Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5759

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Charatan F.
US journal in row over sponsored supplement
BMJ 2006 Aug 5; 333:(7562):277
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/short/333/7562/277-a?etoc%3e

Abstract:

The American Journal of Cardiology is at the centre of a publication ethics row after publishing a supplement sponsored by the drug company Pfizer funded for $55 800 (£29 900; 43 700). The supplement contained recommendations for screening that were not only of dubious clinical worth but would have had huge financial implications for the US health budget.

Pfizer manufactures the cholesterol treatment atorvastatin (Lipitor). The supplement suggested screening asymptomatic older US men and women for evidence of coronary artery calcium, using computed axial tomography scans, and carotid intima media thickness and plaque using ultrasonography (BMJ 2006;333: 168, 22 Jul)

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommended in February 2004 not using routine screening with electron beam computed tomography as it was likely to cause harms outweighing any theoretical benefits in asymptomatic older US citizens.

“While it’s certainly true that lots of people die . .