Routes to diagnosis of heart failure: observational study using linked data in England

Heart ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 104 (7) ◽  
pp. 600-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Bottle ◽  
Dani Kim ◽  
Paul Aylin ◽  
Martin R Cowie ◽  
Azeem Majeed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Specialist Referral ◽  
Care Consultation ◽  
Primary Care Practices

ObjectiveTimely diagnosis and management of heart failure (HF) is critical, but identification of patients with suspected HF can be challenging, especially in primary care. We describe the journey of people with HF in primary care from presentation through to diagnosis and initial management.MethodsWe used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (primary care consultations linked to hospital admissions data and national death registrations for patients registered with participating primary care practices in England) to describe investigation and referral pathways followed by patients from first presentation with relevant symptoms to HF diagnosis, particularly alignment with recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline for HF diagnosis.Results36 748 patients had a diagnosis of HF recorded that met the inclusion criteria between 1 January 2010 and 31 March 2013. For 29 113 (79.2%) patients, this was first recorded in hospital. In the 5 years prior to diagnosis, 15 057 patients (41.0%) had a primary care consultation with one of three key HF symptoms recorded, 17 724 (48.2%) attended for another reason and 3967 (10.8%) did not see their general practitioner. Only 24% of those with recorded HF symptoms followed a pathway aligned with guidelines (echocardiogram and/or serum natriuretic peptide test and specialist referral), while 44% had no echocardiogram, natriuretic peptide test or referral.ConclusionsPatients follow various pathways to the diagnosis of HF. However, few appear to follow a pathway supported by guidelines for investigation and referral. There are likely to be missed opportunities for earlier HF diagnosis in primary care.

scholarly journals Real-world presentation with heart failure in primary care: do patients selected to follow diagnostic and management guidelines have better outcomes?

Open Heart ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. e000935
Author(s):  
Alex Bottle ◽  
Dani Kim ◽  
Paul P Aylin ◽  
F Azeem Majeed ◽  
Martin R Cowie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Initial Management ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Specialist Referral ◽  
Partial Completion ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Using Data

ObjectiveTo describe associations between initial management of people presenting with heart failure (HF) symptoms in primary care, including compliance with the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and subsequent unplanned hospitalisation for HF and death.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study using data from general practices submitting records to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. The cohort comprised patients diagnosed with HF during 2010–2013 and presenting to their general practitioners with breathlessness, fatigue or ankle swelling.Results13 897 patients were included in the study. Within the first 6 months, only 7% had completed the NICE-recommended pathway; another 18.6% had followed part of it (B-type natriuretic peptide testing and/or echocardiography, or specialist referral). Significant differences in hazards were seen in unadjusted analysis in favour of full or partial completion of the NICE-recommended pathway. Covariate adjustment attenuated the relations with death much more than those for HF admission. Compared with patients placed on the NICE pathway, treatment with HF medications had an HR of 1.16 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.28, p=0.003) for HF admission and 1.03 (95% CI 0.90 to 1.17, p= 0.674) for death. Patients who partially followed the NICE pathway had similar hazards to those who completed it. Patients on no pathway had the highest hazard for HF admission at 1.30 (95% 1.18 to 1.43, p<0.001) but similar hazard for death.ConclusionsPatients not put on at least some elements of the NICE-recommended pathway had significantly higher risk of HF admission but non-significant higher risk of death than other patients had.

scholarly journals Adherence to guidelines in management of symptoms suggestive of heart failure in primary care

Heart ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 105 (9) ◽  
pp. 678-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedict Hayhoe ◽  
Dani Kim ◽  
Paul P Aylin ◽  
F Azeem Majeed ◽  
Martin R Cowie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Median Time ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Specialist Referral ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Treatment And Diagnosis ◽  
Symptom Type

ObjectiveClinical guidelines on heart failure (HF) suggest timings for investigation and referral in primary care. We calculated the time for patients to achieve key elements in the recommended pathway to diagnosis of HF.MethodsIn this observational study, we used linked primary and secondary care data (Clinical Practice Research Datalink, a database of anonymised electronic records from UK general practices) between 2010 and 2013. Records were examined for presenting symptoms (breathlessness, fatigue, ankle swelling) and key elements of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended pathway to diagnosis (serum natriuretic peptide (NP) test, echocardiography, specialist referral).Results42 403 patients were diagnosed with HF, of whom 16 597 presented in primary care with suggestive symptoms. 6464 (39%) had recorded NP or echocardiography, and 6043 (36%) specialist referral. Median time from recorded symptom(s) to investigation (NP or echocardiography) was 292 days (IQR 34–844) and to referral 236 days (IQR 42–721). Median time from symptom(s) to diagnosis was 972 days (IQR 337–1468) and to treatment with HF-relevant medication 803 days (IQR 230–1364). Factors significantly affecting timing of referral, treatment and diagnosis included patients’ sex (p=0.001), age (p<0.001), deprivation score (p=0.001), comorbidities (p<0.001) and presenting symptom type (p<0.001).ConclusionsMedian times to investigation or referral of patients presenting in primary care with symptoms suggestive of HF considerably exceeded recommendations. There is a need to support clinicians in the diagnosis of HF in primary care, with improved access to investigation and specialist assessment to support timely management.

scholarly journals O16 Incidence, prevalence and associated comorbidity of axSpA within the UK: a retrospective database analysis

Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. I Morgan ◽  
Abigail White ◽  
Mark Tomlinson ◽  
Amie Scott ◽  
Haijun Tian
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Index Date ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Case Ascertainment ◽  
International Statistical Classification ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Primary Care Practices ◽  
Incident Cases

Abstract Background This study reports the incidence and prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in the UK, and describes the baseline characteristics and comorbidities associated with the condition. Methods This study was conducted using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, a large routine primary care database in the UK. Approximately 60% of contributing English primary care practices are linked to Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) secondary care data. AxSpA and relevant comorbidities were identified from Read or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10 codes in primary care or HES datasets, respectively. The date of first axSpA diagnosis defined the index date. Patients with ≥90 days between practice registration and first axSpA diagnosis were classified as incident cases. The incidence and prevalence of axSpA were calculated annually from 2003-2017 for the UK as a whole, each constituent nation and English practices linked to HES data, to maximise case ascertainment. Comorbidities occurring prior to the index date (inclusive) were reported and compared with non-axSpA patients matched for age, sex, primary care practice and concurrent practice registration. Results Overall, 20,199 axSpA patients were identified, of whom 8,387 (41.5%) were classified as incident cases. Of the incident cases, 2,600 (31.0%) were female. Mean age at first diagnosis was 45.5 years (standard deviation [SD]: 17.2), mean body mass index was 27.2 kg/m2 (SD: 5.9) and 2,481 (29.6%) patients were current smokers. In 2017, the incidence of axSpA was 8.0 per 100,000 person-years and the prevalence was 15.8 per 10,000 population, an increase from 12.7 per 10,000 population in 2003. For patients from English practices linked to HES data, the incidence was 10.8 per 100,000 person-years and the prevalence was 17.5 per 10,000 population. 8,385 (∼100.0%) axSpA patients could be matched to non-axSpA controls. At baseline, all selected comorbidities were significantly increased in axSpA cases vs controls (Table). Conclusion This study reports an increasing prevalence of axSpA over the study period and higher rates of specific comorbidities in patients with axSpA vs matched controls. Caveats related to routine database studies, including secular changes in case ascertainment and observation bias, should be considered when interpreting these results. Disclosures C.L.I. Morgan: Other; Employee of: Pharmatelligence. A. White: Shareholder/stock ownership; Novartis. Other; Employee of: Novartis. M. Tomlinson: Consultancies; Novartis. A. Scott: Consultancies; Novartis. H. Tian: Other; Employee of: Novartis.

scholarly journals Concomitant diagnosis of asthma and COPD: a quantitative study in UK primary care

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (676) ◽  
pp. e775-e782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Nissen ◽  
Daniel R Morales ◽  
Hana Mullerova ◽  
Liam Smeeth ◽  
Ian J Douglas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Read Code ◽  
Care Environment ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundAsthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) share many characteristics and symptoms, and the differential diagnosis between the two diseases can be difficult in primary care. This study explored potential overlap between both diseases in a primary care environment.AimTo quantify how commonly patients with COPD have a concomitant diagnosis of asthma, and how commonly patients with asthma have a concomitant diagnosis of COPD in UK primary care. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the extent of possible misdiagnosis and missed opportunities for diagnosis.Design and settingPatients with validated asthma and patients with validated COPD in primary care were identified from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) in separate validation studies, and the diseases were confirmed by review of GP questionnaires.MethodThe prevalence of concurrent asthma and COPD in validated cases of either disease was examined based on CPRD coding, GP questionnaires, and requested additional information.ResultsIn total, 400 patients with COPD and 351 patients with asthma in primary care were identified. Of the patients with validated asthma, 15% (n = 52) had previously received a diagnostic COPD Read code, although COPD was only likely in 14.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.3 to 19.0) of patients with validated asthma. More than half (52.5%, n = 210) of patients with validated COPD had previously received a diagnostic asthma Read code. However, when considering additional evidence to support a diagnosis of asthma, concurrent asthma was only likely in 14.5% (95% CI = 11.2 to 18.3) of patients with validated COPD.ConclusionA concurrent asthma and COPD diagnosis appears to affect a relative minority of patients with COPD (14.5%) or asthma (14.8%). Asthma diagnosis may be over-recorded in people with COPD.

scholarly journals Natriuretic peptide level at heart failure diagnosis and risk of hospitalisation and death in England 2004–2018

Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. heartjnl-2021-319196
Author(s):  
Clare J Taylor ◽  
Sarah L Lay-Flurrie ◽  
José M Ordóñez-Mena ◽  
Clare R Goyder ◽  
Nicholas R Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Related Hospitalisation ◽  
One Year ◽  
Heart Failure Diagnosis ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveHeart failure (HF) is a malignant condition requiring urgent treatment. Guidelines recommend natriuretic peptide (NP) testing in primary care to prioritise referral for specialist diagnostic assessment. We aimed to assess association of baseline NP with hospitalisation and mortality in people with newly diagnosed HF.MethodsPopulation-based cohort study of 40 007 patients in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in England with a new HF diagnosis (48% men, mean age 78.5 years). We used linked primary and secondary care data between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2018 to report one-year hospitalisation and 1-year, 5-year and 10-year mortality by NP level.Results22 085 (55%) participants were hospitalised in the year following diagnosis. Adjusted odds of HF-related hospitalisation in those with a high NP (NT-proBNP >2000 pg/mL) were twofold greater (OR 2.26 95% CI 1.98 to 2.59) than a moderate NP (NT-proBNP 400–2000 pg/mL). All-cause mortality rates in the high NP group were 27%, 62% and 82% at 1, 5 and 10 years, compared with 19%, 50% and 77%, respectively, in the moderate NP group and, in a competing risks model, risk of HF-related death was 50% higher at each timepoint. Median time between NP test and HF diagnosis was 101 days (IQR 19–581).ConclusionsHigh baseline NP is associated with increased HF-related hospitalisation and poor survival. While healthcare systems remain under pressure from the impact of COVID-19, research to test novel strategies to prevent hospitalisation and improve outcomes—such as a mandatory two-week HF diagnosis pathway—is urgently needed.

scholarly journals Trends in healthcare use in children aged less than 15 years: a population-based cohort study in England from 2007 to 2017

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e033761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Ruzangi ◽  
Mitch Blair ◽  
Elizabeth Cecil ◽  
Geva Greenfield ◽  
Alex Bottle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Emergency Hospital ◽  
Outpatient Visits ◽  
Ed Visits

ObjectiveTo describe changing use of primary care in relation to use of urgent care and planned hospital services by children aged less than 15 years in England in the decade following major primary care reforms from 2007 to 2017DesignPopulation-based retrospective cohort study.MethodsWe used linked data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink to study children’s primary care consultations and use of hospital care including emergency department (ED) visits, emergency and elective admissions to hospital and outpatient visits to specialists.ResultsBetween 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2017, there were 7 604 024 general practitioner (GP) consultations, 981 684 ED visits, 287 719 emergency hospital admissions, 2 253 533 outpatient visits and 194 034 elective admissions among 1 484 455 children aged less than 15 years. Age-standardised GP consultation rates fell (−1.0%/year) to 1864 per 1000 child-years in 2017 in all age bands except infants rising by 1%/year to 6722 per 1000/child-years in 2017. ED visit rates increased by 1.6%/year to 369 per 1000 child-years in 2017, with steeper rises of 3.9%/year in infants (780 per 1000 child-years in 2017). Emergency hospital admission rates rose steadily by 3%/year to 86 per 1000 child-years and outpatient visit rates rose to 724 per 1000 child-years in 2017.ConclusionsOver the past decade since National Health Service primary care reforms, GP consultation rates have fallen for all children, except for infants. Children’s use of hospital urgent and outpatient care has risen in all ages, especially infants. These changes signify the need for better access and provision of specialist and community-based support for families with young children.

scholarly journals Antibiotic Prescribing Before and After the Diagnosis of Comorbidity: A Cohort Study Using Primary Care Electronic Health Records

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. e50-e57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Rockenschaub ◽  
Andrew Hayward ◽  
Laura Shallcross
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Arterial Disease ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background Comorbidities such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increase patients’ susceptibility to infections, but it is unclear how the onset of comorbidity impacts antibiotic use. We estimated rates of antibiotic use before and after diagnosis of comorbidity in primary care to identify opportunities for antibiotic stewardship. Methods We analyzed UK primary care records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Adults registered between 2008–2015 without prior comorbidity diagnoses were eligible for inclusion. Monthly adjusted rates of antibiotic prescribing were estimated for patients with new-onset stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, asthma, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or COPD in the 12 months before and after diagnosis and for controls without comorbidity. Results 106 540/1 071 943 (9.9%) eligible patients were diagnosed with comorbidity. Antibiotic prescribing rates increased 1.9- to 2.3-fold in the 4–9 months preceding diagnosis of asthma, heart failure, and COPD before declining to stable levels within 2 months after diagnosis. A less marked trend was seen for diabetes (rate ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.48–1.61). Prescribing rates for patients with vascular conditions increased immediately before diagnosis and remained 30%–39% higher than baseline afterwards. Rates of prescribing to controls increased by 17%–28% in the months just before and after consultation. Conclusions Antibiotic prescribing increased rapidly before diagnosis of conditions that present with respiratory symptoms (COPD, heart failure, asthma) and declined afterward. Onset of respiratory symptoms may be misdiagnosed as infection. Earlier diagnosis of these comorbidities could reduce avoidable antibiotic prescribing.

scholarly journals Association between inactivated influenza vaccine and primary care consultations for autoimmune rheumatic disease flares: a self-controlled case series study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1122-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Nakafero ◽  
Matthew J Grainge ◽  
Puja R Myles ◽  
Christian D Mallen ◽  
Weiya Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽  
Primary Care Consultation ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
Care Consultation

ObjectivesTo examine the association between inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) administration and primary care consultation for joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flare, corticosteroid prescription, vasculitis and unexplained fever in people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs).MethodsWe undertook within-person comparisons using self-controlled case-series methodology. AIRD cases who received the IIV and had an outcome of interest in the same influenza cycle were ascertained in Clinical Practice Research Datalink. The influenza cycle was partitioned into exposure periods (1–14 days prevaccination and 0–14, 15–30, 31–60 and 61–90 days postvaccination), with the remaining time-period classified as non-exposed. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% CI for different outcomes were calculated.ResultsData for 14 928 AIRD cases (69% women, 80% with RA) were included. There was no evidence for association between vaccination and primary care consultation for RA flare, corticosteroid prescription, fever or vasculitis. On the contrary, vaccination associated with reduced primary care consultation for joint pain in the subsequent 90 days (IRR 0.91 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.94)).ConclusionThis study found no evidence for a significant association between vaccination and primary care consultation for most surrogates of increased disease activity or vaccine adverse-effects in people with AIRDs. It adds to the accumulating evidence to support influenza vaccination in AIRDs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document