Latest news with #Lancet
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
AIIMS study highlights urgent need for coordinated action on childhood obesity
A study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has sounded a warning on an escalating health emergency among school children in the national capital. Of nearly 4,000 students in the six-19 years age group surveyed across Delhi's public and private schools, 13.4 per cent were found to be obese, and 7.4 per cent suffering from hypertension. The data draws an even more sobering contrast when viewed through the lens of socioeconomic status — 24 per cent private-school students were classified as obese, compared to 4.5 per cent in government schools. Students in private-school were also found to be twice as likely to have elevated blood sugar and three times more likely to exhibit metabolic syndrome — a dangerous cluster of conditions that includes hypertension, abnormal cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Left unchecked, these significantly increase the risk of early-onset cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, psychological stress, and Type 2 diabetes. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016-18) had already shown that 15.35 per cent of school-age children and 16.18 per cent of adolescents in India are pre-diabetic. Together with the AIIMS study, the implications are troubling. Once grappling with malnutrition, India now faces a dual burden: For urban and affluent children, prosperity has paradoxically become a vector of poor health. Lancet's 2024 Global Burden of Disease Study reported that the number of obese children in India has ballooned from 0.4 million in 1990 to 12.5 million in 2022. This staggering increase is a fallout of rapid urbanisation, the ubiquity of high-calorie, nutrient-poor diet — often involving ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks masquerading as child friendly and healthy — surging screen time, and diminishing physical activity. The AIIMS report signals that student health needs equal and immediate attention alongside academics. The CBSE's recent directive to set up sugar boards in affiliated schools to reinforce the dangers of excessive sugar consumption is a welcome move in that direction. Physical education must be made non-negotiable and junk food driven out of school canteens with the same urgency that was once reserved for tobacco. Parents must re-evaluate lifestyle choices at home. Policy, too, has a vital role. National guidelines on childhood obesity must move from paper to practice. A concerted public-health push that combines regulation, education, and community action to steer children toward healthier futures is vital to stem the crisis. Otherwise, India's demographic dividend stands to carry with it a long and costly health burden.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Innovative treatment effective in patients with certain tumours, study suggests
An innovative treatment that reprogrammes immune cells to recognise and kill cancer has been shown to be effective on patients with certain tumours in a pioneering trial. CAR T-cell therapy is usually used to treat some types of blood cancer. It involves genetically modifying a patient's T cells – a type of white blood cell – in a lab, before returning them to the bloodstream. A new first of its kind trial explored the use of the treatment in patients with advanced stomach cancer and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, which develops at the point where the oesophagus meets the stomach. The phase two study, led by researchers in China, included people diagnosed with advanced stomach or GEJ cancer which had not responded to two previous lines of treatment. Some 104 patients were earmarked for CAR T-cell therapy while 52 were given standard care, which included a selection of drugs chosen by their doctor. Those who had CAR T-cell therapy lived an average for 7.9 months, compared to 5.5 months with standard care. Patients who received the treatment also spent 3.3 months without their cancer progressing compared to 1.8 months in the standard group. Researchers said that the study is the 'first randomised controlled trial of CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumours globally' and shows the treatment 'resulted in a significant improvement in progression-free survival, with a manageable safety profile'. They added that the findings, published in the Lancet and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, support CAR T-cell therapy 'as a new third-line treatment' for patients with advanced stomach and GEJ cancer.
India Today
a day ago
- Health
- India Today
Irritable Bowel Disease is now an epidemic: Why India is seeing a surge
A silent yet formidable health challenge is gaining ground across India: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).Once seldom encountered in clinical practice, this chronic condition of the gastrointestinal tract, that includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is now surfacing with greater frequency in both metropolitan and smaller urban diagnoses rise and medical practitioners face mounting complexities in treatment and detection, IBD is emerging as a public health concern demanding urgent WHAT IS IBD? Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) is a long-term condition that causes swelling and pain in the digestive are two types of IBD: Crohn's disease (inflammation in any part of the digestive tract) and ulcerative colitis (inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum).People with IBD often have stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness, and weight loss. It's different from IBS and needs medical care to manage symptoms and RISE IN IBD IN INDIAA global study by researchers from the University of Chicago suggested that IBD is rising not just in the Western countries, but it is now infiltrating developing countries like India, even though a large population is vegetarian. People with IBD often have stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness, and weight loss. It's different from IBS and needs medical care to manage symptoms and flare-ups. () advertisement"As a chronic inflammatory condition that is driven by immune system responses, IBD has been linked to so-called Western diets that are high in processed foods, animal products, and sugar while also low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. People in industrialising economies tend to adopt more elements of this diet, but that alone doesn't tell the full story. IBD is increasing in India, for example, which has a high proportion of people who are vegetarian," the researchers wrote in the peer-reviewed journal epidemiological projections paint an alarming picture: by 2035, India could be home to over two million IBD patients, a fourfold increase in less than two attribute this exponential rise to a confluence of environmental, dietary, and lifestyle changes, underscoring the intersection between modernity and the gut microbiome (micro-organisms in the digestive tract).A 2023 Lancet study by the IBD Centre at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG), Hyderabad, underscores the gravity of the trend. According to the findings, the prevalence of IBD in the region surged from a modest 0.1% in 2006 to over 5% by 2022, a staggering escalation that reflects broader national patterns. Doctors attribute this exponential rise to a confluence of environmental, dietary, and lifestyle changes, underscoring the intersection between modernity and the gut microbiome. () "India is witnessing a rapid increase in IBD cases due to a transition from traditional Indian diets rich in fibre and natural foods to a more Westernised intake of processed foods, saturated fats, and sugars. This dietary shift has altered gut microbiota weakening intestinal barriers and potentially triggering the inflammation," explained Dr. Sharad Malhotra, senior consultant & director of gastroenterology at Aakash ANTIBIOTIC USEAmong the key factors that causes the development of IBD is early antibiotic exposure. Mounting evidence suggests that disruption of the gut microbiota during critical developmental stages may have long-lasting consequences."Antibiotic exposure during early childhood can disrupt the developing gut microbiota, leading to long-term alterations in microbial composition and function. This dysbiosis has been linked to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, later in life," noted Dr. Sunil Rana, associate director and head of internal medicine, Asian OF IBDThe diagnostic landscape in India presents its own unique challenges. IBD's symptomatic presentation, often including abdominal discomfort, chronic diarrhea, and unexplained weight loss, closely mimics that of other prevalent gastrointestinal conditions, particularly intestinal overlap has historically led to misdiagnoses with serious clinical implications. Antibiotic exposure during early childhood can disrupt the developing gut microbiota. () "The histopathological distinction between IBD or Crohn's and intestinal tuberculosis remains a critical challenge in India. Accurate biopsy analysis is essential because misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate therapy and serious complications. Such patients may be subjected to ineffective treatments, delaying appropriate management and increasing morbidity," says Dr. Suhas Udgirkar, consultant of gastroenterology at Jupiter OF IBDClinicians are calling for a multidisciplinary approach to address these diagnostic difficulties."Many patients present with non-specific symptoms, making early detection difficult. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary, integrating clinical evaluation with detailed investigations to manage IBD effectively," added Dr. the barriers are not merely biological or infrastructural. Accurate diagnosis often relies on a combination of physical examinations, laboratory work, and endoscopic procedures, resources frequently unavailable in rural or non-specialist settings. Clinicians are calling for a multidisciplinary approach to address these diagnostic difficulties. () advertisement"The symptoms of IBD overlap with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This does delay diagnosis. Individuals with alarming symptoms such as bleeding and severe abdominal pain need a complete evaluation. However, there is no single diagnostic test for Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease," explained Dr. Aakaar Kapoor, CEO of City XRay and Scan the issue is the social stigma surrounding chronic illness, particularly one that affects bowel health. The result: a culture of silence that delays care and exacerbates patient India grapples with the mounting burden of IBD, experts agree that timely diagnosis, access to advanced diagnostics, and de-stigmatising the disease are essential to slowing its Watch
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Parental intuition better at spotting child illness than vital signs, study finds
Parental intuition is more likely to predict critical illness among children than vital signs used to monitor health, according to a study that strengthens the case for families to have a right to a second opinion under Martha's rule being piloted in the NHS. Experts from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said parents should be treated as part of a child's care team in hospital after data on almost 190,000 emergency hospital visits involving children. The researchers found that prenatal concern was associated with a higher likelihood the child would need to be given help to breathe, or mechanical ventilation. The research, published in the Lancet's journal on Child and Adolescent Health, noted that in almost one in five cases (19.3%) parents raised concerns about deterioration before vital signs indicated that the child was deteriorating. It comes after the tragic case of Martha Mills, who developed sepsis after an injuring her pancreas when she fell off her bike. She died in 2021 when doctors ignored repeatedly the concerns of her parents about her deterioration while in hospital. A coroner ruled she would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition and transferred her to intensive care earlier. A campaign by Martha's mother, Merope Mills, an editor at the Guardian, and her father, Paul Laity, led NHS hospitals to pilot Martha's rule, which gives patients and their loved ones the right to an urgent review of treatment. Last December, NHS England data showed the rule was having a 'transformative effect' in improving patient safety. In the Melbourne study, parents and carers were routinely asked: 'Are you worried your child is getting worse?' In 4.7% of cases parents said they were concerned their child was deteriorating. The research team found that parents' and carers' concerns were 'significantly' linked to the child being admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). When parents raised concerns, children were four times more likely to need ICU care, compared with children of parents who did not express concern. They also found that parental concern was more strongly associated with ICU admission than abnormal vital signs were – including abnormal heart rate, abnormal breathing or blood pressure. This could mean that taking parents' views into account could lead to earlier treatment, they added. Overall, they found that children of caregivers who voiced concerns were 'more unwell, they were more likely to be admitted to an inpatient ward, and stayed in hospital almost three times as long'. One of the lead authors of the paper, Dr Erin Mills, from Monash University's School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, said: 'We know that parents are the experts in their children, but stories of parents not being heard, followed by devastating outcomes, are all too common. We wanted to change that.' She added: 'If a parent said they were worried, their child was around four times more likely to require intensive care. That's a signal we can't afford to ignore. 'Parents are not visitors – they are part of the care team. We want every hospital to recognise that and give parents permission, and power, to speak up.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Parental intuition better at spotting child illness than vital signs, study finds
Parental intuition is more likely to predict critical illness among children than vital signs used to monitor health, according to a study that strengthens the case for families to have a right to a second opinion under Martha's rule being piloted in the NHS. Experts from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said parents should be treated as part of a child's care team in hospital after data on almost 190,000 emergency hospital visits involving children. The researchers found that prenatal concern was associated with a higher likelihood the child would need to be given help to breathe, or mechanical ventilation. The research, published in the Lancet's journal on Child and Adolescent Health, noted that in almost one in five cases (19.3%) parents raised concerns about deterioration before vital signs indicated that the child was deteriorating. It comes after the tragic case of Martha Mills, who developed sepsis after an injuring her pancreas when she fell off her bike. She died in 2021 when doctors ignored repeatedly the concerns of her parents about her deterioration while in hospital. A coroner ruled she would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition and transferred her to intensive care earlier. A campaign by Martha's mother, Merope Mills, an editor at the Guardian, and her father, Paul Laity, led NHS hospitals to pilot Martha's rule, which gives patients and their loved ones the right to an urgent review of treatment. Last December, NHS England data showed the rule was having a 'transformative effect' in improving patient safety. In the Melbourne study, parents and carers were routinely asked: 'Are you worried your child is getting worse?' In 4.7% of cases parents said they were concerned their child was deteriorating. The research team found that parents' and carers' concerns were 'significantly' linked to the child being admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). When parents raised concerns, children were four times more likely to need ICU care, compared with children of parents who did not express concern. They also found that parental concern was more strongly associated with ICU admission than abnormal vital signs were – including abnormal heart rate, abnormal breathing or blood pressure. This could mean that taking parents' views into account could lead to earlier treatment, they added. Overall, they found that children of caregivers who voiced concerns were 'more unwell, they were more likely to be admitted to an inpatient ward, and stayed in hospital almost three times as long'. One of the lead authors of the paper, Dr Erin Mills, from Monash University's School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, said: 'We know that parents are the experts in their children, but stories of parents not being heard, followed by devastating outcomes, are all too common. We wanted to change that.' She added: 'If a parent said they were worried, their child was around four times more likely to require intensive care. That's a signal we can't afford to ignore. 'Parents are not visitors – they are part of the care team. We want every hospital to recognise that and give parents permission, and power, to speak up.'
