The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a report linking low health literacy to higher risk of death and more emergency room visits and hospitalizations.  The report is titled "Health Literacy interventions and outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review".  It is an update to their 2004 literature review and features findings from more than 100 new studies. 

The report's authors found a link between low health literacy and lower likelihood of geting flu shots and of understanding medical labels and instructions and a greater likelihood of taking medicines incorrectly compared with adults with higher health literacy. 

Former MHLP member, Michelle Brasure, PhD, Project Director, Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota was one of the investigators involved in this project.

To view the report, visit http://www/ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/lituptp.htm.