The Dr. Skeptic blog lists 100 factoids about medicine, each drawn from medical reports — one factoid for each percentage in the range 1% to 100%, with a link to the source of that factoid. Here, below, are some items plucked from the entire list:
1% of population account for 1/5 of healthcare spending.2% prevalence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in primary care – and up to 25% incidence of “prolonged fatigue”.3% of boys in New Jersey have ‘Autism-spectrum disorder’.4% of adults have PLMD (Periodic Limb Movement Disorder – a bit like RLS: Restless Legs Syndrome).5% of adults have Restless Legs Syndrome.6% of patients in a primary care setting have a social anxiety disorder.7% of patients in a primary care setting have a panic disorder.8% of patients in a primary care setting have a general anxiety disorder.…34% of middle-aged Dutch have ‘forgetfulness’, which apparently has 342 causes, 35 types and 501 symptoms.35% of Americans are obese.36% of referrals for cardiac stents from patients with heart attacks were found to be ‘false positives’, subjecting them to increased risks. The medicalization of heart disease is total, and the intervention rate is too high.37% of men in the world have raised cholesterol (only another 14% and it would be normal).38% of US doctors have ‘burnout’.…96% of breast cancer patients considering chemotherapy rate “living as long as possible” as their No 1 priority, according to doctors. According the patients themselves, it is only 53%. This explains why chemo is universally recommended by doctors, as quality of life is not adequately taken into consideration.97% of people with celiac disease don’t even know they have it (so does that make it a problem or not?)98% of children treated with medication for ADHD are initially given Ritalin, a drug that is also used as substitute therapy for cocaine addiction, is dependency forming and is associated with numerous side effects including cardiac arrest, psychosis and suicidal ideation.99% of children screened at a New York school either previously had a tonsillectomy, or were assessed as needing one.100% is the current world death rate, and it is holding steady.