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Quick Takes
• An analysis in the journal Health Affairs reveals that escalating health care costs in the United States affect all socioeconomic strata, not just the poor. Between 2001 and 2006, the percentage of American families that spend more than 10% of their income on health insurance premiums and health care services increased by an average of one percentage point per year—from 14.4% to 19.1%. The largest increases occurred among middle-income people (56% increase) and higher-income people (98%) with private insurance. (Health Aff. 2010 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print])
• Although nearly 30% of adults in the United States had prediabetes in 2005–2006, only 7.3% were aware they had it, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Only about half of adults with prediabetes (i.e., impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance) had made lifestyle changes in the past year consistent with reducing diabetes risk; only about one third had received any advice about diabetes risk reduction behaviors from their health care provider. (Am J Prev Med. 2010; 38:403-9.)
• A March 24, 2010, post on The New York Times Web site titled “The Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Cetaphil for Lice” discusses the use of Cetaphil as a “dry-on, suffocation-based” pediculicide and includes a link to a related study in the September 2004 issue of Pediatrics (Cetaphil is referred to as “Nuvo lotion” in that study). (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/the-alternative-medicine-cabine...)
• The FDA issued a final rule on March 4, 2010, to include benzoyl peroxide 2.5% to 10% as a “generally recognized as safe and effective” (GRASE) active ingredient in nonprescription topical acne products. The final rule is based on additional data received in response to a February 1995 proposed rule, indicating that benzoyl peroxide is neither carcinogenic nor photocarcinogenic.
• The Medco Health Store—an online store operated in conjunction with drugstore.com—soon will include an automated drug interaction screening function. The program will use data from Medco customers’ medication profiles to flag possible interactions with prescription medications, nonprescription medications, and dietary supplements before potentially problematic e-store purchases are made. (“The Tan Sheet,” February 15, 2010.)
• Gaia Herbs—a certified organic grower of herbs and manufacturer of herbal dietary supplements—has launched on online traceability program titled “Meet Your Herbs.” Consumers who visit www.meetyourherbs.com and enter the identification number found on the back of a Gaia Herbs product will have access to a report showing all traceable aspects of the herbs’ harvesting, extraction, and validation.