From the Globe and Mail:
It's September and retailers are already feeling the pinch of sluggish consumer spending, but not here in a wealthy enclave in north Toronto. Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. is opening one of its biggest, glitziest new outlets and it doesn't look much like a drugstore, with its high ceilings, large windows and bright ambience.
Glass shelves filled with fancy bottles of cosmetics and fragrances greet consumers at the entrance. Organic foods and Nintendo portable consoles are among the products further inside. Customers could pick up $435 facial creams, pose for passport photos and even drop off their prescriptions (it is, after all, still a drugstore).
Under the direction of former chief executive officer Glenn Murphy, Shoppers transformed itself into a Canadian retail powerhouse. Its expansion has been dramatic, growing to more than 1,100 stores from about 800 in 2001. These were the best of times, and they continued under the leadership of Jurgen Schreiber, who became CEO in early 2007. Shoppers has been continually evolving, branching out into high-end beauty products, groceries and seasonal gifts to the point where it is more like a neighbourhood mini-department store. Throw in a burgeoning array of high-margin private labels, a loyalty card that is the envy of retailers across the country and a near doubling of profit in the past five years and it's not hard to make a case it is the most successful retail chain in the country.
But all that was during good times for the broader economy. Now that the tide is turning, it's up to Mr. Schreiber to keep up the momentum. ...more
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Prescription drug program under review
From the Fredericton (NB) Daily Gleaner:
The feds need to chip in to improve access to drugs for those with a serious illness, says New Brunswick's health minister.
Four health charities met with Mike Murphy recently to urge him to introduce a catastrophic drug program for New Brunswick that would provide better coverage for people battling serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and arthritis.
Provincial chapters of the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association reminded Murphy that New Brunswick is one of only two provinces without a catastrophic drug program.
Murphy said he's hoping to change the way the drug program determines who's eligible for provincial coverage.
"This review will focus on providing drug coverage based on the ability to pay rather than on age or disease, which is now the case with the existing prescription drug program," he said.
"We will complete this review within the next year and we'll then know what is doable and at what cost."
Murphy said he met with health ministers from across the country two months ago and a big part of their discussion was devoted to the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy. ...more
The feds need to chip in to improve access to drugs for those with a serious illness, says New Brunswick's health minister.
Four health charities met with Mike Murphy recently to urge him to introduce a catastrophic drug program for New Brunswick that would provide better coverage for people battling serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and arthritis.
Provincial chapters of the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association reminded Murphy that New Brunswick is one of only two provinces without a catastrophic drug program.
Murphy said he's hoping to change the way the drug program determines who's eligible for provincial coverage.
"This review will focus on providing drug coverage based on the ability to pay rather than on age or disease, which is now the case with the existing prescription drug program," he said.
"We will complete this review within the next year and we'll then know what is doable and at what cost."
Murphy said he met with health ministers from across the country two months ago and a big part of their discussion was devoted to the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy. ...more
Pharmacy wins green award
From the Sudbury (ont.) Star:
A Greater Sudbury pharmacy manager has come up with a winning prescription.
Jenny-Lyn Faught, the frontshop manager of Health Care Pharmacy Pharmasave on Lasalle Boulevard, was named Outstanding Frontshop Manager or Staff in the 2008 Commitment to Care & Service Awards -- a national awards program hosted by Pharmacy Practice and Drugstore Canada, Canada's leading pharmacy magazines.
Faught has significantly boosted staff morale and performance since being promoted to the position four years ago, according to a testimonial letter submitted by Julie Lajeunesse, the pharmacy's regional operations manager.
To enter the awards competition, Faught collected 15 testimonials and also wrote a 750-word essay. She beat out dozens of people for the honour.
As frontshop manager, Faught oversees coaching and development of all staff. She also manages merchandising, team-leading and team-building, as well as design and revision of policies and procedures.
An avid environmentalist, Faught is proud of her store's recent attempts to become greener, including introducing biodegradable plastic bags earlier this year and staff creating a raincoat out of the old traditional plastic bags which will be up for auction. ...more
A Greater Sudbury pharmacy manager has come up with a winning prescription.
Jenny-Lyn Faught, the frontshop manager of Health Care Pharmacy Pharmasave on Lasalle Boulevard, was named Outstanding Frontshop Manager or Staff in the 2008 Commitment to Care & Service Awards -- a national awards program hosted by Pharmacy Practice and Drugstore Canada, Canada's leading pharmacy magazines.
Faught has significantly boosted staff morale and performance since being promoted to the position four years ago, according to a testimonial letter submitted by Julie Lajeunesse, the pharmacy's regional operations manager.
To enter the awards competition, Faught collected 15 testimonials and also wrote a 750-word essay. She beat out dozens of people for the honour.
As frontshop manager, Faught oversees coaching and development of all staff. She also manages merchandising, team-leading and team-building, as well as design and revision of policies and procedures.
An avid environmentalist, Faught is proud of her store's recent attempts to become greener, including introducing biodegradable plastic bags earlier this year and staff creating a raincoat out of the old traditional plastic bags which will be up for auction. ...more
Taking Canadians 'where no one else has gone'
From the Globe and Mail:
Last summer, when Jurgen Schreiber reviewed his latest batch of consumer research reports, one item in particular grabbed his attention: For the first time, just about as many consumers thought about Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. for beauty products as they did for its pharmacy.
The finding was the catalyst for Mr. Schreiber, chief executive officer of Shoppers, to decide to expand even further into high-end makeup and fragrances.
Shoppers had already built a network of in-store beauty boutiques stocked with some high-end (and high-margin) brands. Now Mr. Schreiber wanted more.
This month, Shoppers launched its first Murale store, a standalone upscale beauty and spa retailer with 200 brands such as Bobbi Brown, Chanel and Estée Lauder - more than 16 times more labels as in a Shoppers beauty boutique. Prices range from $1,060 for a jar of Natura Bisse skin cream from Spain to $12 for eye shadows.
While Mr. Schreiber didn't plan for the launch to come in an economic downturn, he's resigned to the fact - and not letting it deter his plans. ...more
Last summer, when Jurgen Schreiber reviewed his latest batch of consumer research reports, one item in particular grabbed his attention: For the first time, just about as many consumers thought about Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. for beauty products as they did for its pharmacy.
The finding was the catalyst for Mr. Schreiber, chief executive officer of Shoppers, to decide to expand even further into high-end makeup and fragrances.
Shoppers had already built a network of in-store beauty boutiques stocked with some high-end (and high-margin) brands. Now Mr. Schreiber wanted more.
This month, Shoppers launched its first Murale store, a standalone upscale beauty and spa retailer with 200 brands such as Bobbi Brown, Chanel and Estée Lauder - more than 16 times more labels as in a Shoppers beauty boutique. Prices range from $1,060 for a jar of Natura Bisse skin cream from Spain to $12 for eye shadows.
While Mr. Schreiber didn't plan for the launch to come in an economic downturn, he's resigned to the fact - and not letting it deter his plans. ...more
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Druggists afraid of squeeze on payments
From the Toronto Star:
Brampton pharmacist Ben Shenouda says it costs $10 on average to fill a prescription in Ontario, but the provincial government pays him just $7 for the seniors, welfare recipients and others who qualify for provincial drug coverage.
The owner of an independent pharmacy, Shenouda says he makes up the shortfall by using some of the "professional allowances" he receives from generic drug makers for stocking their products.
Ontario pharmacists fear those payments are under attack, as the government eyes the millions of dollars they received in allowances from generic drug makers. Under Ontario law, pharmacies are supposed to use the allowances to improve patient care, providing such things as flu and diabetes clinics.
This week, the federal consumer watchdog released a report that said Canadian taxpayers, consumers and businesses could save up to $800 million a year if the generic drug industry were more competitive. The Competition Bureau concluded the market would improve if pharmacists passed on the allowances they get from generic drug makers to customers – something the bureau says rarely happens. ...more
Brampton pharmacist Ben Shenouda says it costs $10 on average to fill a prescription in Ontario, but the provincial government pays him just $7 for the seniors, welfare recipients and others who qualify for provincial drug coverage.
The owner of an independent pharmacy, Shenouda says he makes up the shortfall by using some of the "professional allowances" he receives from generic drug makers for stocking their products.
Ontario pharmacists fear those payments are under attack, as the government eyes the millions of dollars they received in allowances from generic drug makers. Under Ontario law, pharmacies are supposed to use the allowances to improve patient care, providing such things as flu and diabetes clinics.
This week, the federal consumer watchdog released a report that said Canadian taxpayers, consumers and businesses could save up to $800 million a year if the generic drug industry were more competitive. The Competition Bureau concluded the market would improve if pharmacists passed on the allowances they get from generic drug makers to customers – something the bureau says rarely happens. ...more
Whitehorse pharmacy to stop selling cigarettes
From CBC News:
Yukon smokers are about to lose a popular supplier of cigarettes: the new owner of a prominent Whitehorse pharmacy says she'll be phasing out all tobacco sales by the end of this year.
Since taking over the Shoppers Drug Mart location on Main Street earlier in November, pharmacist and owner Tracey Keefer said she has been planning to get rid of cigarettes, which are currently for sale there.
"I don't think pharmacies should be selling cigarettes, if you're trying to promote healthiness," Keefer told CBC News, adding that tobacco sales are already banned from pharmacies in some other parts of Canada.
"We don't sell alcohol, we don't sell other … street drugs or anything here, so we're going to get rid of the cigarettes," she added. ...more
Yukon smokers are about to lose a popular supplier of cigarettes: the new owner of a prominent Whitehorse pharmacy says she'll be phasing out all tobacco sales by the end of this year.
Since taking over the Shoppers Drug Mart location on Main Street earlier in November, pharmacist and owner Tracey Keefer said she has been planning to get rid of cigarettes, which are currently for sale there.
"I don't think pharmacies should be selling cigarettes, if you're trying to promote healthiness," Keefer told CBC News, adding that tobacco sales are already banned from pharmacies in some other parts of Canada.
"We don't sell alcohol, we don't sell other … street drugs or anything here, so we're going to get rid of the cigarettes," she added. ...more
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Pharmacists shouldn't prescribe smoking drugs: critics
From the Globe and Mail:
Smokers looking to kick the habit might chew nicotine gum or wear a patch sold over the counter in drug stores across Canada to give them an extra boost. But should they also be able to bypass the doctor and head to the drugstore if they're looking for something stronger?
A growing number of pharmacists across Canada think they should - and the idea is drawing sharp criticism from some drug-safety experts.
A few dozen Alberta pharmacists are currently authorized to write prescriptions for Zyban and Champix, the brand names of two common smoking-cessation drugs.
An advisory council to Ontario's health ministry is recommending that pharmacists in the province also be allowed to write prescriptions for smoking-cessation drugs. The recommendation is contained in a broader report that supports expanding the power of pharmacists to prescribe drugs for minor ailments, as well as to alter prescriptions or change dosages.
While Ontario's Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council admits that nicotine addiction is not a "minor ailment," it says pharmacists in the province should be able to write prescriptions for stop-smoking drugs as a way to improve access for those who want to quit. ...more
Smokers looking to kick the habit might chew nicotine gum or wear a patch sold over the counter in drug stores across Canada to give them an extra boost. But should they also be able to bypass the doctor and head to the drugstore if they're looking for something stronger?
A growing number of pharmacists across Canada think they should - and the idea is drawing sharp criticism from some drug-safety experts.
A few dozen Alberta pharmacists are currently authorized to write prescriptions for Zyban and Champix, the brand names of two common smoking-cessation drugs.
An advisory council to Ontario's health ministry is recommending that pharmacists in the province also be allowed to write prescriptions for smoking-cessation drugs. The recommendation is contained in a broader report that supports expanding the power of pharmacists to prescribe drugs for minor ailments, as well as to alter prescriptions or change dosages.
While Ontario's Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council admits that nicotine addiction is not a "minor ailment," it says pharmacists in the province should be able to write prescriptions for stop-smoking drugs as a way to improve access for those who want to quit. ...more
Selling generic drugs in more competitive market could save millions: study
From the Canadian Press:
A more competitive generic drug market could save Canada's health-care system $800 million a year, the Competition Bureau says in a study released Tuesday.
Some of this money could be used to maintain or improve drug plans, reduce premiums or directly fund some pharmacist services, competition commissioner Sheridan Scott said in a Toronto speech.
"Progress is being made to get generic drugs at lower prices," Scott told the Economic Club in Toronto.
"We expect this amount (of savings) will climb significantly over the next three years, as some of the blockbuster brand-name drugs that came on to the market in the 1990s lose their patent protection and generic equivalents appear on the market."
The study, entitled Benefiting from Generic Drug Competition in Canada: The Way Forward, estimates the potential savings at more than $1 billion in coming years if changes are made to how generic drugs are paid for.
"Obtaining these savings, however, requires changes to allow the price Canadians pay for generic drugs to be based on the competitive price of the drug," Scott said. ...more
A more competitive generic drug market could save Canada's health-care system $800 million a year, the Competition Bureau says in a study released Tuesday.
Some of this money could be used to maintain or improve drug plans, reduce premiums or directly fund some pharmacist services, competition commissioner Sheridan Scott said in a Toronto speech.
"Progress is being made to get generic drugs at lower prices," Scott told the Economic Club in Toronto.
"We expect this amount (of savings) will climb significantly over the next three years, as some of the blockbuster brand-name drugs that came on to the market in the 1990s lose their patent protection and generic equivalents appear on the market."
The study, entitled Benefiting from Generic Drug Competition in Canada: The Way Forward, estimates the potential savings at more than $1 billion in coming years if changes are made to how generic drugs are paid for.
"Obtaining these savings, however, requires changes to allow the price Canadians pay for generic drugs to be based on the competitive price of the drug," Scott said. ...more
Vancouver pharmacy closed over methadone kickback claims
From the National Post:
A Downtown Eastside pharmacy has been told to close its doors amid allegations it provided cash kickbacks to addicts filling methadone prescriptions.
The AYC Pharmacy on East Hastings has had its licence suspended and was ordered to close indefinitely after an investigation by the College of Pharmacists, according to CBC News. The pharmacy must close by Dec. 1, but will operate on shortened hours until then so customers can find another place to fill prescriptions.
The college said the closure was a result of "medicine-management" issues involving patient safety, according to CBC.
The pharmacy is also being investigated by the Ministry of Health over allegations that it provided drug addicts with cash inducements to fill methadone prescriptions. Methadone is sometimes prescribed to drug users as an alternative to heroin.
B.C. pharmacies are paid $8.60 each time they dispense a drug. If pharmacies dispense methadone and supervise the patient as they take it, they receive an additional $7.70. ...more
A Downtown Eastside pharmacy has been told to close its doors amid allegations it provided cash kickbacks to addicts filling methadone prescriptions.
The AYC Pharmacy on East Hastings has had its licence suspended and was ordered to close indefinitely after an investigation by the College of Pharmacists, according to CBC News. The pharmacy must close by Dec. 1, but will operate on shortened hours until then so customers can find another place to fill prescriptions.
The college said the closure was a result of "medicine-management" issues involving patient safety, according to CBC.
The pharmacy is also being investigated by the Ministry of Health over allegations that it provided drug addicts with cash inducements to fill methadone prescriptions. Methadone is sometimes prescribed to drug users as an alternative to heroin.
B.C. pharmacies are paid $8.60 each time they dispense a drug. If pharmacies dispense methadone and supervise the patient as they take it, they receive an additional $7.70. ...more
Pharmacists' care drops blood pressure: study
From the Edmonton Journal:
Patients with high blood pressure who received enhanced care from pharmacists saw their blood pressure go down more than patients who received normal care from their pharmacists and family doctors, a new study has found.
The drop reduces a patient's risk for stroke by 30 per cent and risk of heart attack by 23 per cent, as long as the patient maintains the lowered blood pressure long-term, said Dr. Ross Tsuyuki, a pharmacist and the senior author of a paper published Monday in the journal, Archives of Internal Medicine.
"That's what we were really excited about -- a 30-per-cent reduction in stroke is quite a bit," Tsuyuki said.
He enlisted the help of pharmacists in 14 Medicine Shoppe pharmacies in urban Edmonton, Mill Woods, Sherwood Park and Spruce Grove, who identified 227 diabetic patients whose blood pressure was above the recommended 130/80 millimetres of mercury for diabetics. High blood pressure is anything above 140/90. ...more
Patients with high blood pressure who received enhanced care from pharmacists saw their blood pressure go down more than patients who received normal care from their pharmacists and family doctors, a new study has found.
The drop reduces a patient's risk for stroke by 30 per cent and risk of heart attack by 23 per cent, as long as the patient maintains the lowered blood pressure long-term, said Dr. Ross Tsuyuki, a pharmacist and the senior author of a paper published Monday in the journal, Archives of Internal Medicine.
"That's what we were really excited about -- a 30-per-cent reduction in stroke is quite a bit," Tsuyuki said.
He enlisted the help of pharmacists in 14 Medicine Shoppe pharmacies in urban Edmonton, Mill Woods, Sherwood Park and Spruce Grove, who identified 227 diabetic patients whose blood pressure was above the recommended 130/80 millimetres of mercury for diabetics. High blood pressure is anything above 140/90. ...more
Pharmacists eye greater responsibilities
From the Midland (Ont.) Mirror:
Ontario pharmacists could soon be able to fill and write prescriptions for minor sicknesses without a doctor’s order, recommends a report released Nov. 18 by the provincial health ministry.
Rather than having to go to a doctor or hospital for every small health issue, pharmacies could become the first stop for prescription extensions, drug adjustments and medication monitoring through pharmacist-ordered lab tests, the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council has recommended.
The report also suggests pharmacists be allowed to:
• adjust prescriptions;
• extend some refills;
• order lab tests to ensure medications are working properly;
• teach people how to inject themselves with medications and use blood-testing devices;
• initiate smoking-cessation treatments, including the use of prescription addiction suppressors. ...more
Ontario pharmacists could soon be able to fill and write prescriptions for minor sicknesses without a doctor’s order, recommends a report released Nov. 18 by the provincial health ministry.
Rather than having to go to a doctor or hospital for every small health issue, pharmacies could become the first stop for prescription extensions, drug adjustments and medication monitoring through pharmacist-ordered lab tests, the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council has recommended.
The report also suggests pharmacists be allowed to:
• adjust prescriptions;
• extend some refills;
• order lab tests to ensure medications are working properly;
• teach people how to inject themselves with medications and use blood-testing devices;
• initiate smoking-cessation treatments, including the use of prescription addiction suppressors. ...more
LGH gets high-tech meds dispenser
From the Montreal Gazette:
The Lakeshore General Hospital has a new member on its pharmaceutical team: a semi-automated medication distribution system, much like a high-tech vending machine, designed to not only save money but to reduce human error.
"This machine can package medication individually, without human manipulation. This way, surplus tablets can be reused, representing approximate savings of $150,000 per year," said Pierre Gendreau, head of the Pointe Claire hospital's pharmacy department.
Hospital spokesman Louis-Pascal Cyr said that under the old system, patient prescriptions were prepared by hand for four to six-day periods.
"And if a patient left before those periods were up, we'd have to throw away the leftover medication," he said.
"With the new system, patient medications are prepared in sealed packets on a daily basis," Cyr said. "And that translates into less loss of medication," he said. ...more
The Lakeshore General Hospital has a new member on its pharmaceutical team: a semi-automated medication distribution system, much like a high-tech vending machine, designed to not only save money but to reduce human error.
"This machine can package medication individually, without human manipulation. This way, surplus tablets can be reused, representing approximate savings of $150,000 per year," said Pierre Gendreau, head of the Pointe Claire hospital's pharmacy department.
Hospital spokesman Louis-Pascal Cyr said that under the old system, patient prescriptions were prepared by hand for four to six-day periods.
"And if a patient left before those periods were up, we'd have to throw away the leftover medication," he said.
"With the new system, patient medications are prepared in sealed packets on a daily basis," Cyr said. "And that translates into less loss of medication," he said. ...more
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Cleverer drug buying could save $800M a year, competition czar says
From the Toronto Star:
Canadian taxpayers, consumers and business could save up to $800 million a year if private and public sector plans changed the way they paid for generic drugs, Canada's consumer watchdog says.
Both the private sector and governments could start now using tools that encourage pharmacies to compete more aggressively for their business and ensure they pass on millions in savings they receive from generic drug makers, the competition bureau said.
Such strategies could include using more mail-order pharmacies, shopping around for the lowest drug-dispensing fees and negotiating group rates from preferred pharmacists, federal competition commissioner Sheridan Scott said in prepared notes for a speech to be delivered today.
"We believe Canadians deserve a health system that is safe and effective, but also delivers the maximum possible value to Canadians," Scott said in the notes.
The potential savings from more competitive pricing could climb to over $1 billion a year in coming years as several blockbuster patent drugs lose their patent protection, the federal competition bureau also said in a report issued today. ...more
Canadian taxpayers, consumers and business could save up to $800 million a year if private and public sector plans changed the way they paid for generic drugs, Canada's consumer watchdog says.
Both the private sector and governments could start now using tools that encourage pharmacies to compete more aggressively for their business and ensure they pass on millions in savings they receive from generic drug makers, the competition bureau said.
Such strategies could include using more mail-order pharmacies, shopping around for the lowest drug-dispensing fees and negotiating group rates from preferred pharmacists, federal competition commissioner Sheridan Scott said in prepared notes for a speech to be delivered today.
"We believe Canadians deserve a health system that is safe and effective, but also delivers the maximum possible value to Canadians," Scott said in the notes.
The potential savings from more competitive pricing could climb to over $1 billion a year in coming years as several blockbuster patent drugs lose their patent protection, the federal competition bureau also said in a report issued today. ...more
A new remedy for medicine
From the Ottawa Citizen:
You walk into a drug store to get your prescription renewed. It's a drug you've taken for years and you are seeing medical professionals about its use.
The pharmacist tells you the two-year prescription has expired. You can't get the drugs you need. That's not good.
Getting the prescription renewed means taking time from a general practitioner, or worse, a specialist who is being run off his or her feet by the problems of an aging population. There should be an easier way.
The Health Professions Regulatory Agency Council, an advisory group of seven members of the public who report to the provincial minister, says pharmacists should have the power to write prescriptions for minor health problems without a doctor's permission. And the pharmacy should be allowed to extend prescriptions, order lab tests and adjust drugs, the council said. In theory, this would cut the volume of patients visiting doctors or going to emergency wards. ...more
You walk into a drug store to get your prescription renewed. It's a drug you've taken for years and you are seeing medical professionals about its use.
The pharmacist tells you the two-year prescription has expired. You can't get the drugs you need. That's not good.
Getting the prescription renewed means taking time from a general practitioner, or worse, a specialist who is being run off his or her feet by the problems of an aging population. There should be an easier way.
The Health Professions Regulatory Agency Council, an advisory group of seven members of the public who report to the provincial minister, says pharmacists should have the power to write prescriptions for minor health problems without a doctor's permission. And the pharmacy should be allowed to extend prescriptions, order lab tests and adjust drugs, the council said. In theory, this would cut the volume of patients visiting doctors or going to emergency wards. ...more
Pharmacy workers reach deal with Rexall
I realize this article is quite old, but somehow I missed the resolution of this dispute, and thought maybe some of you did as well.
From the Edmonton Journal:
A tentative agreement has been reached between Daryl Katz's Rexall pharmacy group and the union representing 30 specialized pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The agreement was hammered out Sunday morning after an all-night marathon bargaining session and helped avert a pending strike set to start this morning. ...more
Pfizer pulls E.U. application to sell Viagra over the counter
Changing Viagra to OTC status has to be years away at least, but wouldn't it be a fascinating counseling challenge for the pharmacist in the local drugstore?
From MarketWatch:
Pfizer said it still thinks that Viagra at a 50-milligram dose is a suitable candidate for non-prescription supply through pharmacists.
But it's withdrawn its application after the European Medicines Agency's Medicinal Products for Human Use said it had some concerns.
"The withdrawal of the application will enable evaluation of further information and additional data that may be required to allow any future assessments under the centralized procedure," Pfizer said. ...more
Cases of asthma in Canada may be overdiagnosed by 30 per cent: study
From the Canadian Press:
Almost a third of adult Canadians diagnosed with asthma and taking medications to treat their wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath may not actually have the allergic respiratory condition at all, researchers say.
In a study of about 500 adults who had previously been told they have asthma, airway-function and other tests showed that about 30 per cent did not in fact have the disease, suggesting that asthma may be significantly overdiagnosed in Canada.
"What we think is happening ... is that if patients come to a physician complaining of shortness of breath or cough or wheeze, oftentimes the physician will assume that the diagnosis is asthma, and based on the patient's history and complaints prescribe medicines to treat asthma," lead investigator Dr. Shawn Aaron said from Ottawa.
"And what they won't do is order the appropriate diagnostic test to confirm asthma."
Aaron, head of respiratory medicine at Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, said a doctor's suspicion that a patient has asthma should be followed up by confirmatory tests, including spirometry. ...more
Almost a third of adult Canadians diagnosed with asthma and taking medications to treat their wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath may not actually have the allergic respiratory condition at all, researchers say.
In a study of about 500 adults who had previously been told they have asthma, airway-function and other tests showed that about 30 per cent did not in fact have the disease, suggesting that asthma may be significantly overdiagnosed in Canada.
"What we think is happening ... is that if patients come to a physician complaining of shortness of breath or cough or wheeze, oftentimes the physician will assume that the diagnosis is asthma, and based on the patient's history and complaints prescribe medicines to treat asthma," lead investigator Dr. Shawn Aaron said from Ottawa.
"And what they won't do is order the appropriate diagnostic test to confirm asthma."
Aaron, head of respiratory medicine at Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, said a doctor's suspicion that a patient has asthma should be followed up by confirmatory tests, including spirometry. ...more
Italian-Canadian Citizen of the Year
From the Hamilton Spectator:
Marita Zaffiro doesn't believe in just handing out pills to cure what ails you.
She believes in a community approach to health care, which includes making sure the needs of the multicultural denizens around her downtown pharmacy and across the city are met.
These are some of the reasons why the Hamilton-born pharmacist was named the Italian-Canadian Citizen of the Year by the Hamilton-based Sons of Italy organization on the weekend.
It will add to the long list of accolades Zaffiro has racked up, including being named Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the city of Hamilton in 1998 and one of the country's most influential pharmacists by the Canadian Pharmacists Association last year. ...more
Marita Zaffiro doesn't believe in just handing out pills to cure what ails you.
She believes in a community approach to health care, which includes making sure the needs of the multicultural denizens around her downtown pharmacy and across the city are met.
These are some of the reasons why the Hamilton-born pharmacist was named the Italian-Canadian Citizen of the Year by the Hamilton-based Sons of Italy organization on the weekend.
It will add to the long list of accolades Zaffiro has racked up, including being named Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the city of Hamilton in 1998 and one of the country's most influential pharmacists by the Canadian Pharmacists Association last year. ...more
Methadone could help cocaine addicts: study
From the Calgary Herald:
Methadone, a drug used for many years to treat heroin addiction, also appears to work well against cocaine addiction, a new Canadian study suggests.
Psychologist Francesco Leri of the University of Guelph has been making rats addicted to cocaine, and then treating them with methadone.
Most of the rats responded well, he says. They lost their powerful urge for cocaine and, in addition, their brains "re-set" themselves into the same pattern that existed before they first used cocaine.
"It can be done tomorrow with humans, and should be done tomorrow," Leri said.
That's because methadone--unlike some new drug -- already exists as a tested drug, with clear prescription rules and clinical staff trained in giving it out.
"There is an entire system that is already in place for the employment of methadone," that could be used for cocaine addicts, Leri said. ...more
Methadone, a drug used for many years to treat heroin addiction, also appears to work well against cocaine addiction, a new Canadian study suggests.
Psychologist Francesco Leri of the University of Guelph has been making rats addicted to cocaine, and then treating them with methadone.
Most of the rats responded well, he says. They lost their powerful urge for cocaine and, in addition, their brains "re-set" themselves into the same pattern that existed before they first used cocaine.
"It can be done tomorrow with humans, and should be done tomorrow," Leri said.
That's because methadone--unlike some new drug -- already exists as a tested drug, with clear prescription rules and clinical staff trained in giving it out.
"There is an entire system that is already in place for the employment of methadone," that could be used for cocaine addicts, Leri said. ...more
Monday, November 24, 2008
Skip the doctor's office, go right to the drugstore
I shudder when I read the first paragraph of this article. While I am in favour of pharmacist prescribing, we have to remember the difference between prescribing and diagnosing. Pharmacists aren't trained to diagnose most ailments. Our role needs to be the optimizers of drug therapy, but this is after a dignosis is made. I can adjust warfarin dosages at least as capably as a physician, but I can't diagnose any of the conditions that would lead to being on the drug such as a deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or atrial fibrillation for example.
From the Globe and Mail:
Should a nasty cold or poison ivy require a trip to the doctor to get a prescription? What about an earache, urinary tract infection or something as serious as a pre-existing heart problem?
Those are the questions many health professionals across Canada are grappling with as more provinces look to grant pharmacists greater power to prescribe drugs.
This week, an advisory council to Ontario's Health Ministry recommended that pharmacists in the province be allowed to write prescriptions for minor conditions, adjust dosages, extend prescriptions and order laboratory tests in some instances.
The move follows developments across the country to expand the role of pharmacists. ...more
Pharmacist Donates Kidney to Customer After Falling in Love
From ABC News:
Some romances build over dinner and flowers. This one blossomed over medication and dialysis.
A pharmacist in Kansas donated her kidney to a customer she fell in love with.
What began as a simple pharmacist-customer relationship turned into much more for Julie Wallace and Justin Lister, who struck up a friendship, then a romance that led to Wallace giving Lister a kidney.
When they met a little more than a year ago, Wallace, 46, was working as a pharmacist and manager at Dillon's grocery store pharmacy in McPherson, Kan., where Lister, 26, was dragging himself in to pick up a cocktail of prescriptions for his kidney disease.
"He kept coming into the pharmacy, getting all kinds of medication and just looking really bad," Wallace told ABCNews.com. "I told him that if there's anything I can ever do for him to let me know." ...more
Some romances build over dinner and flowers. This one blossomed over medication and dialysis.
A pharmacist in Kansas donated her kidney to a customer she fell in love with.
What began as a simple pharmacist-customer relationship turned into much more for Julie Wallace and Justin Lister, who struck up a friendship, then a romance that led to Wallace giving Lister a kidney.
When they met a little more than a year ago, Wallace, 46, was working as a pharmacist and manager at Dillon's grocery store pharmacy in McPherson, Kan., where Lister, 26, was dragging himself in to pick up a cocktail of prescriptions for his kidney disease.
"He kept coming into the pharmacy, getting all kinds of medication and just looking really bad," Wallace told ABCNews.com. "I told him that if there's anything I can ever do for him to let me know." ...more
Roche ordered to pay $13M to users of acne drug
From the Associated Press:
A jury has ordered drugmaker Roche to pay nearly $13 million to three patients who claim they developed a chronic bowel disorder because of the company's acne drug Accutane.
Roche's U.S. subsidiary Hoffman-La Roche said it would appeal the verdict.
The money, handed down in New Jersey State Superior Court on Thursday, will be split among the three Florida residents, their attorneys said in a statement. All three began using Accutane a decade ago to treat teenage acne. One of the group is expected to soon have his colon surgically removed while the others will require long-term drug therapy, the attorneys said.
The award is the latest stemming from a wave of lawsuits that accuse Roche of downplaying a link between Accutane and inflammatory bowel disease, which afflicts about 1.4 million people in the U.S. and Canada.
Accutane's warning label notes that the drug is "associated with" chronic bowel problems, but the company has argued that there is no direct connection between its drug and the disease. ...more
A jury has ordered drugmaker Roche to pay nearly $13 million to three patients who claim they developed a chronic bowel disorder because of the company's acne drug Accutane.
Roche's U.S. subsidiary Hoffman-La Roche said it would appeal the verdict.
The money, handed down in New Jersey State Superior Court on Thursday, will be split among the three Florida residents, their attorneys said in a statement. All three began using Accutane a decade ago to treat teenage acne. One of the group is expected to soon have his colon surgically removed while the others will require long-term drug therapy, the attorneys said.
The award is the latest stemming from a wave of lawsuits that accuse Roche of downplaying a link between Accutane and inflammatory bowel disease, which afflicts about 1.4 million people in the U.S. and Canada.
Accutane's warning label notes that the drug is "associated with" chronic bowel problems, but the company has argued that there is no direct connection between its drug and the disease. ...more
Indonesian AIDS patients face microchip monitoring
I realize this isn't really a pharmacy story, but it it heath/medical related and extremely troublesome so I thought I'd include it here.
From the Associated Press:
Lawmakers in Indonesia's remote province of Papua have thrown their support behind a controversial bill requiring some HIV/AIDS patients to be implanted with microchips — part of extreme efforts to monitor the disease.
Health workers and rights activists sharply criticized the plan Monday.
But legislator John Manangsang said by implanting small computer chips beneath the skin of "sexually aggressive" patients, authorities would be in a better position to identify, track and ultimately punish those who deliberately infect others with up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine.
The technical and practical details still need to be hammered out, but the proposed legislation has received full backing from the provincial parliament and, if it gets a majority vote as expected, will be enacted next month, he and others said.
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and has one of Asia's fastest growing HIV rates, with up to 290,000 infections out of 235 million people, fueled mainly by intravenous drug users and prostitution. ...more
When it comes to statins, don't believe the hype
From the Globe and Mail:
The headlines were dramatic and unequivocal:
"Cholesterol drug causes risk of heart attack to plummet" - Fox News.
"Cholesterol-fighting drugs show wider benefit" - The New York Times.
"Cholesterol drug cuts heart risk in healthy patients" - The Wall Street Journal.
The New York Times article summarized the exciting news in a front-page story saying that "millions more people could benefit from taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins."
That's big medical/business news, because statins are already the bestselling drugs in the world, with sales in excess of $20-billion (U.S.).
Quoting some of the world's top heart researchers, media reports touted the importance of a blood test for C-reactive protein. That's because those benefiting from statins had high levels of CRP (a marker for inflammation) rather than high levels of LDL cholesterol, which is usually the criterion for statin prescription. ...more
The headlines were dramatic and unequivocal:
"Cholesterol drug causes risk of heart attack to plummet" - Fox News.
"Cholesterol-fighting drugs show wider benefit" - The New York Times.
"Cholesterol drug cuts heart risk in healthy patients" - The Wall Street Journal.
The New York Times article summarized the exciting news in a front-page story saying that "millions more people could benefit from taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins."
That's big medical/business news, because statins are already the bestselling drugs in the world, with sales in excess of $20-billion (U.S.).
Quoting some of the world's top heart researchers, media reports touted the importance of a blood test for C-reactive protein. That's because those benefiting from statins had high levels of CRP (a marker for inflammation) rather than high levels of LDL cholesterol, which is usually the criterion for statin prescription. ...more
Health groups call for better drug coverage
From the Miramichi (NB) Leader:
When Ross Costain moved to New Brunswick from Prince Edward Island in April 2006, he went from having provincial health coverage to none at all.
Now he suddenly found himself paying around $759 per month for insulin and other measures he needs to cope with the Type 1 diabetes both he and his daughter Latisha have.
“That’s a house payment,” he said. “That’s a mortgage.”
As it stands, it’s enough medication and equipment to cover a small end table.
That cost includes testing strips, which Costain uses to test his blood sugar levels four times a day, to determine how much insulin his body needs to be injected at that particular moment.
With Latisha, who was diagnosed last September, it’s more complicated.
“I have to check her sugar very often,” he said.
As well, her blood sugar levels can change quickly, sometimes in as little as the 25 minutes it takes to ride the bus to school. ...more
When Ross Costain moved to New Brunswick from Prince Edward Island in April 2006, he went from having provincial health coverage to none at all.
Now he suddenly found himself paying around $759 per month for insulin and other measures he needs to cope with the Type 1 diabetes both he and his daughter Latisha have.
“That’s a house payment,” he said. “That’s a mortgage.”
As it stands, it’s enough medication and equipment to cover a small end table.
That cost includes testing strips, which Costain uses to test his blood sugar levels four times a day, to determine how much insulin his body needs to be injected at that particular moment.
With Latisha, who was diagnosed last September, it’s more complicated.
“I have to check her sugar very often,” he said.
As well, her blood sugar levels can change quickly, sometimes in as little as the 25 minutes it takes to ride the bus to school. ...more
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Doctors allege intimidation in raising drug warnings, investigation shows
From CBC News:
Two physicians who tried to warn about the high risk of serious side-effects of the Type 2 diabetes drug Avandia allege they were intimidated by the company that sells it, a CBC investigation revealed Wednesday.
Last year, a review published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a 43 per cent higher risk of heart attack among people taking Avandia, or rosiglitazone, compared to a control group, and 64 per cent more likely to die of cardiovascular problems.
Avandia was hailed as a breakthrough for blood-sugar control. It is designed to help sensitize the body to insulin.
Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada have issued strong warnings as a result of the 2007 study. By that point, researchers were estimating thousands of people taking Avandia had died, given it had been on the market since 1999. In Canada in 2007, doctors had written more than a million prescriptions for Avandia, according to IMS Health Canada, an industry trend watcher.
In 2000, Dr. Mary Money, an internist from Hagerstown, Md., raised one of the earliest alarms about Avandia. Of 33 patients she put on the new drug, 20 went on to develop serious edema, or fluid retention — a symptom of heart failure. ...more
Two physicians who tried to warn about the high risk of serious side-effects of the Type 2 diabetes drug Avandia allege they were intimidated by the company that sells it, a CBC investigation revealed Wednesday.
Last year, a review published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a 43 per cent higher risk of heart attack among people taking Avandia, or rosiglitazone, compared to a control group, and 64 per cent more likely to die of cardiovascular problems.
Avandia was hailed as a breakthrough for blood-sugar control. It is designed to help sensitize the body to insulin.
Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada have issued strong warnings as a result of the 2007 study. By that point, researchers were estimating thousands of people taking Avandia had died, given it had been on the market since 1999. In Canada in 2007, doctors had written more than a million prescriptions for Avandia, according to IMS Health Canada, an industry trend watcher.
In 2000, Dr. Mary Money, an internist from Hagerstown, Md., raised one of the earliest alarms about Avandia. Of 33 patients she put on the new drug, 20 went on to develop serious edema, or fluid retention — a symptom of heart failure. ...more
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Pet owners turning to mood altering meds to help their critters cope
From the Canadian Press:
With her pink tongue flapping out the side of her mouth, Winnie bounds across the living room, scoops up a tennis ball and proudly trots it back to her owner.
For the two-year-old mutt, life doesn't get much better than hanging out with Mandy Novak, a master who dishes out cold hot dogs and occasionally offers up her face for a slurp.
It's alone time that has filled Winnie with dread.
Late last year, the collie-Labrador mix, adopted from a shelter in October 2007, cried and paced nervously if she even sensed Novak was getting ready to leave for work.
When left on her own, Winnie marauded through the house gnawing on everything from wooden staircases to drywall.
"We came home and we found that she had eaten through the basement walls," said Novak, who lives in the Montreal suburb of Pincourt.
An animal behaviourist diagnosed Winnie with canine separation anxiety, and like more and more pet owners, Novak has turned to a mood-altering drug to help her dog cope. ...more
With her pink tongue flapping out the side of her mouth, Winnie bounds across the living room, scoops up a tennis ball and proudly trots it back to her owner.
For the two-year-old mutt, life doesn't get much better than hanging out with Mandy Novak, a master who dishes out cold hot dogs and occasionally offers up her face for a slurp.
It's alone time that has filled Winnie with dread.
Late last year, the collie-Labrador mix, adopted from a shelter in October 2007, cried and paced nervously if she even sensed Novak was getting ready to leave for work.
When left on her own, Winnie marauded through the house gnawing on everything from wooden staircases to drywall.
"We came home and we found that she had eaten through the basement walls," said Novak, who lives in the Montreal suburb of Pincourt.
An animal behaviourist diagnosed Winnie with canine separation anxiety, and like more and more pet owners, Novak has turned to a mood-altering drug to help her dog cope. ...more
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The sleepless epidemic
From the Globe and Mail:
For years, Stacie Fox feared the night. From the moment she went to bed, sleeplessness taunted her. Just as she began to drift off, it would jerk her awake again. As a result, she waded through her days with aching joints, swollen glands and a leaden heart. “I felt like I was 80,” says the 32-year-old actor from Burlington, Ont. “I felt like the whole world was going to end. My brain was in a fog.”
Using makeup and her acting skills to hide her exhaustion, she tried everything she could think of escape her insomnia. A dairy-free diet. Acupuncture. Massage therapy. Tai chi. Good sleep hygiene (no caffeine or alcohol, no TV in the bedroom). She even went to the Matrix Repatterning Centre in Aurora, Ont., where naturopathic doctors claimed to help “correct the imbalance in soft tissue, organs and bones.”
Her family doctor tested her thyroid, liver and kidneys, her levels of blood sugar and cortisol, the “stress hormone.” The results all came back normal. Then her doctor prescribed sleeping pills.
Imovane, a tiny, bitter blue piece of magic, sent her into a sweet, sustained slumber. Comfort, at last. She slept like a baby.
Many are loath to admit it, but more and more people both in Canada and the United States are fed up with punching the pillow until dawn. Consumption of sleeping pills has increased dramatically in the past five years. Prescriptions for zopiclone, the generic name for Imovane, rose 49 per cent from 2003 to last year, according to industry tracker IMS Health Canada, while those for all sedatives went up 15 per cent. ...more
For years, Stacie Fox feared the night. From the moment she went to bed, sleeplessness taunted her. Just as she began to drift off, it would jerk her awake again. As a result, she waded through her days with aching joints, swollen glands and a leaden heart. “I felt like I was 80,” says the 32-year-old actor from Burlington, Ont. “I felt like the whole world was going to end. My brain was in a fog.”
Using makeup and her acting skills to hide her exhaustion, she tried everything she could think of escape her insomnia. A dairy-free diet. Acupuncture. Massage therapy. Tai chi. Good sleep hygiene (no caffeine or alcohol, no TV in the bedroom). She even went to the Matrix Repatterning Centre in Aurora, Ont., where naturopathic doctors claimed to help “correct the imbalance in soft tissue, organs and bones.”
Her family doctor tested her thyroid, liver and kidneys, her levels of blood sugar and cortisol, the “stress hormone.” The results all came back normal. Then her doctor prescribed sleeping pills.
Imovane, a tiny, bitter blue piece of magic, sent her into a sweet, sustained slumber. Comfort, at last. She slept like a baby.
Many are loath to admit it, but more and more people both in Canada and the United States are fed up with punching the pillow until dawn. Consumption of sleeping pills has increased dramatically in the past five years. Prescriptions for zopiclone, the generic name for Imovane, rose 49 per cent from 2003 to last year, according to industry tracker IMS Health Canada, while those for all sedatives went up 15 per cent. ...more
HPV vaccine can protect men too
From Canada.com:
Soon girls may not be the only ones getting Gardasil injections.
Merck Frosst is moving ahead with plans to extend the use of its controversial Gardasil vaccine to boys and young men.
The cancer vaccine for women could be just as effective for men, Universite de Montreal professor and microbiologist Francois Coutlee said Thursday in a telephone interview at a scientific meeting in Nice, France.
Coutlee was part of the team reporting early results of a Merck-sponsored study showing that 90 per cent fewer men ages 16 to 26 years old developed genital warts and other lesions after receiving Gardasil, a vaccine that targets four human papillomavirus strains that can lead to cancer.
But HPV isn't just a problem for women, Coutlee said. In men, HPV can lead to genital warts, anal cancer, and penile cancer.
"The study is still ongoing, but we're relieved to know that it is as effective in men as it is in women," said Coutlee, who was involved in recruiting test subjects in Montreal. ...more
Soon girls may not be the only ones getting Gardasil injections.
Merck Frosst is moving ahead with plans to extend the use of its controversial Gardasil vaccine to boys and young men.
The cancer vaccine for women could be just as effective for men, Universite de Montreal professor and microbiologist Francois Coutlee said Thursday in a telephone interview at a scientific meeting in Nice, France.
Coutlee was part of the team reporting early results of a Merck-sponsored study showing that 90 per cent fewer men ages 16 to 26 years old developed genital warts and other lesions after receiving Gardasil, a vaccine that targets four human papillomavirus strains that can lead to cancer.
But HPV isn't just a problem for women, Coutlee said. In men, HPV can lead to genital warts, anal cancer, and penile cancer.
"The study is still ongoing, but we're relieved to know that it is as effective in men as it is in women," said Coutlee, who was involved in recruiting test subjects in Montreal. ...more
Test strips now covered for people with diabetes who use insulin
From the Charlottetown Guardian:
Islanders who use insulin to manage their diabetes will have assistance in covering the cost of their test strips beginning tomorrow, on World Diabetes Day.
Premier Robert Ghiz and Social Services and Seniors Minister Doug Currie announced today that all Islanders who are dependent on insulin will qualify to receive up to 100 test strips per month, with a monthly co-pay of $11.
The announcement affects close to 2,000 of the nearly 8,000 people with diabetes on P.E.I.
"We are extremely pleased to fulfil the promise this government made to insulin-dependent Islanders in the Throne Speech," said Premier Robert Ghiz. "This announcement is a $1.5 million investment in the health of Islanders."
Nineteen hundred people in Prince Edward Island use insulin and check their blood glucose levels using test strips and monitors. The strips are sold for one dollar each, while the monitors are provided at no charge by manufacturers. ...more
Islanders who use insulin to manage their diabetes will have assistance in covering the cost of their test strips beginning tomorrow, on World Diabetes Day.
Premier Robert Ghiz and Social Services and Seniors Minister Doug Currie announced today that all Islanders who are dependent on insulin will qualify to receive up to 100 test strips per month, with a monthly co-pay of $11.
The announcement affects close to 2,000 of the nearly 8,000 people with diabetes on P.E.I.
"We are extremely pleased to fulfil the promise this government made to insulin-dependent Islanders in the Throne Speech," said Premier Robert Ghiz. "This announcement is a $1.5 million investment in the health of Islanders."
Nineteen hundred people in Prince Edward Island use insulin and check their blood glucose levels using test strips and monitors. The strips are sold for one dollar each, while the monitors are provided at no charge by manufacturers. ...more
Peppermint oil, older drugs help treat IBS: review
From CBC News:
Older treatments for irritable bowel syndrome like peppermint oil safely help ease symptoms and should be used, a review suggests.
IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by changes in bowel function, diarrhea, constipation or a combination of both, typically over months or years.
It is estimated to affect 13 to 20 per cent of Canadians, according to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.
In Canada and most western nations, IBS occurs more often in women. It can occur at any age, but often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. ...more
Older treatments for irritable bowel syndrome like peppermint oil safely help ease symptoms and should be used, a review suggests.
IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by changes in bowel function, diarrhea, constipation or a combination of both, typically over months or years.
It is estimated to affect 13 to 20 per cent of Canadians, according to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.
In Canada and most western nations, IBS occurs more often in women. It can occur at any age, but often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. ...more
Breakthrough study finds simple blood test may detect heart disease
From the Globe and Mail:
Measuring certain proteins through a simple blood test may make heart disease easier to detect and a lot less deadly, according to a study published online Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
People with healthy LDL-cholesterol levels but elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins experienced a nearly 50-per-cent reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death with a daily dose of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug, the study found.
The reduction in heart-disease risk among people who appear healthy and lack risk factors such as elevated cholesterol – which describes about half of those who experience heart disease – is such a significant finding that the drug trial was cut short in order to publish the results sooner.
The nearly 18,000 patients followed in the study had normal cholesterol levels and slightly elevated levels of C-reactive proteins – markers of inflammation that are known indicators of atherosclerosis, or blockage of the arteries.
The researchers suspected statin medications such as rosuvastatin would lower the risk of cardiovascular events in such patients, whose LDL-cholesterol levels were below 3.36 millimoles per litre, but were surprised by how well they worked. ...more
Measuring certain proteins through a simple blood test may make heart disease easier to detect and a lot less deadly, according to a study published online Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
People with healthy LDL-cholesterol levels but elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins experienced a nearly 50-per-cent reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death with a daily dose of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug, the study found.
The reduction in heart-disease risk among people who appear healthy and lack risk factors such as elevated cholesterol – which describes about half of those who experience heart disease – is such a significant finding that the drug trial was cut short in order to publish the results sooner.
The nearly 18,000 patients followed in the study had normal cholesterol levels and slightly elevated levels of C-reactive proteins – markers of inflammation that are known indicators of atherosclerosis, or blockage of the arteries.
The researchers suspected statin medications such as rosuvastatin would lower the risk of cardiovascular events in such patients, whose LDL-cholesterol levels were below 3.36 millimoles per litre, but were surprised by how well they worked. ...more