Abdominal symptoms . . . and other stories

Non-specific abdominal symptomsA database study of nearly half a million people who presented with symptoms of abdominal pain or bloating shows that just over 2% receive a diagnosis of cancer within the next 12 months. The likelihood of cancer was higher in patients older than 60. Blood tests were carried out in two thirds of patients. Abnormalities associated with increased risk of cancer included raised levels of ferritin, platelets, and inflammatory markers, anaemia, and low albumin (PLoS Med doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1004426).Stick to the guidelinesST segment elevation myocardial infarction carries a high risk of death in the days following the acute event. However, a study from Denmark of 19 000 people treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention finds that, in those who survived the first 90 days, mortality over the next 10 years is only a couple of percentage points higher than in age and sex matched population controls. Adherence to guideline recommended…
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