MMWR News Synopsis
Friday, November 9, 2018
- Tobacco Product Use Among Adults — United States, 2017
- Firearm Homicides and Suicides in Major Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2012–2013 and 2015–2016
- Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Prediabetes and Leisure-Time Physical Inactivity and Obesity Among Adults with These Conditions — United States, 2009–2016
- Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, January 2017–September 2018
- Notes from the Field
- QuickStats
Tobacco Product Use Among Adults — United States, 2017
CDC Media Relations
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Although cigarette smoking among U.S. adults has declined considerably, the tobacco product landscape has evolved in recent years to include a variety of smoked, smokeless, and electronic products. To assess estimates of tobacco product use among U.S. adults 18 years or older, CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) analyzed data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey. In 2017, approximately 47 million (1 in 5) U.S. adults currently used any tobacco product, and an estimated 14 percent of adults were current cigarette smokers, down from 15.5 percent in 2016. Among current tobacco product users, about 87 percent (41 million) smoked combustible tobacco products, and 19 percent (9 million) used two or more tobacco products. These findings highlight the importance of evidence-based, population-level strategies to accelerate progress toward reducing tobacco-related death and disease in the United States. These strategies include tobacco price increases, high-impact anti-tobacco mass-media campaigns, comprehensive smoke-free laws, barrier-free access to tobacco-cessation counseling and approved medications, and FDA regulation of tobacco products.
Firearm Homicides and Suicides in Major Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2012–2013 and 2015–2016
CDC Media Relations
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Firearm homicide and suicide rates rose between 2012–2013 and 2015–2016 in the 50 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas. Firearm homicides and suicides pose a continuing public health concern in the United States. This report presents statistics on firearm homicides and firearm suicides for 2012–2013 and 2015–2016 in the 50 most populous U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Firearm homicide rates in large metro areas and the nation have risen back to rates similar to those seen during 2006–2007. Firearm suicide rates among people of all ages continued to increase, both nationally and in large MSAs overall. The firearm suicide rate among 10- to 19- year-olds remains lower than the all-ages rate but has increased both nationally and in large MSAs.
Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Prediabetes and Leisure-Time Physical Inactivity and Obesity Among Adults with These Conditions — United States, 2009–2016
CDC Media Relations
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Arthritis affects 32 percent of U.S. adults with prediabetes – more than 26 million people. More than half of these adults are physically inactive or obese, further increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes. Health care providers and public health professionals can address arthritis-specific barriers to being physically active among adults with prediabetes by counseling patients about the benefits of physical activity for relieving arthritis pain, and by promoting evidence-based arthritis intervention programs such as EnhanceFitness, Walk with Ease, Fit & Strong, and Active Living Everyday. Furthermore, participation in the National Diabetes Prevention Program can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes among adults with prediabetes and arthritis.
Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, January 2017–September 2018
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
Pakistan is one of three countries remaining in the world with endemic wild poliovirus. Poliovirus cases in Pakistan continued to decrease with only four cases reported in the 2018 MMWR (down from eight cases in 2017). The country is actively trying to eradicate poliovirus, but complete eradication requires critical activities: stop virus transmission in reservoir areas, reach missed and mobile populations, counter refusals, coordinate eradication efforts with neighboring Afghanistan, and continue high quality surveillance and vaccination activities. Pakistan is one of only three countries (Afghanistan and Nigeria) that has never interrupted wild poliovirus (WPV1). In 2017, Pakistan saw a 60 percent decrease in cases from 2016, reporting eight cases compared to 20 cases in 2016. As of September 18, 2018, only four cases of WPV1 have been reported in comparison with five cases at this time in 2017. To continue this downward curve of fewer cases until interruption, we must combat ongoing poliovirus circulation in reservoir areas and improve routine vaccination coverage in areas where routine immunization coverage with oral polio vaccine is sub-optimal, such as the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tribal Districts (KP-TD) of Pakistan, where coverage is 50% or less.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.
