.S. from dog bites: 20 (19)
Number of deaths associated with coyote attacks up until 2005: 1 (in California in the 80’s) (20)
References:
1. J Am College of Cardiology 2009 Oct 13; 54:1533 and 1542
2. N Engl J Med March 26, 2009, 360:1310,1320
3. Circulation January 2010
4. Acad Pediatr 2009 Sep/Oct; 9:300
5. Institute of Medicine, Bos Globe, Nov 16, 2009, A 1
6. Scientific Am, Nov 2009, 20
7. Lancet Oncol 2009 Aug:10:751
8. Mass Academy of Dermatology, Mass Medical Law Report, p. 12
9. N Engl J Med Dec 31, 2009, 361:27, 2637
10. ehstoday.com, 12/15/06, “Electronic, Health, Safety Newsletter”
11. Boston Globe, Dec 14, 2009, Interview with Jay Winsten, G 3
12. Harper’s Index Feb. 2010
13. Wired Magazine, Dec 2009, 3014.
14. New Engl J Med 1999:340, 847, Terran-Santos
15. Am J Respir Care Critical Med 2004, 170, 927, Editorial
16. Scientific Am Nov 2009, 28
17. Cape Cod Times, Nov 5, 2009, C 2, Susan Salisbury, Harvard Medical School Report, 2009
18. “Healthy Eating for Type 2 Diabetes”, Harvard Medical School Report, 2009
19. CDC annual reports
20. Coyotes – Suburban Howls; Tracking Coyotes in Urban Massachusetts, 2007, J. Way, PhD
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