The Global Burden of Acute Diarrheal Disease: What Surveillance Shows

Dr. Kumar’s Take:

Before oral rehydration therapy was introduced, acute diarrheal disease killed millions each year—mostly infants and children. This WHO surveillance review quantified that burden and made the case for a global rehydration strategy. ORT didn’t just save lives—it reshaped the map of child mortality.

Key Takeaways:

✔ Acute diarrheal disease was once among the top three causes of global mortality.
✔ Children under five accounted for the vast majority of deaths.
✔ The introduction of ORT led to a rapid and sustained drop in global mortality.
✔ Surveillance data guided both WHO policy and ORT distribution programs.

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Coffee Reduces Mortality Risk: Prospective Cohort Evidence

Dr. Kumar’s Take

This landmark cohort analysis found that people who drink coffee tend to live longer, with lower deaths from several major causes. It is observational, so we cannot claim causation, but the pattern is consistent and aligns with other datasets and mechanisms.

Key Takeaways

• Habitual coffee intake is associated with lower all-cause mortality.
• Inverse associations extend to cardiovascular, neurologic, and metabolic causes in adjusted models.
• Signals appear in both caffeinated and decaf drinkers, implicating non-caffeine compounds.
• Lifestyle confounding is possible, but findings persist after extensive adjustment.

Actionable Tip

If you enjoy coffee and tolerate it well, 2–4 cups daily is compatible with favorable long-term outcomes. Keep added sugars minimal.

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