Medical Bulletin 08/November/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Is risk of dying in hospital from respiratory causes higher in the summer than winter?

A recent study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe has shed light on how global warming, driven by climate change, could heighten the burden of inpatient mortality from respiratory diseases, particularly during warmer seasons.

The research team embarked on a mission to analyze the relationship between ambient temperature and in-hospital mortality attributed to respiratory diseases. The data uncovered a clear pattern: hospital admissions, including those resulting in death, peaked during the cold season and hit their lowest point during the warm season. Remarkably, while hospital admissions surged during the cold season, the maximum incidence of inpatient mortality occurred during the summer months, strongly correlated with high temperatures.

Reference: Achebak H, Garcia-Aymerich J, Rey G, Chen Z, Méndez-Turrubiates RF, Ballester J. Ambient temperature and seasonal variation in inpatient mortality from respiratory diseases: a retrospective observational study. Lancet Regional Health - Europe. Oct 2023. 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100757

Do blood tests reveal early warning signs for inflammatory bowel diseases?

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and Aalborg University in Copenhagen have identified subtle yet significant changes in blood tests that can precede a diagnosis of Crohn's disease by up to eight years and ulcerative colitis by up to three years.

IBD, encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by excessive inflammation in the gut, leading to debilitating symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improved outcomes.

To unveil the signs of these diseases in their nascent stages, the research team harnessed electronic health records from individuals in Denmark, conducting a comprehensive analysis of 20,000 IBD patients in comparison to 4.6 million controls without IBD.

Reference: Characterising the pre-clinical phase of inflammatory bowel disease., Cell Reports Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101263

Can Poetry help people cope with loneliness or isolation?

A recent study conducted by the University of Plymouth and Nottingham Trent University has unveiled the remarkable therapeutic potential of poetry in alleviating feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, particularly during times of isolation and uncertainty like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research was rooted in a survey of 400 individuals who turned to poetry as a coping mechanism during the pandemic, many of whom shared their experiences and creations on the website poetryandcovid.com (now archived as poetryandcovidarchive.com). Their stories illuminated the demonstrable positive impact that poetry had on their wellbeing, extending to individuals grappling with common mental health symptoms and those navigating grief.

Reference: Poetry and COVID-19: the benefit of poetry and the poetryandcovidarchive.com website to mental health and wellbeing, Journal of Poetry Therapy

DOI: 10.1080/08893675.2023.2250921