First study of these births in Austria highlights how to improve outcomes Vienna, Austria: The first detailed analysis of unplanned births that occurred outside the hospital setting in Austria has shown that, although such deliveries are rare, they pose challenges for emergency teams that attend, especially if babies are born prematurely [1]. In a study […]
‘Staggering’ costs of e-scooter injuries are quantified for the first time for hospitals in Ireland
Vienna, Austria: Injuries occurring to people who ride e-scooters cost Irish hospitals an average of €1,726 per patient, and researchers have calculated the total overall cost to one hospital in a single year was €128,650. Dr Thomas Suttie, a senior house officer in emergency medicine at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Abbotstown, Dublin, Ireland, told the European […]
Children with asthma who use at-home monitoring are half as likely to need hospital care
Children with asthma who use at-home monitoring are around half as likely to visit the emergency department or be hospitalised, compared to those who only receive care from their medical team, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [1]. Remote monitoring also helped keep children’s symptoms under […]
Specialised singing programmes can improve the symptoms and quality of life of people with lung disease
Singing can improve the quality of life of people with lung disease and help reduce their symptoms, according to a gold-standard randomised-controlled trial presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [1]. The study was presented by Professor Natasha Smallwood from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Professor Smallwood told the Congress: “Chronic breathlessness […]
Eating fruit may reduce the effects of air pollution on lung function
Eating fruit may reduce the effects of air pollution on lung function, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [1]. The study was presented by Pimpika Kaewsri, a PhD student from the Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability at the University of Leicester, UK. She explains: “Over 90% […]
Emergency medicine workers report job satisfaction, though burnout and staff retention remain major problems
Vienna, Austria: One of the largest international surveys into job satisfaction among emergency department workers has revealed that while the majority found their work satisfying and rewarding, there are still many areas where improvements are needed, according to research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress on Sunday [1]. The paper, “Global Job Satisfaction Among […]
Tiniest lung tumours that are hardest to reach can be diagnosed with robot-assisted bronchoscope
A cutting-edge bronchoscope that is guided with the help of a robot can reach very small tumours growing in hard-to-reach parts of the lung, according to results of a gold-standard randomised-controlled trial presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [1]. The robot-assisted bronchoscope also uses a specialised CT scanner to […]
Babies who grow up around dogs may have a lower risk of developing childhood asthma
— No protective effect found for living with cats — Babies exposed to dog allergens in the home have a lower risk of developing asthma by the age of five years, according to research that presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [1]. The researchers also studied babies’ exposure to […]
Molecular study of world’s oldest living person reveals new secrets of healthy ageing
When the oldest living person in the world died at just under 117 and a half years of age in August 2024, her own account of how she had managed to live for so long was already enough to inform practical interventions that can help ensure healthy ageing. But now, an international team of researchers […]
Laser correction for short-sightedness is safe and effective for older teenagers
Copenhagen, Denmark: A major study of laser correction for short-sightedness shows that the procedure is as safe and effective in older teenagers as it is in adults, according to research presented at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). [1] Short-sightedness, or myopia, affects around a third of children […]