D-dimer levels predict long-term risk of arterial and venous events, CVD mortality, and non-CVD noncancer mortality independent of other risk factors. D-dimer is also a significant predictor of cancer incidence and mortality. These results support an association of D-dimer with fatal events across multiple diseases and demonstrate that this link extends beyond 10 years' follow-up.

AstraZeneca.

Background: Childhood obesity is a significant global problem. Childhood obesity prevention interventions may be more effective when started very early in life before metabolic and behavioural patterns are established.Methods and findings: A prospectively planned, individual participant data metaanalysis of four randomized controlled trials. Participants were first-time mothers of term infants. Trial interventions commenced during pregnancy or early infancy and comprised education and support delivered via group sessions and/or home visits. Control group families accessed existing local well-child health care. The primary outcome was body mass index (BMI) z score at 18 to 24 months; 2196 mother-child dyads were available for analysis. Intervention children had lower BMI z scores at 18 to 24 months than control children (−0.12 adjusted mean; 95% confidence interval, −0.22 to −0.02, P = .017). There was some evidence that the BMI z score reduction was greater in settings with limited well-child health care programmes (interaction P value = .03).