Research

        Soft risk: Asking heart disease patients about the severity of their symptoms and limitations on quality of life might be a better way to determine which patients are more likely to suffer heart attacks and die.

        Dr. John A. Spertus, an associate professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and director of outcomes research at the Mid America Heart Institute, developed the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, a 19-question survey that asks patients to what degree chest pain limits their activity, how often they suffer chest pain and how it affects their quality of life.

        Such information is considered “soft” data, Dr. Spertus says. “But this study shows that these measurements are not as "soft' as one might think, and they are associated with "hard' end points, including hospitalization and death.”

        The questionnaire is the first disease-specific survey to predict death and heart attack rates, Dr. Spertus says.

        The study showed that patients who reported the highest degree of limitation were four times more likely to die of a heart attack than patients who were the least limited by chest pain and other factors, even when age, heart failure, high blood pressure and diabetes were figured into the equation.

        Dr. Spertus says the questionnaire could be used to augment more expensive diagnostic tests, such as the nuclear stress test.

Help wanted

        Drug study: Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals is conducting research on a new testosterone patch for women experiencing decreased sexual desire due to menopause or hysterectomy. For information, call (866) 409-6626.

Tips

        Safer sun: The experts at Children's Medical Center in Dayton offer these tips to help reduce children's risk of incurring sun damage and skin cancer:

        • Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Keep the skin covered with light clothing. Some sunscreens are now safe to use on infants under 6 months.

        • Children should wear a shirt whenever possible in the sun — even while swimming.

        • Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or more. Apply it 15 to 20 minutes before children go outside, and re-apply every two hours or after swimming.

        • Wear a hat. Ball caps should be angled so the bill protects the face. Hats with wider brims help shield ears and other areas.

        • Teach teens to examine their skin, nails, palms and soles of the feet for skin changes and spots.

        • Try to avoid the sun between 10 and 4 and wear extra protection during those hours.

        • Make sure schools and child-care providers know about sun protection.

Shelf help

        Life plan: Control Diabetes in 6 Easy Steps (St. Martin's Press; $5.99) by Maggie Greenwood-Robinson looks at the role diet, supplements and herbs, medication, exercise, medical testing and stress reduction play in managing diabetes.

Siting

        Click here: Thinking of trying an online pharmacy? Check out www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline, which contains advice and warnings from the Food and Drug Administration about buying medication and medical supplies over the Web.

        Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone: 768-8510; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: pofarrell@enquirer.com.

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