Our most intriguing medical facts of 2003

At American Medical News we encounter a number of fascinating pieces of information every week. Here is a look back at the year just past, as reflected in our own selection of the most interesting or noteworthy fact from each issue. Click for the article.

• 46,000 U.S. adults die each year from diseases that vaccines can prevent.    (Dec. 22/29)
• Only 5% of smokers successfully quit each year.    (Dec. 15)
• One-third of patients follow doctors' treatment recommendations regularly.    (Dec. 8)
• Worldwide, there are 745,000 measles deaths each year.    (Dec. 1)
• About 8% of the adult population and 5% to 9% of children are affected by serious mental illness.    (Nov. 24)
• Asthma is the No. 1 reason for school absenteeism.    (Nov. 17)
• SARS has been added to the list of communicable diseases for which quarantine is authorized.    (Nov. 10)
• 1.2 million office surgeries are done each year.    (Nov. 3)
• The FDA has investigated 22 cases of counterfeit drugs this year, up from the usual 4 to 6.    (Oct. 27)
• 60% of Mississippians are overweight.    (Oct. 20)
• 38% of health professionals get annual flu shots.    (Oct. 13)
• One Singapore hospital spent $13,000 a day on masks and gloves during the SARS outbreak.    (Oct. 6)
• A third of diabetics may be undiagnosed.    (Sept. 22/29)
• Medication errors cost the health care system more than $1 billion a year.    (Sept. 15)
• More than 70% of practices are small enough to be exempt from HIPAA.    (Sept. 8)
• Medicare pays up to 88% more than the VA for some durable medical equipment.    (Sept. 1)
• It cost $700 to vaccinate a 2-year-old in 2003.    (Aug. 25)
• One in 133 Americans is at risk for celiac disease.    (Aug. 18)
• 80% of strokes can be prevented.    (Aug. 11)
• Only 2 states have laws requiring doctors to write legible prescriptions.    (Aug. 4)
• SCHIP covers children with family incomes of up to 200% of poverty level.    (July 28)
• Recent studies on hormone therapy have discredited benefits.    (July 21)
• 1 in 5 adults cannot afford to buy some or all of his prescribed medicines.    (July 14)
• The biggest U.S. health problems are related to eating, drinking and smoking.    (July 7)
• 16 states impose cigarette taxes of $1 or more; the average is 69 cents.    (June 30)
• States with the most diabetics: Alabama and Mississippi.    (June 23)
• Each day, 17 people in the United States die waiting for an organ.    (June 16)
• Only 5% of those who are eligible to donate blood do so.    (June 2/9)
• Medicare Part B drug spending increased 35% in 2002, to $8.5 billion.    (May 26)
• 25% of the 40,000 Americans infected with HIV each year don't know it.    (May 19)
• Only 10% of Americans die suddenly; 90% experience a steady decline in health.    (May 12)
• Recertification can cost internists $945 or more.    (May 5)
• 18,000 doctors are also pilots.    (April 28)
• It would take 7.4 hours a day for primary care doctors to provide recommended preventive care.    (April 21)
• California EDs lost $390 million in uncompensated care last fiscal year.    (April 14)
• 90% of adverse drug reactions go unreported.    (April 7)
• Commuting to work is riskier than receiving a smallpox vaccination.    (March 24)
• The federal government loses $28 billion a year from costs of liability insurance and defensive medicine.    (March 17)
• Only 20% of insurance claims are paid properly the first time.    (March 10)
• Half of males and 40% of females on spring break drink until they vomit or pass out, at least once.    (March 3)
• The number of Americans 65 or older will double by 2030.    (Feb. 24)
• Childhood vaccines were 38 times more expensive in 2001 than in 1975.    (Feb. 17)
• 12 million doses of flu vaccine for the 2002-03 season were still unsold in February 2003.    (Feb. 10)
• Two quarts of mucous flow each day from the sinuses into the nose.    (Feb. 3)
• $1.4 trillion was spent on health care in 2001, about $5,000 per person.    (Jan. 27)
• 70% of older teens have used the Internet to look up health information.    (Jan. 20)
• Administrative costs account for 40% of the price of an individually purchased health plan.    (Jan. 13)
• 58% of the public fears a smallpox attack.    (Jan. 6)

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