Health

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

EU funds heart project — 27 August 2008, 00:26 CET

The EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) has awarded EUR 14 million to a 4-year project, euHeart, for the improvement of the diagnosis, therapy and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The consortium comprises public and private partners from 16 research, academic, industrial and medical organisations from 6 European countries.

New guidelines for handling hay fever — 29 July 2008, 18:35 CET

Allergic rhinitis is one of the world's most common chronic diseases with over 600 million people affected across the globe. Now, thanks to the cooperative efforts of GA2LEN, Global Allergy and Asthma European Network, new guidelines have been drafted on the diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis.

More evidence for green tea and cardiovascular risk link — 27 July 2008, 10:18 CET

What is so special about green tea? Experts say this tea, which is rich in catechin polyphenols (i.e. compounds that have antioxidant activity), helps lower bad cholesterol levels, kills cancer cells and fights heart disease. New research by a team at the University of Athens Medical School in Greece adds more weight to the latter, highlighting that drinking green tea (Camellia sinesis) improves the function of endothelial cells lining the circulatory system. When endothelial cells dysfunction, atherosclerosis advances, thus increasing cardiovascular risk. The findings were recently published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

EU-PRIME okays EUR 7.56m work plan for Nigeria — 27 July 2008, 10:12 CET

The European Commission Delegation to Nigeria has given a thumbs up on the final work plan, the so-called 'Programme Estimate', for the European Union-Partnership to Reinforce Immunisation Efficiency (EU-PRIME) project, valued at €7.56 million against the first instalment of €2.3 million.

Excise duty on tobacco products - guide — 16 July 2008, 22:51 CET

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

European Health Insurance Card - guide — 16 July 2008, 11:36 CET

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

Back pain burns holes in European pockets — 09 July 2008, 23:45 CET

While people may think back pain is not completely selective in whom and more specifically which pocketbook it affects, a number of parameters may actually form the basis of the problem. A new German study, so-called 'Bottom-up', shows that gender, age, education and marital status may potentially affect the costs induced by back pain. For example, in just 12 months, the researchers found that more than two thirds of the German adult population suffers from back pain.

Cross Border Health Care — 03 July 2008, 23:33 CET

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

Trends in EU Health Care Systems — 02 July 2008, 18:14 CET

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

EU Food Law: Protecting Consumers and Health in a Common Market (Modern Studies in European Law) — 02 July 2008, 18:08 CET

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

Health Policy and European Union Enlargement (European Observatory on Health Care Systems) — 02 July 2008, 18:08 CET

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

Health Law and the European Union (Law in Context) — 02 July 2008, 17:48 CET

News, background information and web links about the public health policy of the European Union.

Help in sight for sufferers of Crohn's disease — 01 July 2008, 23:37 CET

An international team of researchers has identified 21 new genetic risk factors for Crohn's disease, bringing the total number of genes linked with the disease to 32. The findings may one day help researchers to develop new treatments for the disease.

European businesses not ready for potential flu pandemic — 13 June 2008, 17:18 CET

Businesses in Europe are not sufficiently prepared for a potential flu pandemic. This is the key finding of a new report entitled 'Business continuity planning and pandemic influenza in Europe', published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) — 12 June 2008, 15:25 CET

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was established in 2005. It is an EU agency with aim to strengthen Europe's defences against infectious diseases. It is seated in Stockholm, Sweden. ECDC's Mission is to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases.

Identifying Alzheimer's at an early stage — 11 June 2008, 00:01 CET

There are many different forms of dementia, but Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent and covers 50% to 70% of all dementia cases. At the moment there is no cure and no definite known cause. A new EU-funded project, PredictAD, is now underway; its mission is to develop diagnostic tools to predict Alzheimer's as early as possible.

EuroGentest already helping patients across Europe — 04 June 2008, 00:44 CET

Patients across the EU and associated states suffering from genetic conditions are already benefiting from work conducted within the framework of the EU-funded EuroGentest network of excellence (NoE), according to the network's coordinator and president elect of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG), Professor Jean-Jacques Cassiman. His comments were made during this year's European Human Genetics Conference, which ended on 3 June in Barcelona.

EU contributes EUR 40 million to fight against infectious diseases — 02 June 2008, 20:40 CET

The European Commission has promised EUR 40 million in funding to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). The amount signifies half of the EUR 80 million that the EDCTP has approved for research into the prevention of poverty-related diseases in Africa.

Study confirms link between birth weight, weight gain and heart trouble — 05 May 2008, 21:57 CET

Low-grade inflammation in adulthood can be brought on by small size at birth and excessive weight gain during teenage years. This inflammation can lead to an increased risk of developing heart disease as well as other cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, a team of UK and Finnish researchers have found. The work, which is partly-EU-funded, was recently published in The European Heart Journal.

New project to streamline diabetes research in Europe — 28 April 2008, 18:50 CET

Setting out a roadmap to guide diabetes research in Europe is the goal of a new EU-funded project called DIAMAP. The initiative, which is funded under the 'Health' theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) will analyse the current state of diabetes research in Europe to identify strengths and weaknesses. On the basis of this survey, it will draw up a roadmap for diabetes research in Europe.

European doctors catch the e-health bug — 28 April 2008, 18:46 CET

The majority of European doctors have caught the information technology (IT) bug, according to a new Europe-wide survey on e-health. In total, 87% of European doctors now use a computer in their practices, while 69% have an internet connection. However, lack of training, inadequate technical support and maintenance costs are preventing a wider take-up of e-health applications across Europe.

Pilot on eHealth indicators — 25 April 2008, 17:47 CET

Pilot on eHealth indicators: 'Benchmarking ICT use among General Practitioners in Europe' final report - the European Commission on 25 April published a pan-European survey on electronic services in healthcare (eHealth) that shows 87% of European doctors (General Practitioners) use a computer, 48% with a broadband connection. European doctors increasingly store and send patients' data such as lab reports electronically. In using such eHealth applications, doctors and medical services have already improved healthcare in Europe through, for example, more efficient administration and shorter waiting times for patients. The report also highlights where doctors could make better use of ICT to offer services such as telemonitoring, electronic prescriptions and cross border medical services.

Study reveals worrying state of European teens' health — 24 April 2008, 18:44 CET

Over a fifth of European teenagers are overweight or obese, and few adolescents follow dietary advice on fruit and vegetable intake. These are just two of the findings of the EU-funded HELENA ('Healthy lifestyle in Europe by nutrition in adolescence') project.

European cardiovascular disease statistics — 28 February 2008, 23:47 CET

This is the third edition of European cardiovascular disease statistics. The first edition was published in 2000 when the European Union consisted of 15 Member States. After enlargement in 2004 and then again in 2007, there are now 27 Member States. Much has changed in the last seven years, but cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main cause of death in the EU. European Heart Network - EHN - web site.

EU-funded study suggests link between acrylamide in food and breast cancer — 10 January 2008, 17:16 CET

Acrylamide in food could increase the risk of developing breast cancer, according to new, EU-funded research published in the International Journal of Cancer.