FDA campaign prevented 450,000 youth from starting e-cigarette use in 1 year; surgery for mild sleep-disordered breathing in children; regular exercise prior to hospitalizations – Morning Medical Update

FDA campaign prevented nearly 450,000 youth from starting e-cigarette use in 1 year

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that the FDA’s youth e-cigarette prevention campaign, “The Real Cost,” helped prevent an estimated 444,252 young Americans from starting e-cigarette use between 2023 and 2024. The campaign contributed to a nearly 70% decline in youth vaping since 2019, bringing usage to its lowest level in a decade. FDA officials emphasized the importance of prevention efforts, noting that early tobacco use often leads to lifelong addiction.

Surgery for mild sleep-disordered breathing in children reduces doctor visits, medication use

Adenotonsillectomy, a common surgery to remove enlarged tonsils and adenoids, significantly lowers healthcare visits and prescription medication use in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), according to an NIH-funded study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers found that children who had the surgery experienced 32% fewer medical visits and used 48% fewer prescriptions compared to those receiving supportive care. The findings suggest potential long-term health benefits of early intervention for SDB, which affects up to 17% of U.S. children and can lead to respiratory and behavioral issues.

Regular exercise prior to hospitalization linked to favorable heart failure outcomes

A new study from Juntendo University, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, suggests that older adults with heart failure who exercised regularly before hospitalization had better physical function and lower mortality rates post-discharge. Analyzing data from over 1,200 patients, researchers found that those with pre-hospitalization exercise habits had greater grip strength, faster walking speeds, and a reduced risk of death.