Naseem S. Miller

Major Finding: Continued menorrhagia was uncommon in all BMI groups, but it was most common in women with BMI greater than 34 kg/m

Data Source: A retrospective chart review of 398 women with menorrhagia who were treated with LNG-IUS between 1999 and 2009.

Disclosures: Ms. Fairchild and Dr. Dalton said that they had no relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – In very obese women, treatment of menorrhagia with levonorgestrel intrauterine system may be slightly less effective, but the treatment's success rate justifies its use, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan.

In addition, levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) “may be an especially important treatment choice for women at high surgical risk,” the authors reported.

Although studies have shown the effectiveness of LNG-IUS in treatment of menorrhagia, most have not considered the role of body mass index (BMI), said Paige C. Fairchild, a medical student at the university who presented the study at the meeting.

The team conducted a retrospective chart review of 398 women with menorrhagia who were treated with LNG-IUS between 1999 and 2009 within the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor. Nearly 50% had BMI of 30 kg/m

Also, removal of LNG-IUS because of continued menorrhagia was more common among women who had BMI greater than 34, compared with those in all BMI groups (6.9% vs. 4.1%).

The odds of surgery within 2 years of LNG-IUS removal also was higher in obese patients (2.6 times), compared with other groups.

Some factors that might contribute to the reduced effectiveness of LNG-IUS in obese women are a larger uterus, persistent unopposed estrogen endometrial stimulation, or poor placement/difficulty in achieving fundal placement, Dr. Vanessa Dalton of the departments of obstetrics and gynecology at the university and one of the study authors said in an interview.

Despite the findings, the authors concluded that the high continuation rates of LNG-IUS and low surgery rates indicate that the treatment is still a good option for women with a high BMI.

One of the limitations of the study was that it was observational and “that cannot assess details about decision making. It is possible that providers are more likely to recommend surgical treatment for obese women than [for] normal-weight women,” Dr. Dalton said.

“Additional analysis is ongoing to further characterize predictors of treatment failure,” she added.

Major Finding: Continued menorrhagia was uncommon in all BMI groups, but it was most common in women with BMI greater than 34 kg/m

Data Source: A retrospective chart review of 398 women with menorrhagia who were treated with LNG-IUS between 1999 and 2009.

Disclosures: Ms. Fairchild and Dr. Dalton said that they had no relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – In very obese women, treatment of menorrhagia with levonorgestrel intrauterine system may be slightly less effective, but the treatment's success rate justifies its use, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan.

In addition, levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) “may be an especially important treatment choice for women at high surgical risk,” the authors reported.

Although studies have shown the effectiveness of LNG-IUS in treatment of menorrhagia, most have not considered the role of body mass index (BMI), said Paige C. Fairchild, a medical student at the university who presented the study at the meeting.

The team conducted a retrospective chart review of 398 women with menorrhagia who were treated with LNG-IUS between 1999 and 2009 within the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor. Nearly 50% had BMI of 30 kg/m

Also, removal of LNG-IUS because of continued menorrhagia was more common among women who had BMI greater than 34, compared with those in all BMI groups (6.9% vs. 4.1%).

The odds of surgery within 2 years of LNG-IUS removal also was higher in obese patients (2.6 times), compared with other groups.

Some factors that might contribute to the reduced effectiveness of LNG-IUS in obese women are a larger uterus, persistent unopposed estrogen endometrial stimulation, or poor placement/difficulty in achieving fundal placement, Dr. Vanessa Dalton of the departments of obstetrics and gynecology at the university and one of the study authors said in an interview.

Despite the findings, the authors concluded that the high continuation rates of LNG-IUS and low surgery rates indicate that the treatment is still a good option for women with a high BMI.

One of the limitations of the study was that it was observational and “that cannot assess details about decision making. It is possible that providers are more likely to recommend surgical treatment for obese women than [for] normal-weight women,” Dr. Dalton said.

“Additional analysis is ongoing to further characterize predictors of treatment failure,” she added.

Major Finding: Continued menorrhagia was uncommon in all BMI groups, but it was most common in women with BMI greater than 34 kg/m

Data Source: A retrospective chart review of 398 women with menorrhagia who were treated with LNG-IUS between 1999 and 2009.

Disclosures: Ms. Fairchild and Dr. Dalton said that they had no relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – In very obese women, treatment of menorrhagia with levonorgestrel intrauterine system may be slightly less effective, but the treatment's success rate justifies its use, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan.

In addition, levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) “may be an especially important treatment choice for women at high surgical risk,” the authors reported.

Although studies have shown the effectiveness of LNG-IUS in treatment of menorrhagia, most have not considered the role of body mass index (BMI), said Paige C. Fairchild, a medical student at the university who presented the study at the meeting.

The team conducted a retrospective chart review of 398 women with menorrhagia who were treated with LNG-IUS between 1999 and 2009 within the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor. Nearly 50% had BMI of 30 kg/m

Also, removal of LNG-IUS because of continued menorrhagia was more common among women who had BMI greater than 34, compared with those in all BMI groups (6.9% vs. 4.1%).

The odds of surgery within 2 years of LNG-IUS removal also was higher in obese patients (2.6 times), compared with other groups.

Some factors that might contribute to the reduced effectiveness of LNG-IUS in obese women are a larger uterus, persistent unopposed estrogen endometrial stimulation, or poor placement/difficulty in achieving fundal placement, Dr. Vanessa Dalton of the departments of obstetrics and gynecology at the university and one of the study authors said in an interview.

Despite the findings, the authors concluded that the high continuation rates of LNG-IUS and low surgery rates indicate that the treatment is still a good option for women with a high BMI.

One of the limitations of the study was that it was observational and “that cannot assess details about decision making. It is possible that providers are more likely to recommend surgical treatment for obese women than [for] normal-weight women,” Dr. Dalton said.

“Additional analysis is ongoing to further characterize predictors of treatment failure,” she added.

Academy Comments on ACOs

The American Academy of Neurology, officially commenting on Medicare's proposed rules for accountable care organizations, told federal agencies that neurologists should be free to participate in ACOs or stay out of them without risking the loss of patients. In letters that included the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Federal Trade Commission, the academy argued that patients under ACO care should retain the right to see physicians of their choice. The letters also called for quality measures that would “ensure patients receive benefits of disease guidelines.” ACOs are to offer health care providers financial incentives to coordinate care and improve quality, but the proposed rules have generated critical letters from several of the nation's major medical organizations.

Headache Claim Causes Pain

UCB pleaded guilty to promoting off-label uses of its epilepsy drug Keppra (levetiracetam) and will pay more than $34 million toward criminal and civil liability, according to the Justice Department. The U.S. subsidiary of a Belgian company admitted making and disseminating posters indicating that levetiracetam is safe and effective against migraines, although its own studies had failed to prove such effectiveness. The penalties also cover promotions that prompted prescriptions for pain, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, and anxiety.

One Billion Deal With Disabilities

More than 1 billion people have some form of disability, according to the first-ever World Report on Disability issued by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. People who have mental and physical disabilities are twice as likely as are others to say they lack health care because available providers' skills are inadequate. They are three times as likely to report being denied needed health care, according to the report. In a forward, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who lives with motor neuron disease, said, “We have a moral duty to remove the barriers to participation for people with disabilities, and to invest sufficient funding and expertise to unlock their vast potential.” The report encouraged governments to step up their efforts to make services accessible to people who have disabilities.

Groups Introduce Mobile Apps

The American Academy of Neurology has launched an iPad application for its journal Neurology that “makes it that much easier to quickly access the latest cutting-edge clinical research Neurology publishes each week,” Dr. Robert A. Gross, editor-in-chief of the journal, said in an announcement. The app offers “a printlike reading experience with article-sharing features, multimedia links, and other benefits,” according to the announcement. Also in June, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America introduced an iPhone-iPad app, called My MS Manager, designed to help people with multiple sclerosis manage their disease. The app can log activities and generate reports that can be shared with physicians.

Clot Buster Underused

Although the use of tissue plasminogen activator has increased, still only a fraction of eligible Americans are receiving the clot-busting therapy, researchers at the University of Cincinnati found. Dr. Opeolu Adeoye and his colleagues used 2005-2009 Medicare and pharmacy records showing whether TPA was administered to people suffering acute ischemic strokes. In 2005, 1%-1.4% of those patients were given the Food and Drug Administration–approved clot buster, and 4 years later, 3%-3.4% were recorded as having received the drug. When the authors adjusted for potential billing errors, they concluded that as many as 5% of eligible patients were getting TPA in 2009. That still means that only 23,800 – 36,000 of the 700,000 Americans who had an ischemic stroke got TPA that year. The study was published in the journal Stroke.

Academy Comments on ACOs

The American Academy of Neurology, officially commenting on Medicare's proposed rules for accountable care organizations, told federal agencies that neurologists should be free to participate in ACOs or stay out of them without risking the loss of patients. In letters that included the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Federal Trade Commission, the academy argued that patients under ACO care should retain the right to see physicians of their choice. The letters also called for quality measures that would “ensure patients receive benefits of disease guidelines.” ACOs are to offer health care providers financial incentives to coordinate care and improve quality, but the proposed rules have generated critical letters from several of the nation's major medical organizations.

Headache Claim Causes Pain

UCB pleaded guilty to promoting off-label uses of its epilepsy drug Keppra (levetiracetam) and will pay more than $34 million toward criminal and civil liability, according to the Justice Department. The U.S. subsidiary of a Belgian company admitted making and disseminating posters indicating that levetiracetam is safe and effective against migraines, although its own studies had failed to prove such effectiveness. The penalties also cover promotions that prompted prescriptions for pain, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, and anxiety.

One Billion Deal With Disabilities

More than 1 billion people have some form of disability, according to the first-ever World Report on Disability issued by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. People who have mental and physical disabilities are twice as likely as are others to say they lack health care because available providers' skills are inadequate. They are three times as likely to report being denied needed health care, according to the report. In a forward, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who lives with motor neuron disease, said, “We have a moral duty to remove the barriers to participation for people with disabilities, and to invest sufficient funding and expertise to unlock their vast potential.” The report encouraged governments to step up their efforts to make services accessible to people who have disabilities.

Groups Introduce Mobile Apps

The American Academy of Neurology has launched an iPad application for its journal Neurology that “makes it that much easier to quickly access the latest cutting-edge clinical research Neurology publishes each week,” Dr. Robert A. Gross, editor-in-chief of the journal, said in an announcement. The app offers “a printlike reading experience with article-sharing features, multimedia links, and other benefits,” according to the announcement. Also in June, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America introduced an iPhone-iPad app, called My MS Manager, designed to help people with multiple sclerosis manage their disease. The app can log activities and generate reports that can be shared with physicians.

Clot Buster Underused

Although the use of tissue plasminogen activator has increased, still only a fraction of eligible Americans are receiving the clot-busting therapy, researchers at the University of Cincinnati found. Dr. Opeolu Adeoye and his colleagues used 2005-2009 Medicare and pharmacy records showing whether TPA was administered to people suffering acute ischemic strokes. In 2005, 1%-1.4% of those patients were given the Food and Drug Administration–approved clot buster, and 4 years later, 3%-3.4% were recorded as having received the drug. When the authors adjusted for potential billing errors, they concluded that as many as 5% of eligible patients were getting TPA in 2009. That still means that only 23,800 – 36,000 of the 700,000 Americans who had an ischemic stroke got TPA that year. The study was published in the journal Stroke.

Academy Comments on ACOs

The American Academy of Neurology, officially commenting on Medicare's proposed rules for accountable care organizations, told federal agencies that neurologists should be free to participate in ACOs or stay out of them without risking the loss of patients. In letters that included the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Federal Trade Commission, the academy argued that patients under ACO care should retain the right to see physicians of their choice. The letters also called for quality measures that would “ensure patients receive benefits of disease guidelines.” ACOs are to offer health care providers financial incentives to coordinate care and improve quality, but the proposed rules have generated critical letters from several of the nation's major medical organizations.

Headache Claim Causes Pain

UCB pleaded guilty to promoting off-label uses of its epilepsy drug Keppra (levetiracetam) and will pay more than $34 million toward criminal and civil liability, according to the Justice Department. The U.S. subsidiary of a Belgian company admitted making and disseminating posters indicating that levetiracetam is safe and effective against migraines, although its own studies had failed to prove such effectiveness. The penalties also cover promotions that prompted prescriptions for pain, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, and anxiety.

One Billion Deal With Disabilities

More than 1 billion people have some form of disability, according to the first-ever World Report on Disability issued by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. People who have mental and physical disabilities are twice as likely as are others to say they lack health care because available providers' skills are inadequate. They are three times as likely to report being denied needed health care, according to the report. In a forward, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who lives with motor neuron disease, said, “We have a moral duty to remove the barriers to participation for people with disabilities, and to invest sufficient funding and expertise to unlock their vast potential.” The report encouraged governments to step up their efforts to make services accessible to people who have disabilities.

Groups Introduce Mobile Apps

The American Academy of Neurology has launched an iPad application for its journal Neurology that “makes it that much easier to quickly access the latest cutting-edge clinical research Neurology publishes each week,” Dr. Robert A. Gross, editor-in-chief of the journal, said in an announcement. The app offers “a printlike reading experience with article-sharing features, multimedia links, and other benefits,” according to the announcement. Also in June, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America introduced an iPhone-iPad app, called My MS Manager, designed to help people with multiple sclerosis manage their disease. The app can log activities and generate reports that can be shared with physicians.

Clot Buster Underused

Although the use of tissue plasminogen activator has increased, still only a fraction of eligible Americans are receiving the clot-busting therapy, researchers at the University of Cincinnati found. Dr. Opeolu Adeoye and his colleagues used 2005-2009 Medicare and pharmacy records showing whether TPA was administered to people suffering acute ischemic strokes. In 2005, 1%-1.4% of those patients were given the Food and Drug Administration–approved clot buster, and 4 years later, 3%-3.4% were recorded as having received the drug. When the authors adjusted for potential billing errors, they concluded that as many as 5% of eligible patients were getting TPA in 2009. That still means that only 23,800 – 36,000 of the 700,000 Americans who had an ischemic stroke got TPA that year. The study was published in the journal Stroke.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

The first day of the Food and Drug Administration’s hearing on Avastin (bevacizumab) came to an end with a question-and-answer session between FDA officials and representatives from Genentech, the maker of the drug.

Earlier in the day, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) presented its position and stood by its proposal to withdraw approval for the breast cancer indication for Avastin.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

During a two-day meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices outside of Washington, Genentech will provide evidence to support the company’s contention that the metastatic breast cancer approval of bevacizumab, in combination with paclitaxel, should not be withdrawn.

In December, the FDA proposed that the accelerated approval for this indication be pulled after two studies failed to show the magnitude of benefit on progression-free survival seen in an earlier study. Moreover, none of the trials showed an improvement in overall survival. 

In an unprecedented move, Genentech appealed the decision, and the FDA granted the company the hearing.

People around the world are living longer thanks to advances in public health during the first decade of the 21st century, according to a June 24 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientific, technical, legal, and political advances have all contributed to improving living conditions around the world, according to the report (MMWR 2011;60:814-8). Fewer people are dying from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infections; more have access to clean water; and attention is being focused on eradicating tropical diseases such as dracunculiasis caused by guinea worms.

"I think it’s very uplifting to see where we were and we are now," Dr. Larry Slutsker, associate director of science in the Center for Global Health at the CDC, said in an interview. "It's difficult to see progress day to day when you work in public health, so when you look back and see access and coverage has improved and mortality declines, and it's very gratifying."

These advances, as well as other factors, are causing a shift in the mortality burden from infectious to non-infectious diseases, Dr. Slutsker pointed out. By 2030, 75% of deaths globally will be attributed to these noncommunicable diseases, according to the report.

The infectious diseases, meanwhile, won’t be going away. So, addressing the two categories of disease will be a balancing act, said Dr. Slutsker.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, highlighted the role of the United States in the global public health improvement. "There are still far too many people who die from conditions that are easily preventable. Continued investments will help millions more live healthy and productive lives, while helping to protect our own country from health threats," he said in a statement.

People around the world are living longer thanks to advances in public health during the first decade of the 21st century, according to a June 24 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientific, technical, legal, and political advances have all contributed to improving living conditions around the world, according to the report (MMWR 2011;60:814-8). Fewer people are dying from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infections; more have access to clean water; and attention is being focused on eradicating tropical diseases such as dracunculiasis caused by guinea worms.

"I think it’s very uplifting to see where we were and we are now," Dr. Larry Slutsker, associate director of science in the Center for Global Health at the CDC, said in an interview. "It's difficult to see progress day to day when you work in public health, so when you look back and see access and coverage has improved and mortality declines, and it's very gratifying."

These advances, as well as other factors, are causing a shift in the mortality burden from infectious to non-infectious diseases, Dr. Slutsker pointed out. By 2030, 75% of deaths globally will be attributed to these noncommunicable diseases, according to the report.

The infectious diseases, meanwhile, won’t be going away. So, addressing the two categories of disease will be a balancing act, said Dr. Slutsker.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, highlighted the role of the United States in the global public health improvement. "There are still far too many people who die from conditions that are easily preventable. Continued investments will help millions more live healthy and productive lives, while helping to protect our own country from health threats," he said in a statement.

People around the world are living longer thanks to advances in public health during the first decade of the 21st century, according to a June 24 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientific, technical, legal, and political advances have all contributed to improving living conditions around the world, according to the report (MMWR 2011;60:814-8). Fewer people are dying from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infections; more have access to clean water; and attention is being focused on eradicating tropical diseases such as dracunculiasis caused by guinea worms.

"I think it’s very uplifting to see where we were and we are now," Dr. Larry Slutsker, associate director of science in the Center for Global Health at the CDC, said in an interview. "It's difficult to see progress day to day when you work in public health, so when you look back and see access and coverage has improved and mortality declines, and it's very gratifying."

These advances, as well as other factors, are causing a shift in the mortality burden from infectious to non-infectious diseases, Dr. Slutsker pointed out. By 2030, 75% of deaths globally will be attributed to these noncommunicable diseases, according to the report.

The infectious diseases, meanwhile, won’t be going away. So, addressing the two categories of disease will be a balancing act, said Dr. Slutsker.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, highlighted the role of the United States in the global public health improvement. "There are still far too many people who die from conditions that are easily preventable. Continued investments will help millions more live healthy and productive lives, while helping to protect our own country from health threats," he said in a statement.

People around the world are living longer thanks to advances in public health during the first decade of the 21st century, according to a June 24 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientific, technical, legal, and political advances have all contributed to improving living conditions around the world, according to the report (MMWR 2011;60:814-8). Fewer people are dying from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infections; more have access to clean water; and attention is being focused on eradicating tropical diseases such as dracunculiasis caused by guinea worms.

"I think it’s very uplifting to see where we were and we are now," Dr. Larry Slutsker, associate director of science in the Center for Global Health at the CDC, said in an interview. "It's difficult to see progress day to day when you work in public health, so when you look back and see access and coverage has improved and mortality declines, and it's very gratifying."

These advances, as well as other factors, are causing a shift in the mortality burden from infectious to non-infectious diseases, Dr. Slutsker pointed out. By 2030, 75% of deaths globally will be attributed to these noncommunicable diseases, according to the report.

The infectious diseases, meanwhile, won’t be going away. So, addressing the two categories of disease will be a balancing act, said Dr. Slutsker.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, highlighted the role of the United States in the global public health improvement. "There are still far too many people who die from conditions that are easily preventable. Continued investments will help millions more live healthy and productive lives, while helping to protect our own country from health threats," he said in a statement.

People around the world are living longer thanks to advances in public health during the first decade of the 21st century, according to a June 24 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientific, technical, legal, and political advances have all contributed to improving living conditions around the world, according to the report (MMWR 2011;60:814-8). Fewer people are dying from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infections; more have access to clean water; and attention is being focused on eradicating tropical diseases such as dracunculiasis caused by guinea worms.

"I think it’s very uplifting to see where we were and we are now," Dr. Larry Slutsker, associate director of science in the Center for Global Health at the CDC, said in an interview. "It's difficult to see progress day to day when you work in public health, so when you look back and see access and coverage has improved and mortality declines, and it's very gratifying."

These advances, as well as other factors, are causing a shift in the mortality burden from infectious to non-infectious diseases, Dr. Slutsker pointed out. By 2030, 75% of deaths globally will be attributed to these noncommunicable diseases, according to the report.

The infectious diseases, meanwhile, won’t be going away. So, addressing the two categories of disease will be a balancing act, said Dr. Slutsker.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, highlighted the role of the United States in the global public health improvement. "There are still far too many people who die from conditions that are easily preventable. Continued investments will help millions more live healthy and productive lives, while helping to protect our own country from health threats," he said in a statement.

People around the world are living longer thanks to advances in public health during the first decade of the 21st century, according to a June 24 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientific, technical, legal, and political advances have all contributed to improving living conditions around the world, according to the report (MMWR 2011;60:814-8). Fewer people are dying from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infections; more have access to clean water; and attention is being focused on eradicating tropical diseases such as dracunculiasis caused by guinea worms.

"I think it’s very uplifting to see where we were and we are now," Dr. Larry Slutsker, associate director of science in the Center for Global Health at the CDC, said in an interview. "It's difficult to see progress day to day when you work in public health, so when you look back and see access and coverage has improved and mortality declines, and it's very gratifying."

These advances, as well as other factors, are causing a shift in the mortality burden from infectious to non-infectious diseases, Dr. Slutsker pointed out. By 2030, 75% of deaths globally will be attributed to these noncommunicable diseases, according to the report.

The infectious diseases, meanwhile, won’t be going away. So, addressing the two categories of disease will be a balancing act, said Dr. Slutsker.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, highlighted the role of the United States in the global public health improvement. "There are still far too many people who die from conditions that are easily preventable. Continued investments will help millions more live healthy and productive lives, while helping to protect our own country from health threats," he said in a statement.