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MMWR
Synopsis for January 16, 2004

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EST

  1. Medical Expenditures Attributable to Injuries ― United States, 2000
  2. Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule — United States, January–June 2004
  3. Declining Prevalence of Adults with No known Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke — United States, 1991–2001
  4. Preliminary Assessment of the Effectiveness of the 2003–04 Influenza Vaccine — Colorado, December 2003
  5. Update: Influenza Activity — United States, January 4–10, 2004
  6. Press Release: New Report Highlights U.S. Medical Cost Due to Injuries
MMWR Telebriefing is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2004

Synopsis for January 16, 2004

Medical Expenditures Attributable to Injuries ― United States, 2000

Injuries are a critical public health problem and a tremendous economic burden.

PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communications

CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
(770) 488–4902
 

Every day, children are abused, teenagers are killed in car crashes, and older adults are injured in falls. Injuries are a critical public health problem, just like heart disease and cancer. For children, injuries are the leading cause of death. This study examined the medical costs of injuries in 2000 and found that injury-attributable medical expenditures cost an estimated $117 billion, approximately 10% of total medical expenditures. Most injuries are preventable. CDC provides communities and decision makers with scientific evidence on which injury prevention interventions are effective. Effective interventions, which would save lives and reduce the cost of injuries, include: increasing use of child restraint systems, smoke alarm programs, and multifaceted programs to prevent falls among older adults.


Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule — United States, January–June 2004

On-time immunization is the most effective way to protect children and adolescents from the risks of vaccine preventable diseases.

PRESS CONTACT:
Gregory Wallace, MD, MS, MPH

CDC, National Immunization Program
(404) 639–8257
 

Each year, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviews the recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule to ensure that it is current with changes in manufacturers' vaccine formulations and contains revised recommendations for the use of licensed vaccines, including those newly licensed. The recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule for January – July 2004 is presented. In addition, a catch-up immunization schedule for children and adolescents who start late or who are >1 month behind is presented. The catch-up schedule was introduced for the first time in 2003 and remains the same in content. The recommendations and format have been approved by the ACIP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.


Declining Prevalence of Adults with No known Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke — United States, 1991–2001

The percentage of individuals with no reported risk factors for heart disease and stroke is decreasing.

PRESS CONTACT:
Clark Denny, PhD

CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 488–2424
 

Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death for men and women in the United States. The percentage of people with no known risk factors for heart disease and stroke decreased from 42% to 36% between 1991 and 2001. The percentages of persons with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity have increased during the decade. The decrease in persons with no known risk factors suggest that a decreased percentage of U.S. adults have no recognized risk factors for heart disease and stroke; and thus, may lead to higher healthcare costs in the future. As we begin the New Year, individuals and clinicians should renew their commitment to controlling weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking cessation.


Preliminary Assessment of the Effectiveness of the
2003–04 Influenza Vaccine — Colorado, December 2003

PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations

CDC, Office of Communications
(404) 639–3286
 

No summary available.

 

 

 


Update: Influenza Activity — United States,
January 4–10, 2004

PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations

CDC, Office of Communications
(404) 639–3286
 

No summary available.

 

 

 


Press Release

Embargoed until 12 PM, EST January 15, 2004
Contact: CDC Injury Press Office
(770-488-4902)

New Report Highlights U.S. Medical Cost Due to Injuries

Injuries cost the United States an estimated $117 billion in medical fees each year suggests a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This estimate represents approximately ten percent of total medical spending and is similar in magnitude to the medical costs associated with other leading public health concerns such as obesity and smoking.

“The medical costs associated with injuries are staggering but it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. “When we add in productivity losses, decreased quality of life and the emotional toil that injuries and disabilities have on families, the problem is enormous.”

The report, “Medical Expenditures Attributable to Injuries in the United States, 2000” published in the January 16 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), revealed that approximately 16 percent of the civilian, non-institutionalized population in the United States reported treatment for at least one injury in 2000. Falls accounted for at least 33 percent of the total medical cost of injuries and motor vehicle crashes accounted for at least 18 percent.

“Motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicide, and debilitating falls are so common that unfortunately many have accepted that injury is inevitable,” said Dr. Gerberding. “This is tragic because so many injuries are preventable.”

Dr. Sue Binder, director of the CDC Injury Prevention Center, said that communities can have a dramatic impact on reducing injuries by implementing prevention programs that work. “We know that seat belts and child safety seats and smoke alarms are effective. And we can prevent falls among older adults through exercise programs that include balance training, vision correction, and reduction of medications to the fewest number and doses, and environmental changes.”

Researchers noted that the actual cost of injuries is much greater than the estimate reported above, which is solely limited to medical costs. Lost wages, caregiver costs and non-medical costs resulting from injuries are likely to exceed the medical burden of injuries. A future CDC study will examine the costs of injuries from this broader perspective.

This report can be found at CDC’s web site. For more information about CDC’s Injury Prevention programs, link to www.cdc.gov/injury.

 


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