Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Sexual Abuse Survey Finds 1 In 4 College Athletes Experienced Abuse
USA Today: 1 In 4 College Athletes Say They Experienced Sexual Abuse From An Authority Figure, Survey Finds
For Evan Cooper, who grew up playing football in Miami, becoming a star defensive back who never missed a game at a major college such as the University of Michigan was “a dream come true.” But during his time on campus in the early 1980s, he became one of the hundreds of U of M survivors who have accused late athletic doctor Robert Anderson of sexual assault and misconduct. Cooper, 59, who sued the university along with dozens of anonymous male athletes last August, said he wasn’t fully aware at the time that he was being abused, and he didn’t want to come forward and jeopardize his spot on the football team. (Yancey-Bragg, 8/26)
In news about breast cancer —
CIDRAP: Breast Cancer Screening Rates Decreased During COVID-19
Across 32 US community health centers (CHCs), breast cancer screening rates dropped 8% from 2019 to 2020, and minorities and uninsured people were disproportionately affected, according to a Cancer study today. All sites included were part of an American Cancer Society grant program that worked to address disparities in breast cancer mortality through 2020. (8/26)
Stat: Does Breast Density Matter For Older Women’s Risk Of Cancer?
Breast density is a known risk factor for developing breast cancer, but that well-accepted research finding is derived from studies conducted in women under age 75. That makes sense because breast density declines with age, but cancer epidemiologist Dejana Braithwaite of the University of Florida’s Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program wondered about older women: How much does density drop, and how much might it matter? (Cooney, 8/27)
In updates on the western wildfires and air pollution —
The Washington Post: Wildfires Prompt Air Quality Alerts Across The West
Thick smoke blanketed the area around Reno, Nev., in recent days, plumes wafting over the mountains from wildfires burning in Northern California and settling in the valley, fueling record bad air quality.This week, the area experienced its top three worst air pollution days on record, according to Washoe County officials. ... In several states across the West, smoke from the largest of numerous active blazes is prompting warnings about the air quality. Alerts warning the public about pollution levels remained in effect Thursday in parts of Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming, according to a map on the National Weather Service website, largely because of wildfire smoke. Such alerts were also issued in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin because of smoke drifting from the Greenwood Fire burning in northeast Minnesota. (Firozi and Levitt, 8/26)
Axios: California Fires Emit Hazardous Smoke
Towns in northern and central California registered some of the worst air quality in the world Thursday because of smoke from wildfires burning in the state, according to data from the federal government. Microscopic particles suspended in wildfire smoke are a danger to the public and have been linked to decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, heart attacks and premature death in people with heart and lung disease, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Knutson, 8/26)
In other public health news —
CIDRAP: Rates Of US Veteran Suicidal Thoughts Dipped Slightly During COVID-19
US veteran suicide ideation (SI) rates showed a slight decrease during the first year of the pandemic, according to a JAMA Psychiatry study yesterday. Among the associated risks, however, was having COVID-19, which doubled the odds of SI. (8/26)
CIDRAP: Bear Study Shows Environmental Impact Of Antibiotic Use
For the study, the researchers collected dental calculus from 57 Swedish brown bear samples at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. The samples dated from 1842 to 2016. Their aim was to analyze the DNA from the bears' oral microbiome, which is preserved within the calcified dental plaque, to establish how AMR levels have changed in the environment before and after mass production of antibiotics. The researchers chose to analyze bears because bears are omnivores and scavengers who are exposed to a wide range of potential sources of AMR genes and antibiotic residues that leak into the environment from hospitals and farms through wastewater. (Dall, 8/26)
The Wall Street Journal: Peloton Slashes Price On Exercise Bike, Predicts Slowing Growth
Peloton Interactive Inc. on Thursday lowered by 20% the price of its original stationary bike, a move that comes as the company expects more muted growth in the coming year. The lowest-cost Peloton Bike will sell for $1,495, down from $1,895. The higher priced Bike+ still goes for $2,495. The company sent out marketing emails minutes after disclosing the change along with its financial results. (Terlep, 8/26)
