Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increased fracture risk in older adults, but not in those under 48 years, a new study found. 

Among 5,519 participants, 44.5% had OSA, and 13% reported a prior physician-diagnosed fracture. Adults aged 59–91 years with OSA had more than three-fold higher odds of non-traumatic fractures (OR 3.68), with a similar pattern observed in those aged 48–58 years. 

No significant association was seen in adults younger than 48 years. Notably, older adults with both OSA and poor sleep quality had an even higher risk of traumatic fractures compared with those with OSA alone (OR 1.64). 
The findings suggest fracture risk assessment and fall-prevention strategies should be considered in older patients with OSA, particularly when sleep quality is impaired.

Source: Spring Nature | [Read full story](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-025-25593-w)

Sleep Apnea Heightens Non-Traumatic Fracture Risk in Older Adults

Zinc deficiency emerged as a clinically relevant issue in the first year after bariatric surgery, a new meta-analysis showed. 

Pooled data from 12 studies including 2,529 patients demonstrated a consistent postoperative decline in serum zinc levels. At 3 months, changes were minimal (SMD −0.12), but significant reductions were evident by 6 months and 1 year (SMD −0.36 and −0.35, respectively). Zinc depletion was most pronounced after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and mini-gastric bypass, whereas sleeve gastrectomy was not associated with meaningful changes. By 2 years, zinc levels appeared to stabilize across procedures. 

The findings highlight the need for routine zinc monitoring and procedure-specific supplementation during the first postoperative year to prevent deficiency-related complications.

Source: Taylor & Francis | [Read full story](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890.2025.2608532?af=R#abstract)

Early Zinc Deficiency Common after Bariatric Surgery; Routine Monitoring Advised	

Specific dietary habits were associated with clinical remission in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a large study noted. 

Overall, 56.4% of 2514 patients with either Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) showed clinical remission. In CD, remission was more likely in patients reporting higher fruit intake (aOR 1.60), regular coffee consumption (aOR 1.57), and adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (aOR 1.39). In UC, remission was associated with fruit (aOR 1.72) and salad consumption (aOR 1.73). A broadly defined “healthy diet” pattern showed no independent association. 

The findings reinforce that diet and disease activity are closely linked in IBD and support individualized, diet-informed discussions as part of routine management.

Source: Science Direct | [Read full story](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1590865825012253?dgcid=rss_sd_all)

Dietary Patterns Influence Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease	

Patients with pneumoconiosis had a higher incidence of cataracts than matched controls (38.9 vs 35.3 per 1,000 person-years), with elevated risk seen across ages and sexes. 

**Key Findings:**
- Pneumoconiosis was associated with a 22% increased cataract risk (aHR 1.22). 
- Pneumoconiosis was associated with a 22% higher cataract risk (aHR 1.22), consistent in men (aHR 1.22) and women (aHR 1.20), and highest among adults aged ≥75 years (aHR 1.24). 
- Even patients without other comorbidities had a 12% higher risk (aHR 1.12). 
- Systemic corticosteroid exposure was not independently linked to cataract development. 

The findings suggest cataracts represent an under-recognized long-term complication of pneumoconiosis, supporting routine eye surveillance in this population.

Source: BMJ | [Read full story](https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/12/e110999?rss=1)

Pneumoconiosis Associated with 22% Higher Cataract Risk	

New findings found a connection between maternal perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) symptoms and poor parent-reported infant health and developmental outcomes at 1 year. 

Infants of mothers with PMAD symptoms had more than double the odds of being rated in mediocre or poor overall health versus those whose mothers reported no symptoms (9.4% vs 4.3%; aOR 2.1). They were also significantly more likely to have at least one growth or developmental concern (19.2% vs 13.0%; aOR 1.7). Associations were strongest when PMAD symptoms persisted into the late postpartum period (12–14 months), rather than being confined to early postpartum months. Anxiety symptoms showed stronger links than depressive symptoms alone. 

The findings underscore the importance of ongoing postpartum mental health screening and support, with potential implications for early identification of infants at risk.

Source: BMJ | [Read full story](https://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2025/12/24/archdischild-2025-329394)

Persistent Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Have Greater Impact on Infant Outcomes	

Sustained exposure to elevated blood pressure in childhood markedly increased the risk of hypertension decades later, a 38-year Finnish study showed. 

Tracking more than 3,500 individuals from ages 3–18 into mid-adulthood, researchers found strong correlations between childhood and adult blood pressure. Compared with those in the lowest exposure quartile, long-term risk of hypertension was nearly fourfold higher in women (HR 3.85) and more than doubled in men (HR 2.66). Associations persisted into ages 40–58 years. 

The findings underscore that cumulative blood pressure burden, rather than isolated childhood readings, drives lifetime hypertension risk and supports early, sustained monitoring and preventive intervention.

Source: AHA Journal | [Read full story](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.124.041805?af=R)

From Childhood to Midlife: Blood Pressure Exposure Shapes Hypertension Risk	

In a study of 260 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, greater severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) was closely tied to cardiovascular complications. 

Those with established cardiovascular disease had more advanced neuropathy, longer diabetes duration, higher hypertension prevalence, and poorer renal markers than those without events. 

Severe DPN (score > 4) doubled cardiovascular risk, showing 73% higher odds in unadjusted analysis and a two-fold increase after adjustment (OR 1.73; aOR 2.07). Each one-point increase in neuropathy score was associated with a 9% higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease (OR 1.09). 

The findings suggest neuropathy severity may serve as a practical marker to flag patients who warrant intensified cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention strategies.

Source: Nature | [Read full story](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-31797-2)

Severe Diabetic Neuropathy Doubles Cardiovascular Risk in Type 2 Diabetes

Oropharyngeal colonization with Helicobacter pylori was associated with both increased risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and poorer post-diagnosis outcomes. 

**Key Findings:**

- In an analysis of 220 high-risk individuals and 220 patients with HNSCC, H. pylori positivity was more frequent in cancer cases (43.6% vs 32.7%). 
- Colonization independently raised HNSCC risk by 50% (HR 1.50), with stronger associations seen in patients harboring higher bacterial loads or virulent cagA- and vacA s1/m1–positive strains. 
- Among patients with established HNSCC, H. pylori positivity tracked with higher recurrence (26.0% vs 16.9%), greater mortality (13.5% vs 8.1%), and significantly worse overall survival (HR 1.57). 

The findings position oropharyngeal H. pylori as a potential contributor to both tumor initiation and progression, possibly through interactions with local immune responses and co-existing infections.

Source: Nature | [Read full story](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-28593-3)

Oropharyngeal H. pylori Linked to Higher HNSCC Risk and Worse Outcomes	

Metabolic bariatric surgery resulted in significant biochemical and histologic improvements in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) among adolescents with severe obesity, new longitudinal data showed. 

Of 101 adolescents (mean age 17.5 years; mean body mass index 47.1 kg/m²), mean BMI fell by 12.9 kg/m² at one year. Liver enzymes improved in parallel, with mean alanine transaminase decreasing from 41 to 27 IU/L, although 35% of patients continued to show elevated levels. Among adolescents who underwent repeat liver biopsy, 50% had complete resolution of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis, and 50% achieved full fibrosis resolution, while the remainder improved to mild fibrosis. 

The findings support metabolic bariatric surgery as a therapeutic option for advanced pediatric MASLD, while highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance in patients with persistent biochemical abnormalities.

Source: JPEDS | [Read full story](https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(25)00485-8/abstract?rss=yes)

MASLD and Fibrosis Improve After Metabolic Bariatric Surgery in Severely Obese Adolescents

Patients with myocarditis faced a substantially higher risk of developing autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases than the general population, new data showed. 

**Key Findings:**

- In a study of 2,671 individuals with first-time myocarditis and more than 13,000 matched controls, the 10-year cumulative incidence of autoimmune disease was 7.2% in the myocarditis group vs 2.9% in controls. - - Risk was most pronounced early, with a more than ten-fold increase within the first 180 days after myocarditis (aHR 10.29), but remained elevated long term, exceeding two-fold beyond six months of follow-up (HR 2.45) over a median of 9.4 years. 
- Women were disproportionately affected, with 10.7% developing autoimmune disease within 10 years compared with 4.4% of female controls; corresponding rates in men were 5.6% and 2.2%. 
- All-cause mortality was also higher, with 10-year death rates of 26.7% after myocarditis vs 13.0% in controls.

Source: BMJ | [Read full story](https://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2025/12/24/archdischild-2025-329394)