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McCracken C, Raisi-Estabragh Z, Szabo L, Robson J, Raman B, Topiwala A, Roca-Fernández A, Husain M, Petersen SE, Neubauer S, Nichols TE. NHS Health Check attendance is associated with reduced multiorgan disease risk: a matched cohort study in the UK Biobank. BMC Med 2024; 22:1. [PMID: 38254067 PMCID: PMC10804500 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03187-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The NHS Health Check is a preventive programme in the UK designed to screen for cardiovascular risk and to aid in primary disease prevention. Despite its widespread implementation, the effectiveness of the NHS Health Check for longer-term disease prevention is unclear. In this study, we measured the rate of new diagnoses in UK Biobank participants who underwent the NHS Health Check compared with those who did not. METHODS Within the UK Biobank prospective study, 48,602 NHS Health Check recipients were identified from linked primary care records. These participants were then covariate-matched on an extensive range of socio-demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors with 48,602 participants without record of the check. Follow-up diagnoses were ascertained from health records over an average of 9 years (SD 2 years) including hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, stroke, dementia, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, liver failure, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease (stage 3 +), cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Time-varying survival modelling was used to compare adjusted outcome rates between the groups. RESULTS In the immediate 2 years after the NHS Health Check, higher diagnosis rates were observed for hypertension, high cholesterol, and chronic kidney disease among health check recipients compared to their matched counterparts. However, in the longer term, NHS Health Check recipients had significantly lower risk across all multiorgan disease outcomes and reduced rates of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS The NHS Health Check is linked to reduced incidence of disease across multiple organ systems, which may be attributed to risk modification through earlier detection and treatment of key risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol. This work adds important evidence to the growing body of research supporting the effectiveness of preventative interventions in reducing longer-term multimorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste McCracken
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
| | - Zahra Raisi-Estabragh
- William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
- Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London, UK
| | - Liliana Szabo
- William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
- Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London, UK
- Semmelweis University, Heart and Vascular Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | - John Robson
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Betty Raman
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Anya Topiwala
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | | | - Masud Husain
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Division of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Oxford, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN FMRIB), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Steffen E Petersen
- William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
- Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London, UK
- Health Data Research UK, London, UK
- Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - Stefan Neubauer
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Thomas E Nichols
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN FMRIB), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Christoffersen NB, Nilou FE, Thilsing T, Larsen LB, Østergaard JN, Broholm-Jørgensen M. Exploring targeted preventive health check interventions - a realist synthesis. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1928. [PMID: 37798691 PMCID: PMC10557298 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16861-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preventive health checks are assumed to reduce the risk of the development of cardio-metabolic disease in the long term. Although no solid evidence of effect is shown on health checks targeting the general population, studies suggest positive effects if health checks target people or groups identified at risk of disease. The aim of this study is to explore why and how targeted preventive health checks work, for whom they work, and under which circumstances they can be expected to work. METHODS The study is designed as a realist synthesis that consists of four phases, each including collection and analysis of empirical data: 1) Literature search of systematic reviews and meta-analysis, 2) Interviews with key-stakeholders, 3) Literature search of qualitative studies and grey literature, and 4) Workshops with key stakeholders and end-users. Through the iterative analysis we identified the interrelationship between contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes to develop a program theory encompassing hypotheses about targeted preventive health checks. RESULTS Based on an iterative analysis of the data material, we developed a final program theory consisting of seven themes; Target group; Recruitment and participation; The encounter between professional and participants; Follow-up activities; Implementation and operation; Shared understanding of the intervention; and Unintended side effects. Overall, the data material showed that targeted preventive health checks need to be accessible, recognizable, and relevant for the participants' everyday lives as well as meaningful to the professionals involved. The results showed that identifying a target group, that both benefit from attending and have the resources to participate pose a challenge for targeted preventive health check interventions. This challenge illustrates the importance of designing the recruitment and intervention activities according to the target groups particular life situation. CONCLUSION The results indicate that a one-size-fits-all model of targeted preventive health checks should be abandoned, and that intervention activities and implementation depend on for whom and under which circumstances the intervention is initiated. Based on the results we suggest that future initiatives conduct thorough needs assessment as the basis for decisions about where and how the preventive health checks are implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Bjørnbak Christoffersen
- Research Program On Health and Social Conditions, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Freja Ekstrøm Nilou
- Research Program On Health and Social Conditions, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Trine Thilsing
- Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lars Bruun Larsen
- Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern, Odense, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Zealand, Holbæk, Denmark
| | | | - Marie Broholm-Jørgensen
- Research Program On Health and Social Conditions, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Gadsby EW, Krska J, Duddy C, Hibberd V, Wong G. The NHS Health Check programme: a survey of programme delivery in England before and after the Covid-19 pandemic response. NIHR OPEN RESEARCH 2023; 3:32. [PMID: 37881459 PMCID: PMC10593320 DOI: 10.3310/nihropenres.13436.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Background This study investigated NHS Health Check programme delivery before and after the Covid-19 pandemic response, with a focus on support services and referral methods available to Health Check attendees. The NHS Health Check is an important part of England's Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) prevention programme. Methods Public health commissioners from all 151 local authorities responsible for commissioning the NHS Health Check programme were surveyed in 2021, using an online questionnaire to capture detail about programme delivery, changes in delivery because of the pandemic response, and monitoring of programme outcomes. Four-point rating scales were used to obtain level of confidence in capacity, accessibility and usage of follow-on support services for Health Check attendees. A typology of programme delivery was developed, and associations between delivery categories and a range of relevant variables were assessed using one-way analysis of variance. Results Sixty-eight responses were received on behalf of 74 (of 151) local authorities (49%), across all geographical regions. Our findings suggest a basic typology of delivery, though with considerable variation in who is providing the Checks, where and how, and with continued changes prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Support for risk management is highly varied with notable gaps in some areas. Local authorities using a model of delivery that includes community venues tended to have a higher number of services to support behaviour change following the Check, and greater confidence in the accessibility and usage of these services. A minority of local authorities gather data on referrals for Health Check attendees, or on outcomes of referrals. Conclusions The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted continued changes in delivery, which are likely to influence patient experience and outcomes; these need careful evaluation. The programme's delivery and commissioners' intentions to follow through risk communication with appropriate support is challenged by the complexity of the commissioning landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Wirrmann Gadsby
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, FK9 4LA, UK
- Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Kent, Canterbury, England, CT2 7NX, UK
| | - Janet Krska
- Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Greenwich and Kent, Medway, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Claire Duddy
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Vivienne Hibberd
- Public Involvement in Pharmacy Studies Group, Medway School of Pharmacy, Medway, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Geoff Wong
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
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Duddy C, Wong G. Grand rounds in methodology: when are realist reviews useful, and what does a 'good' realist review look like? BMJ Qual Saf 2023; 32:173-180. [PMID: 36585019 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2022-015236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Research in the quality and safety field often necessitates an approach that supports the development of an in-depth understanding of how a complex phenomenon occurs, or how an intervention works. Realist review is an increasingly popular form of evidence synthesis that provides a theory-driven, interpretive approach to secondary research. Realist reviews offer quality and safety researchers the opportunity to draw on diverse types of evidence to develop explanatory theory about how, when and for whom interventions 'work' or outcomes occur. The approach is flexible, iterative and practical, typically drawing on the experience of policymakers, practitioners and patients throughout the review. With the increasing use of realist reviews, some common misconceptions about the approach have become evident in the literature. This paper introduces what is involved when planning and conducting a realist review, and where the approach can offer most value, as well as outlining common challenges that researchers may face when adopting the approach, and recommended solutions. Our aim is to support researchers who are considering conducting a realist review to understand the key principles and concepts involved, and how they can go about producing high-quality work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Duddy
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Geoff Wong
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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