Medical Bulletin 26/Jun/2025 - Video

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Postpartum Bleeding Linked to Increased Heart Risks for Up to 15 Years: Study Finds

A major new study published in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine reveals that women who experience severe bleeding after childbirth, known as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), face significantly elevated risks to their cardiovascular health for up to 15 years after delivery. The peer-reviewed analysis, which included data from more than 9.7 million women across Europe, North America, and Asia, found that postpartum haemorrhage increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease by 76% and thromboembolic events such as blood clots by 110%.

Postpartum haemorrhage is a major global health concern, affecting approximately 14 million women each year and accounting for over 20% of maternal deaths. While it has long been treated as an acute medical emergency, this new analysis suggests it may also carry long-term consequences for heart health.

The systematic review and meta-analysis examined ten studies conducted between 1986 and 2018, with follow-up periods ranging from three to 31 years. These studies, conducted in countries including South Korea, the UK, Sweden, Canada, France, and the US, were analyzed using rigorous statistical methods to account for differences in study design and demographics. Researchers found that cardiovascular risks were especially elevated in women who had complications like preeclampsia or required blood transfusions during delivery.

“These aren’t expensive interventions, but they could make a real difference in early detection and prevention of disease later on,” said lead author Dr. Manggala Pasca Wardhana of Airlangga University, Indonesia, calling for routine cardiovascular checkups for women who experience postpartum haemorrhage.

While the study offers important insights, it also noted limitations, particularly the lack of data from low- and middle-income countries.

Reference: Ustadi, F. F., Paramita, A. D., Roswinabila, C. A., Oktavian, P., & Wardhana, M. P. (2025). Postpartum hemorrhage and long-term cardiovascular disease risk: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 38(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2025.2507103

Can a Type 2 Drug Improve Outcomes for Type 1 Diabetes Patients?

A new clinical trial led by an Indiana University School of Medicine researcher has revealed that semaglutide, a medication primarily approved for Type 2 diabetes, may also benefit adults with Type 1 diabetes. The findings, published in NEJM Evidence, mark the first randomized clinical trial of its kind and suggest that the drug improves blood sugar control and supports weight loss in patients using automated insulin delivery systems who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. While it was originally developed for managing Type 2 diabetes, it has gained widespread attention as a weight-loss therapy. The new study set out to explore its potential as an adjunct to insulin therapy for individuals with Type 1 diabetes—a use not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In the 26-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 72 adult participants were divided evenly between a semaglutide group and a placebo group. The researchers found that 36% of patients receiving semaglutide achieved three significant clinical goals: more than 70% of time spent within the target glucose range (70–180 mg/dL), less than 4% of time spent in hypoglycemia (below 70 mg/dL), and at least a 5% reduction in body weight.

"We found that semaglutide was effective in improving time spent in the target blood sugar range and reduction in body weight compared to placebo group," said Dr. Viral Shah, the study’s lead author and a professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine.

Notably, none of the patients in the placebo group met all three outcomes. Participants on semaglutide lost an average of 20 pounds without serious complications. Two episodes of severe hypoglycemia were reported in both groups, and no cases of diabetic ketoacidosis occurred.

Dr. Shah emphasized the broader implications of the findings: "We hope that our trial will encourage the industry to conduct a regulatory approval trial so that this drug could be available as an adjunct to insulin therapy to optimize Type 1 diabetes management."

Reference: Semaglutide in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes and Obesity. Shah Viral N. et al., doi: 10.1056/EVIDoa2500173, NEJM Evidence, Massachusetts Medical Society, 2025/06/24

Could Your Job Be Increasing Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

Roles requiring high levels of emotional engagement and confrontation such as those in healthcare, education, and public service may significantly raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a large-scale Swedish study published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine. The findings suggest that emotional demands and difficult interactions in person-contact jobs, particularly when coupled with low workplace support, may have long-term metabolic consequences.

The study, led by researchers analyzing data from the Swedish Work, Illness, and Labour-market Participation cohort, drew on information from nearly 3 million adults aged 30–60 who were free of diabetes in 2005. Using job exposure matrices developed from Swedish Work Environment Surveys (1997–2013), the team assessed three stress-related dimensions of person-contact work: general contact with people, emotional demands (such as dealing with individuals in distress), and confrontation. Social support at work was also measured to determine its potential protective effect.

From 2006 to 2020, 216,640 individuals (60% men) in the study developed type 2 diabetes. High exposure to emotional demands and confrontation was associated with a 20% and 15% increased risk in men, and a 24% and 20% increased risk in women, respectively. For women, general contact with people initially showed a risk, but this disappeared after adjusting for job control.

The risk was significantly higher for workers with low levels of social support. Notably, women facing high emotional demands with low workplace support had a 47% greater risk of developing diabetes.

“With regards to having contact with people at work, there are expectations for emotional management where workers are required to express or hide emotions according to societal, occupational and organisational norms. It is especially stressful when the displayed emotion and the genuinely felt emotion are not aligned,” the authors noted. The biological mechanisms underlying the associations found may involve chronic stress that affects the neuroendocrine system, leading to excessive cortisol production, increased insulin resistance, and decreased insulin secretion and sensitivity, they suggest.

While the study has limitations—such as not accounting for individual experiences or lifestyle factors—the researchers emphasize the need to consider workplace emotional demands as a public health issue. Enhanced managerial and peer support, they suggest, could mitigate the physiological toll of these high-stress roles.

Reference: Pan K, Nevriana A, Almroth M, et al, Person-related work and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a Swedish register-based cohort study, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Published Online First: 24 June 2025. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2025-110088