scholarly journals Variation in general practitioners’ depression care following certification of sickness absence: a registry-based cohort study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharline Riiser ◽  
Inger Haukenes ◽  
Valborg Baste ◽  
Tone Smith-Sivertsen ◽  
Øystein Hetlevik ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Depression is more prevalent among women and people with low socio-economic status. Uncertainties exist about how general practitioner (GP) depression care varies with patients’ social position. Objective To investigate associations between patients’ gender and educational status combined and GP depression care following certification of sickness absence. Methods Nationwide registry-based cohort study, Norway, 2012–14. Reimbursement claims data from all consultations in general practice for depression were linked with information on socio-demographic data, social security benefits and depression medication. The study population comprised all individuals aged 25–66 years with taxable income, sick-listed with a new depression diagnosis in general practice in 2013 (n = 8857). We defined six intersectional groups by combining educational level and gender. The outcome was type of GP depression care during sick leave: follow-up consultation(s), talking therapy, medication and referral to secondary care. Associations between intersectional groups and outcome were estimated using generalized linear models. Results Among long-term absentees (17 days or more), highly educated women were less likely to receive medication compared to all other patient groups [relative risk (RR) ranging from 1.17 (95% confidence interval 1.03–1.33) to 1.49 (1.29–1.72)] and more likely to receive talking therapy than women with medium [RR = 0.90 (0.84–0.98)] or low [RR = 0.91 (0.85–0.98)] education. Conclusions Our findings suggest that GPs provide equitable depression care regarding consultations and referrals for all intersectional groups but differential drug treatment and talking therapy for highly educated women. GPs need to be aware of these variations to provide personalized care and to prevent reproducing inequity.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Ruths ◽  
Inger Haukenes ◽  
Øystein Hetlevik ◽  
Tone Smith-Sivertsen ◽  
Stefan Hjørleifsson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Depression is highly prevalent, but knowledge is scarce as to whether increased public awareness and strengthened government focus on mental health have changed how general practitioners (GPs) help their depressed patients. This study aimed to examine national time trends in GP depression care and whether trends varied regarding patient gender, age, and comorbidity. Methods Nationwide registry-based cohort study, Norway. The study population comprised all residents aged 20 years or older with new depression diagnoses recorded in general practice, 2009–2015. We linked reimbursement claims data from all consultations in general practice for depression with information on demographics and antidepressant medication. The outcome was type(s) of GP depression care during 12 months from the date of diagnosis: (long) consultation, talking therapy, antidepressant drug treatment, sickness absence certification, and referral to secondary mental health care. Covariates were patient gender, age, and comorbidity. The data are presented as frequencies and tested with generalized linear models. Results We included 365,947 new depression diagnoses. Mean patient age was 44 years (SD = 16), 61.9 % were women, 41.2 % had comorbidity. From 2009 to 2015, proportions of patients receiving talking therapy (42.3–63.4 %), long consultations (56.4–71.8 %), and referral to secondary care (16.6–21.6 %) increased, while those receiving drug treatment (31.3–25.9 %) and sick-listing (58.1–50 %) decreased. The trends were different for gender (women had a greater increase in talking therapy and a smaller decrease in sick-listing, compared to men), age (working-aged patients had a smaller increase in talking therapy, a greater increase in long consultations, and a smaller decrease in antidepressant drug use, compared to older patients) and comorbidity (patients with mental comorbidity had a smaller increase in talking therapy and a greater increase in long consultations, compared to those with no comorbidity and somatic comorbidity). Conclusions The observed time trends in GP depression care towards increased provision of psychological treatment and less drug treatment and sick-listing were in the desired direction according to Norwegian health care policy. However, the large and persistent differences in treatment rates between working-aged and older patients needs further investigation.


BJGP Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. BJGPO-2020-0122
Author(s):  
Anneli Borge Hansen ◽  
Valborg Baste ◽  
Oystein Hetlevik ◽  
Inger Haukenes ◽  
Tone Smith-Sivertsen ◽  
...  

BackgroundAntidepressant drugs are often prescribed in general practice. Evidence is conflicting on how patient education influences antidepressant treatment.AimTo investigate the association between educational attainment and drug treatment in adult patients with a new depression diagnosis, and to what extent sex and age influence the association.Design & settingA nationwide registry-based cohort study was undertaken in Norway from 2014–2016.MethodThe study comprised all residents of Norway born before 1996 and alive in 2015. Information was obtained on all new depression diagnoses in general practice in 2015 (primary care database) and data on all dispensed depression medication (Norwegian Prescription Database [NorPD]) 12 months after the date of diagnosis. Independent variables were education, sex, and age. Associations with drug treatment were estimated using a Cox proportional hazard model and performed separately for sex.ResultsOut of 49 967 patients with new depression (61.6% women), 15 678 were dispensed drugs (30.4% women, 33.0% men). Highly educated women were less likely to receive medication (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.88 to 0.98) than women with low education. No such differences appeared among men. Women aged 20–29 years were more likely to be treated with drugs than those aged 30–59 years, and women aged ≥70 years were more likely to receive drugs (HR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.54 to 1.77) than those aged 20–29 years. The pattern was similar but less pronounced for men.ConclusionEducational differences in antidepressant therapy among women may reflect different treatment approaches that clinicians should be aware of to avoid unintended variation. Reasons for this variation and consequences for quality of treatment should be explored.


BJGP Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. BJGPO.2020.0122
Author(s):  
Anneli Borge Hansen ◽  
Valborg Baste ◽  
Oystein Hetlevik ◽  
Inger Haukenes ◽  
Tone Smith-Sivertsen ◽  
...  

Background: Antidepressant drugs are often prescribed in general practice. Evidence is conflicting on how patient education influences antidepressant treatment. Aim: To investigate the association between educational attainment and drug treatment in adult patients with a new depression diagnosis, and how gender and age influence the association. Design and setting: Nationwide registry-based cohort study, Norway, 2014-2016. Method: The study comprised all residents of Norway born before 1996 and alive in 2015. We obtained information on all new depression diagnoses in general practice in 2015 (Primary Care Database) and data on all dispensed depression medication (Norwegian Prescription Database) 12-months after the date of diagnosis. Independent variables were education, gender, and age. Associations with drug treatment were estimated using a Cox proportional hazard model, for genders separately. Results: Out of 49,967 patients with new depression (61.6% women), 15,678 were dispensed drugs (30.4% women, 33.0% men). Highly educated women were less likely to receive medication (Hazard Ratio (HR) =0.93, 95% CI (0.88 – 0.98)) than women with low education. No such differences appeared among men. Women aged 20-29 were more likely to be treated with drugs than those aged 30-59, and women aged 70+ were more likely to receive drugs (HR=1.65, (1.54 – 1.77)) than those aged 20-29. The pattern was similar but less pronounced for men. Conclusion: Educational differences in antidepressant therapy among women may reflect different treatment approaches that clinicians should be aware of to avoid unintended variation. Reasons for this variation and consequences for quality of treatment should be


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2465-2466
Author(s):  
Iustin Olariu ◽  
Roxana Radu ◽  
Teodora Olariu ◽  
Andrada Christine Serafim ◽  
Ramona Amina Popovici ◽  
...  

Osseointegration of a dental implant may encounter a variety of problems caused by various factors, as prior health-related problems, patients� habits and the technique of the implant inserting. Retrospective cohort study of 70 patients who received implants between January 2011- April 2016 in one dental unit, with Kaplan-Meier method to calculate the probability of implants�s survival at 60 months. The analysis included demographic data, age, gender, medical history, behavior risk factors, type and location of the implant. For this cohort the implants�survival for the first 6 months was 92.86% compared to the number of patients and 97.56% compared to the number of total implants performed, with a cumulative failure rate of 2.43% after 60 months. Failures were focused exclusively on posterior mandible implants, on the percentage of 6.17%, odds ratio (OR) for these failures being 16.76 (P = 0.05) compared with other localisations of implants, exclusively in men with median age of 42 years.


Author(s):  
Jiao Huang ◽  
Nianhua Xie ◽  
Xuejiao Hu ◽  
Han Yan ◽  
Jie Ding ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We aimed to describe the epidemiological, virological, and serological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). Methods This population-based cohort study identified all COVID-19 cases among all PLWH in Wuhan, China, by 16 April 2020. The epidemiological, virological, and serological features were analyzed based on the demographic data, temporal profile of nucleic acid test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the disease, and SARS-CoV-2–specific immunoglobin (Ig) M and G after recovery. Results From 1 January to 16 April 2020, 35 of 6001 PLWH experienced COVID-19, with a cumulative incidence of COVID-19 of 0.58% (95% confidence interval [CI], .42–.81%). Among the COVID-19 cases, 15 (42.86) had severe illness, with 2 deaths. The incidence, case-severity, and case-fatality rates of COVID-19 in PLWH were comparable to those in the entire population in Wuhan. There were 197 PLWH who had discontinued combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), 4 of whom experienced COVID-19. Risk factors for COVID-19 were age ≥50 years old and cART discontinuation. The median duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding among confirmed COVID-19 cases in PLWH was 30 days (interquartile range, 20–46). Cases with high HIV viral loads (≥20 copies/mL) had lower IgM and IgG levels than those with low HIV viral loads (<20 copies/ml; median signal value divided by the cutoff value [S/CO] for IgM, 0.03 vs 0.11, respectively [P < .001]; median S/CO for IgG, 10.16 vs 17.04, respectively [P = .069]). Conclusions Efforts are needed to maintain the persistent supply of antiretroviral treatment to elderly PLWH aged 50 years or above during the COVID-19 epidemic. The coinfection of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 might change the progression and prognosis of COVID-19 patients in PLWH.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Chen ◽  
K Alexanderson

Abstract Background Working-aged colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have a much better survival nowadays, indicating the importance of their future work situation. We aimed to investigate trajectories of sickness absence and disability pension (SADP) days before and after CRC diagnosis and in references, and risk factors associated with different trajectories. Methods A longitudinal, population-based matched cohort study of 4735 CRC survivors in Sweden aged 19-62 when first diagnosed with CRC in 2008-2011, and 18,230 matched references was conducted, using microdata linked from several nationwide registers. The annual SADP net days for 2 years before through 5 years after diagnosis date were computed. A group-based trajectory model was used to depict SADP trajectories. Associations between trajectory membership, and sociodemographic and clinical variables were tested by chi2 test and multinomial logistic regression. Results Four trajectories of SADP days/year for CRC survivors were identified: “only increase around diagnosis” (52% of all, n = 2481), “slight increase after diagnosis” (27%), “high then decrease moderately after diagnosis” (13%), and “constantly very high” (8%). Educational level (R2=0.022), Charlson's Comorbidity Index (R2=0.029), and prediagnostic mental disorders (R2=0.066) were the strongest factors determining the SADP trajectory groups. In references, three trajectories (”constantly low” (80% of all), “constantly moderate and decrease gradually” (12%), and “very high then decrease overtime” (8%)) were identified. Conclusions Approximately 80% of CRC survivors return to a low level of SADP (0-60 days/year) at 5 years postdiagnosis. Prediagnostic status of mental disorders, somatic comorbidity, and low educational level are good indicators of future high SADP levels for CRC survivors. Key messages Most of working-age colorectal cancer survivors have low levels of sickness absence and disability pension days five years after their diagnosis. Trajectory analyses based on population-based register data can be used as a good approach in understanding future work situation regarding sick leave among working-age cancer survivors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karoline Freeman ◽  
Ronan Ryan ◽  
Nicholas Parsons ◽  
Sian Taylor-Phillips ◽  
Brian H. Willis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Our knowledge of the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is uncertain. Recent studies reported an increase in prevalence. However, they excluded a high proportion of ambiguous cases from general practice. Estimates are needed to inform health care providers who plan the provision of services for IBD patients. We aimed to estimate the IBD incidence and prevalence in UK general practice. Methods We undertook a retrospective cohort study of routine electronic health records from the IQVIA Medical Research Database covering 14 million patients. Adult patients from 2006 to 2016 were included. IBD was defined as an IBD related Read code or record of IBD specific medication. Annual incidence and 12-month period prevalence were calculated. Results The prevalence of IBD increased between 2006 and 2016 from 106.2 (95% CI 105.2–107.3) to 142.1 (95% CI 140.7–143.5) IBD cases per 10,000 patients which is a 33.8% increase. Incidence varied across the years. The incidence across the full study period was 69.5 (95% CI 68.6–70.4) per 100,000 person years. Conclusions In this large study we found higher estimates of IBD incidence and prevalence than previously reported. Estimates are highly dependent on definitions of disease and previously may have been underestimated.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e040480
Author(s):  
Amaya Ayala-Garcia ◽  
Laura Serra ◽  
Monica Ubalde-Lopez

ObjectivesTo assess the relationship between early working life patterns, at privately and publicly held companies, and the course of sickness absence (SA) due to mental disorders.MethodsCohort study of workers aged 18–28 years, affiliated with the Spanish social security system, living in Catalonia, who had at least one episode of SA due to mental disorders between 2012 and 2014. Individual prior working life trajectories were reconstructed through sequence analysis. Optimal matching analysis was performed to identify early working life patterns by clustering similar individual trajectories. SA trajectories were identified using latent class growth modelling analysis. Finally, the relationship between early working life patterns and subsequent SA trajectories was assessed via multinomial logistic regression models.ResultsAmong both men and women, four labour market participation (LMP) patterns were identified: stable permanent employment (reference group), increasing permanent employment, fluctuating employment and delayed employment. Among women, an increasing permanent employment pattern in early working life was related to a decrease of accumulated SA days over time (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.08; 95% CI 1.18 to 3.66). In men, we observed a trend towards a middle stable accumulation of SA days in those with fluctuating employment (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 0.57 to 2.74) or delayed employment (aOR 1.79; 95% CI 0.59 to 5.41). In both men and women, an early working life in big companies was related to a more favourable SA trajectory.ConclusionsEarly LMP patterns characterised by an increasing stability—decreased number of transitions between temporary contracts and lack of social security coverage towards permanent contracts—were related to a better future SA course due to mental diagnosis.


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