Epidemiology News and Research

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Study finds no evidence to suggest mild COVID-19 may cause long-term kidney damage

A new study of over 13 million people in England has found no evidence to suggest mild COVID-19 infection may cause long-term kidney damage.

19 Jun 2025

Cognitive decline tied to gut microbes and nutritional access

A new study led in part by Mount Sinai researchers has found a compelling link between the composition of the gut microbiome and the risk of cognitive impairment (RCI) in adults, underscoring the complex role that both biology and social determinants-such as food insecurity-play in brain health.

18 Jun 2025

Can a Japanese diet help with depression? Large study says yes

A large cross-sectional study of 12,499 Japanese workers found that higher adherence to traditional or modified Japanese diets was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that culturally rooted dietary patterns may support mental well-being, especially among educated adults.

18 Jun 2025

Cannabis use associated with increased risk of stroke and heart attacks

Cannabis use is linked to a doubling in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, with significantly heightened risks of having a stroke or acute coronary syndrome-sudden reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart-finds a pooled analysis of real world data, published online in the journal Heart.

18 Jun 2025

Heart disease markers may predict future cancer risk

Cancer and heart disease, two leading causes of death worldwide, may be more connected than we previously thought, according to a new UCLA Health study revealing that certain cardiac blood markers can strongly predict future cancer risk-even in people with no history or symptoms of heart disease.

18 Jun 2025

Colorectal cancer patients fare better when diagnosed before other cancers

A new study using one of the world's largest cancer registries shows that patient outcomes can be significantly impacted depending on when colorectal cancer (CRC) is diagnosed related to other cancers.

17 Jun 2025

Instant coffee may damage your eyes, genetic study finds

Researchers used genomic and Mendelian randomization analyses in over 500,000 individuals to reveal a statistically significant causal link between instant coffee intake and increased risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). No such risk was found for ground or decaffeinated coffee.

17 Jun 2025

Study reveals hidden mortality crisis among Indigenous Americans

A new study in JAMA reveals the "statistical erasure" of Indigenous Americans, finding that the gap between AI/AN life expectancy and the national average was 2.9 times greater than official vital statistics indicate.

16 Jun 2025

Drinking black coffee may help lower risk of death

While you're probably not pouring your morning cup for the long-term health benefits, coffee consumption has been linked to lower risk of mortality.

16 Jun 2025

Cardiovascular deaths surge among less educated Americans

About 525,000 more deaths occurred among US adults in 2023 than would be expected had pre-2010 mortality trends continued. More than 90 percent of these deaths occurred among individuals without a Bachelor's degree and were largely caused by cardiovascular diseases, underscoring how educational attainment can influence individuals' health opportunities and outcomes.

14 Jun 2025

WHO warns of ORVO as outbreaks surge and health risks rise

Oropouche virus poses a growing public health risk, with recent outbreaks in Brazil and Cuba. The WHO report calls for urgent global preparedness measures.

13 Jun 2025

Peripheral arterial disease leads to more leg amputations in deprived communities

Leg amputation rates caused by arterial disease are four times as high in the most disadvantaged areas in England.

12 Jun 2025

VR training tool helps clinicians improve infection control practices

Infection control researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed a virtual reality (VR) tool to train clinicians on core concepts in infection control, including cleaning and disinfecting portable medical equipment, to prevent the spread of infections throughout healthcare facilities.

12 Jun 2025

Long term use of desogestrel linked to small increase in brain tumor risk

Taking the progestogen-only contraceptive pill desogestrel continuously for more than five years is associated with a small increased risk of developing a type of brain tumor called an intracranial meningioma, finds a study from France published by The BMJ today.

12 Jun 2025

Rutgers study challenges FDA warning on antiseizure drug

Rutgers Health researchers found that lamotrigine, a widely prescribed antiseizure medication, to be safe in older adults with epilepsy, contrary to a safety warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

11 Jun 2025

Why choosing different foods each day could lower your diabetes risk

A large European study found that consuming a greater variety of plant-based proteins, vegetables, and major food groups is linked to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The protective effect was strongest in women and individuals without central obesity.

11 Jun 2025

Chikungunya vaccine could stop millions of infections worldwide, study finds

A landmark global modeling study reveals that more than 2.8 billion people in 104 countries are at risk of chikungunya, with up to 35 million infections annually. Strategic deployment of the IXCHIQ vaccine could prevent thousands of infections and deaths each year.

11 Jun 2025

Recombinant zoster vaccine well tolerated by patients with inflammatory RMD

Herpes zoster (HZ) is common in older people, with a lifetime risk of 25%. The main risk factors are advanced age and immunosuppression. People with a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease have an overall higher risk for shingles.

11 Jun 2025

Using health records and location data to identify asthma triggers

Indoor allergens such as cockroaches, dust, and mold are known to contribute to a range of health complications, including childhood asthma, which is the leading pediatric chronic disease in the United States and one that disproportionately affects Black and Latino children.

11 Jun 2025

Waist-to-height ratio found to predict liver damage better than BMI

Excess fat mass estimated by waist circumference-to-height ratio predicts the risk of liver damage better than body mass index (BMI) estimated obesity, a new study shows.

11 Jun 2025