People with bipolar disorder 6 times more likely to die prematurely: Study
They are twice as likely to die from physical illnesses like heart and/or respiratory diseases, or cancer, with alcohol being a major contributing factor
According to a recent study published in BMJ Mental Health, individuals with bipolar disorder face a significantly higher risk of premature death compared to those without the condition.
The research revealed that people with bipolar disorder are six times more likely to die prematurely from external causes, such as accidents, violence, and suicide.
Additionally, they are twice as likely to die from physical illnesses like heart and/or respiratory diseases, or cancer, with alcohol being a major contributing factor.
The Finnish population-based study, conducted by researchers from Niuvanniemi Hospital in Finland, along with institutes from Sweden and the UK, aimed to shed light on the reasons behind the heightened risk of premature death among individuals with bipolar disorder.
While it has been known that such individuals face an elevated risk, the specific role of physical illnesses in this context had remained unclear until now.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental health condition characterised by extreme mood swings that include periods of intense euphoria or mania and episodes of deep depression.
Individuals with bipolar disorder experience alternating cycles of high energy, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and elation during manic phases, followed by periods of low energy, sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest or pleasure during depressive phases.
The shifts between these mood states can be intense and disruptive, impacting a person's ability to function in daily life.
For the study, researchers tracked 47,018 individuals with bipolar disorder, and monitored the participants over a period of 14 years (2004-2018).
The average age of the participants at the start of the study was 38 years, and the data was obtained from nationwide medical and social insurance registers. Of those identified, 57 per cent were women.
During the monitoring period, a total of 3,300 individuals with bipolar disorder (7 per cent) died, in contrast to 141,536 deaths observed in the general population without the condition.
The researchers calculated the heightened risk of death among those with bipolar disorder to be six times higher due to external causes and two times higher from physical illnesses.
The average age at the time of death among the participants was 50 years, and approximately two-thirds of the deaths occurred in men.
In the study, it was revealed that out of the 3,300 deaths recorded among individuals with bipolar disorder, 61 per cent (2027 deaths) were attributed to physical causes, while 39 per cent (1273 deaths) were externally caused.
Among the physically caused deaths, alcohol was identified as the leading factor, accounting for 29 per cent (595 deaths). Within this category, liver disease was responsible for nearly half of the deaths, followed by accidental alcohol poisoning and alcohol dependence.
The remaining physically caused deaths were attributed to various factors: heart disease and stroke accounted for 27 per cent, cancer for 22 per cent, respiratory disease for 4 per cent, diabetes for 2 per cent, and other causes for 15-16 per cent.
Regarding the externally caused deaths, suicide was the primary cause, making up 58 per cent of the total.
Within this group, almost half of the suicides were caused by the overdose of prescribed mental health medications, including those used for treating bipolar disorder.
"A balanced consideration between therapeutic response, potential serious long term somatic (physical) side effects of different medicines, and risk of cause-specific premature mortality is needed, especially in younger persons," the authors wrote in their paper.
"Targeting preventive interventions for substance abuse will likely reduce the mortality gap both due to external causes and somatic causes. Suicide prevention remains a priority, and better awareness of the risk of overdose and other poisonings is warranted," they said.
A new community-led initiative has been launched in the UK to provide culturally sensitive support for South Asian women navigating midlife and menopause.
The Sattva Collective, founded by certified Midlife and Menopause Coach Kiran Singh, officially launched on 14 May 2025 as a registered Community Interest Company (CIC). It is the first initiative in the UK focused specifically on the experiences of South Asian women during what Singh describes as a “deeply personal and often stigmatised” phase of life.
“South Asian women are navigating physical, emotional, and identity shifts in silence – often without the language, space, or support to talk about it,” Singh said. “The Sattva Collective is here to change that. We are reclaiming midlife as a powerful, transformative time – and doing it together.”
The name 'Sattva' is drawn from Sanskrit, referring to clarity, balance, and inner peace – values reflected in the collective’s approach.
The organisation will offer a range of services throughout the year, including:
Monthly community meet-ups in local cafés
Educational workshops on hormone health, mental well-being, and cultural stigma
An annual flagship Midlife Summit launching in January 2026
Public awareness campaigns and digital resources
One-to-one and group coaching sessions
Singh, who is of Indian heritage, aims to address the gaps in both mainstream and cultural conversations around menopause. According to her, many South Asian women face barriers to accessing support due to stigma, lack of awareness, and limited representation in public discourse.
The Sattva Collective is now preparing to roll out its 2025 programme and is actively seeking funding, sponsorship, and community partners to expand its reach and resources.
Describing midlife as “not a crisis, but a calling,” Singh hopes the initiative will empower more women to speak openly about their health and experiences, while building a supportive community.
Further details about upcoming events and resources will be made available through the collective’s official channels in the coming weeks.
Bella Hadid’s return to the Cannes Film Festival was anything but quiet. This year, the model showed up ready to challenge the red carpet rules without actually breaking them.
With new restrictions in place like no sheer fabrics, no visible nudity, no dramatic trains or bulky silhouettes, fashion-watchers wondered if Bella, known for her daring Cannes looks in the past, would tone it down. Instead, she found a clever way around the rules.
Her choice for the opening ceremony? A sleek black Saint Laurent dress with a high slit that climbed nearly to her hip. It was revealing but not banned. The asymmetrical cowl neckline and bare back added to the drama without crossing any lines. Paired with barely-there strappy heels, emerald statement earrings, and a ring, the outfit managed to be both understated and provocative.
Earlier in the day, she’d already turned heads arriving at Hotel Martinez in a white corset top and matching bootcut trousers, another Saint Laurent nod. Her honey-blonde updo, oversized sunglasses, and vintage accessories made it clear that Bella wasn’t here to just blend in.
And while the Met Gala missed her this year, Cannes got the full Hadid effect.
The model’s new hair colour, a shift from brunette to a summery honey blonde, felt like a fresh chapter. Soft waves framed her face, complementing the dark, moody tones of her red carpet outfit. Makeup stayed simple with smokey eyes, matte skin, and nude lips. No theatrics, pure elegance and confidence.
The most impressive part of it all? She managed to follow every rule while still standing out. While some stars played it safe under the stricter dress code, Bella turned the limits into a challenge. No sheer panels? Try bold cut-outs. No dramatic trains? Go for shape-hugging minimalism with impact.
Fashion at Cannes has always been about pushing boundaries. This time, Bella Hadid did it with precision, walking the tightrope between compliance and creativity.
A nationwide recall of five eye care products has been issued in the United States after concerns were raised about their sterility and manufacturing standards. BRS Analytical Services, LLC, the manufacturer of the affected products, has urged consumers to stop using them immediately due to potential safety risks.
The recall, shared in a press release by healthcare distributor AvKARE, affects more than 1.8 million cartons of eye drops. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified multiple violations during a recent audit, including failures to meet Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) standards.
CGMP regulations set the minimum requirements for the manufacturing, processing, and packaging of drug products to ensure their safety, quality, and efficacy. The FDA stated there is a “lack of assurance of sterility” in the recalled items, which could pose serious health risks to users.
The following products have been included in the recall:
Artificial Tears Ophthalmic Solution
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Gel 1%
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution
Lubricant Eye Drops Solution
Polyvinyl Alcohol Ophthalmic Solution
Although the company has not specified the exact health risks, it warned that the products are of “unacceptable quality” and that “it’s not possible to rule out patient risks resulting from use of these products.”
The recalled products were distributed from 26 May 2023 to 21 April 2025. Consumers in possession of any of the affected items are advised to discontinue use immediately and either return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them safely.
Customers are also encouraged to complete and submit the recall notice form, including the “Quantity to Return” section and their contact details. These can be sent via fax or email to AvKARE, even if the products are no longer in their possession.
The FDA has categorised the recall as a Class II, meaning there is a reasonable probability that use of the products could result in temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, or that serious harm is unlikely but possible.
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This may influence future decisions on treatment options for obesity patients
Eli Lilly announced on Sunday that its weight-loss drug, Zepbound, outperformed Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in a head-to-head trial, showing superior results across five weight-loss targets, including waist circumference reduction.
This trial, the first of its kind comparing the two widely used obesity medications, offers Eli Lilly a competitive advantage as it aims to secure broader insurance coverage in the rapidly growing obesity drug market, which is projected to exceed $150 billion annually by the next decade.
The results revealed that Zepbound helped nearly 25% more participants achieve a weight loss of over 15% compared to Wegovy. In addition, Zepbound demonstrated a more significant reduction in waist circumference, with an average decrease of 18.4 cm. In comparison, Wegovy participants saw an average reduction of 13 cm.
Novo Nordisk, in a statement sent via email on Monday, pointed out that the weight loss achieved by Wegovy in this trial was lower than what was observed in a 2021 trial with a similar dose. However, the company emphasised that Wegovy is the only GLP-1 agonist medicine approved to prevent major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, a critical benefit for patients with obesity. Novo also mentioned that a trial with a higher dose of semaglutide, Wegovy's active ingredient, conducted earlier this year, showed greater weight-loss results.
Lilly had previously reported in December that its obesity drug had already surpassed Wegovy, with patients treated with Zepbound losing 47% more weight than those who received Wegovy. These findings were also shared in a press release and presented at the European Congress on Obesity.
The timing of the trial results coincides with a recent decision by CVS Health to exclude Zepbound from some of its reimbursement lists, preferring Wegovy instead. This move highlights the ongoing competition between the two pharmaceutical giants in the obesity treatment space.
Zepbound mimics two gut hormones to support weight loss, while Wegovy relies on a single mode of action. In separate trials, Lilly's Zepbound helped patients lose more than 22% of their body weight after 72 weeks, while Wegovy led to a 15% reduction in weight after 68 weeks.
The growing competition in the weight-loss drug market is also impacted by another Eli Lilly medication, Mounjaro, which has shown positive results for diabetes and weight loss. With these advancements, Eli Lilly is positioning itself as a major player in the obesity treatment landscape.
These results reflect the growing rivalry in the weight-loss drug market and may influence future decisions on treatment options for obesity patients.
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The WHO forecasts a continued reduction in the global nursing shortage
The global nursing workforce has grown by nearly two million over the past five years, yet major disparities in distribution continue to impede progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) and global health goals, according to the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report released on 12 May by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Council of Nurses (ICN), and partners.
As of 2023, there are 29.8 million nurses worldwide, up from 27.9 million in 2018. The report also notes a decline in the global nursing shortage, from 6.2 million in 2020 to 5.8 million in 2023. However, the report cautions that the improvements are not evenly shared across regions and income levels, leaving many low- and middle-income countries struggling with persistent shortfalls.
A striking imbalance in nurse distribution persists: 78 per cent of the world’s nurses are based in countries that account for just 49 per cent of the global population. High-income nations host nearly half the global nursing workforce, despite representing only 17 per cent of the world’s population. This concentration has raised concerns that many countries are being left behind, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, where shortages are expected to remain critical.
The WHO forecasts a continued reduction in the global nursing shortage, projecting a shortfall of 4.1 million by 2030. However, almost 70 per cent of this gap is expected to be concentrated in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, which could seriously undermine healthcare delivery and preparedness for future health emergencies.
Low-income countries are seeing faster growth in nurse graduate numbers, yet many face challenges in translating this into increased nurse availability. Factors such as rapid population growth, limited job creation, and restricted resources mean these countries are unable to retain and integrate newly qualified nurses into the workforce. The report urges governments to prioritise domestic investment in health systems to ensure graduate absorption and improve employment conditions.
Meanwhile, high-income countries are experiencing a demographic shift in their nursing workforce. Around 19 per cent of nurses globally are expected to retire within the next decade. In some high-income nations, retirements are likely to exceed new entrants, raising the risk of workforce gaps and reduced mentoring capacity for younger nurses.
International migration continues to play a key role in shaping nursing workforces. Globally, one in seven nurses is foreign-born, with high-income countries depending on international recruitment for nearly a quarter of their workforce. By contrast, foreign-born nurses make up only 1–8 per cent of the workforce in lower-income countries. The report calls for stronger bilateral agreements to ensure ethical recruitment and mutual benefits for both source and destination countries.
Gender equity remains a central concern. Women comprise 85 per cent of the global nursing workforce, yet opportunities for advancement and leadership remain limited in many settings. While 82 per cent of countries report having a senior government nursing officer, only 25 per cent of low-income countries offer structured leadership development programmes for nurses.
The report also highlights progress in recognising advanced nursing roles, with 62 per cent of countries now reporting the existence of such positions, up from 53 per cent in 2020. Advanced practice nurses have been shown to enhance access to care, particularly in underserved areas.
Mental health and wellbeing support for nurses remains inadequate. Despite increased workloads and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 42 per cent of countries surveyed have formal provisions for mental health support. The lack of such measures is seen as a barrier to retaining experienced staff and ensuring quality care.
The State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report sets out key policy recommendations for the 2026–2030 period. These include expanding and equitably distributing nursing jobs, aligning education systems with workforce needs, improving pay and working conditions, and strengthening regulation and leadership. Additional priorities focus on preparing nurses for digital healthcare delivery, addressing gender pay gaps, and supporting those working in conflict zones and climate-affected areas.
Pam Cipriano, President of the ICN, said the report served as an “important milestone” in tracking global efforts to strengthen nursing. “Delivering on UHC depends on recognising the true value of nurses and empowering them to lead health system improvements,” she said.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the progress but warned that deep inequalities persist. “This report is a guide to where we are and what we must do next,” he said. “Countries must act quickly to close the gaps and support the nursing workforce.”
The report draws on data from 194 countries and is part of WHO’s efforts to monitor and strengthen the global health workforce as part of the push to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.