Global Scans · Illness · Weekly Summary

• In the US, estimates suggest that obesity accounts for more than 350,000 excess deaths per year, with other studies noting that an increased risk of death from all causes, and particularly from cancer and cardiovascular disease, is associated with obesity. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Ozempic, which is approved to treat diabetes, and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, approved to treat overweight and obesity, are both approved to lower the risk of heart disease risk by 20%. Time
• Chronically ill patients are expected to remain in the second position in 2026, as diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, COPD, kidney disease, and neurological disorders require continuous monitoring rather than occasional hospital visits. Persistence Market Research
• If doctors use the American Heart Association's new PREVENT tool, which considers blood sugar, kidney function and a person's decade-long risk for heart disease as well as blood pressure, some 81 million Americans would be eligible for blood pressure medications. CNN
• As populations age around the world, the number of people with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease is expected to rise. New Atlas
• Obesity is a major health problem worldwide and can raise the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. ScienceDaily
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine as health authorities respond to an ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease. Open Access Government
• Weight reduction of 15% in a population of 100,000 people could yield US$ 85 million in savings over five years through chronic disease prevention. Global X ETFs Australia
• Women taking HRT could have a slightly higher risk of many health issues, including heart disease, strokes, breast cancer, and dementia. Business Insider
• Heart disease remains the leading killer of people worldwide, and one of the key risk factors driving deaths is elevated levels of cholesterol. Time

Last updated: 01 November 2026