scholarly journals Do statins reduce mortality in older people? Findings from a longitudinal study using primary care records

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e000780
Author(s):  
Lisanne Andra Gitsels ◽  
Ilyas Bakbergenuly ◽  
Nicholas Steel ◽  
Elena Kulinskaya
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Cardiac Risk ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Network Database ◽  
Statin Prescription ◽  
The Health Improvement Network ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Primary Care Practices

ObjectiveAssess whether statins reduce mortality in the general population aged 60 years and above.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingPrimary care practices contributing to The Health Improvement Network database, England and Wales, 1990–2017.ParticipantsCohort who turned age 60 between 1990 and 2000 with no previous cardiovascular disease or statin prescription and followed up until 2017.ResultsCurrent statin prescription was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality from age 65 years onward, with greater reductions seen at older ages. The adjusted HRs of mortality associated with statin prescription at ages 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85 years were 0.76 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.81), 0.71 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.75), 0.68 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.72), 0.63 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.73) and 0.54 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.92), respectively. The adjusted HRs did not vary by sex or cardiac risk.ConclusionsUsing regularly updated clinical information on sequential treatment decisions in older people, mortality predictions were updated every 6 months until age 85 years in a combined primary and secondary prevention population. The consistent mortality reduction of statins from age 65 years onward supports their use where clinically indicated at age 75 and older, where there has been particular uncertainty of the benefits.

OP08 Using Real World Data To Support National Postmarketing Surveillance

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 3-3
Author(s):  
Yeqin Zuo ◽  
Bernie Mullen ◽  
Rachel Hayhurst ◽  
Karen Kaye ◽  
Renee Granger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Real World ◽  
National Level ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Postmarketing Surveillance ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Primary Care Practices ◽  
Tract Infections

Introduction:While medicines and medical tests are developed in a controlled clinical trial environment, postmarketing surveillance in the real world can be challenging. MedicineInsight—a database of longitudinal patient-level clinical information from primary care practices in Australia—is a novel program that collects primary care data to improve postmarketing surveillance at a national level.Methods:MedicineInsight collects de-identified clinical information from primary care practice information systems using data extraction tools. MedicineInsight currently includes 3.6 million regular patients of 3,300 family physicians (general practitioners) from 650 primary care practices across Australia. MedicineInsight data include longitudinal clinical information on diagnosis and medicines (dose, strength, route of administration, medication switches over time, adverse events, and allergies), and pathology testing data. A series of observational studies was developed for postmarketing surveillance of management of a range of health priorities including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depression, and antibiotics use.Results:Forty-four percent of patients with T2DM in the MedicineInsight database did not have a recorded hemoglobin A1c result and thirty-one percent did not have a recorded blood pressure reading in the previous 6 months. While guidelines recommend a stepwise approach to the initiation of COPD therapy, forty-nine percent of patients with COPD (with or without asthma) were prescribed dual therapy at initiation and a small number (4.5 percent) were prescribed triple therapy. Between 2011 and 2015, the annual rate of antidepressant prescribing per 1,000 family physician encounters increased by eight percent. High volumes of antibiotics were prescribed for respiratory tract infections in Australian primary care, notwithstanding guideline recommendations that antibiotics are not recommended in most cases.Conclusions:Large scale, real-world clinical data from primary care practices can play an important role in postmarketing surveillance at a national level.

scholarly journals Usual primary care of older people in New Zealand: association between practice characteristics and practice activities

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Palapar ◽  
Laura Wilkinson-Meyers ◽  
Thomas Lumley ◽  
Ngaire Kerse
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Home Visits ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Practice Characteristics ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Primary Care Practices

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Information on the processes used by primary care practices to help identify older patients in need of assistance are limited in New Zealand. AIM To describe the processes used to promote early problem detection in older patients in primary care and the practice characteristics associated with the use of these proactive processes. METHODS Sixty practices were randomly selected from all primary care practices in three regions (52% response rate) and surveyed in 2010 to identify characteristics of practices performing the following activities: using assessment tools; auditing the practice; conducting specific clinics; providing home visits; and providing active patient follow-up. Practice level variables were examined. RESULTS Only 4 (7%) of 57 practices did not perform any of the activities. We found the following associations in the many comparisons done: no activities and greater level of deprivation of practice address (p = 0.048); more activities in main urban centres (p = 0.034); more main urban centre practices doing home visits (p = 0.001); less Canterbury practices conducting specific clinics for frail older patients (p = 0.010); and more Capital and Coast practices following-up patients who do not renew their prescriptions (p = 0.019). DISCUSSION There are proactive processes in place in most New Zealand practices interested in a trial about care of older people. Future research should determine whether different types of practices or the activities that they undertake make a difference to older primary care patients’ outcomes.

scholarly journals Publication of UK NICE Clinical Guidelines 168 has not significantly changed the management of leg ulcers in primary care: An analysis of The Health Improvement Network database

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 311-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huw OB Davies ◽  
Matthew Popplewell ◽  
Gareth Bate ◽  
Ronan P Ryan ◽  
Tom P Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Clinical Guidelines ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Leg Ulcers ◽  
Network Database ◽  
Below The Knee ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Health Improvement Network ◽  
New Diagnosis ◽  
The Impact

Background NICE Clinical Guidelines (CG) 168, published in July 2013, recommend specialist vascular referral for all leg ulcers, defined as a break in the skin below the knee that has not healed within two weeks. Aim To examine the impact of CG168 on the primary care management of leg ulcers using The Health Improvement Network database. Methods An eligible population of approximately two million adult patients was analysed over two 18-month periods before and after publication of CG168. Those with a new diagnosis of leg ulcers in each time period were analysed in terms of demographics, specialist referral and superficial venous ablation. Results We identified 7532 and 7462 new diagnoses of leg ulcers in the pre- and post-CG168 cohorts, respectively. Patients with a new diagnosis of leg ulcers were elderly (median age: 77 years both cohorts) and less likely to be male (47% both cohorts). There were 2259 (30.0%) and 2329 (31.2%) vascular service referrals in the pre- and post-CG168 cohorts, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.05, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.11, p = 0.096). The median interval between general practitioner diagnosis and referral was 1.5 days in both cohorts. Patients from both cohorts who were referred for a new diagnosis of leg ulcers were equally likely to receive superficial venous ablation. Conclusions Disappointingly, we have been unable to demonstrate that publication of NICE CG168 has been associated with a meaningful change in leg ulcer management in primary care in line with guideline recommendations.

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