Drivers of access to cardiovascular health care for rural Indigenous Peoples: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Māori (the Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) are disproportionately represented in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence, morbidity and mortality rates, and are less likely to receive evidence-based CVD health care. Rural Māori experience additional barriers to treatment access, poorer health outcomes and a greater burden of CVD risk factors compared to Non-Māori and Māori living in urban areas. Importantly, these inequities are similarly experienced by Indigenous Peoples in other nations impacted by colonisation. Given the scarcity of available literature, a systematic scoping review was conducted on literature exploring barriers and facilitators in accessing CVD health care for rural Māori and other Indigenous Peoples in nations impacted by colonisation.

METHODS

The review was underpinned by Kaupapa Māori Research methodology and was conducted utilising Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) methodological framework. A database search of MEDLINE (OVID), PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, CINAHL Plus, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre and NZResearch.org was used to explore empirical research literature. A grey literature search was also conducted. Literature based in any healthcare setting providing care to adults for CVD was included. Rural or remote Indigenous Peoples from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the US were included. Literature was included if it addressed cardiovascular conditions and reported barriers and facilitators to healthcare access in any care setting.

RESULTS

A total of 363 articles were identified from the database search. An additional 19 reports were identified in the grey literature search. Following screening, 16 articles were included from the database search and 5 articles from the grey literature search. The literature was summarised using the Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) Framework principles: tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), partnership, active protection, equity and options. Themes elucidated from the literature were described as key drivers of CVD healthcare access for rural Indigenous Peoples. Key driver themes included input from rural Indigenous Peoples on healthcare service design and delivery, adequate resourcing and support of indigenous and rural healthcare services, addressing systemic racism and historical trauma, providing culturally appropriate health care, rural Indigenous Peoples' access to family and wellbeing support, rural Indigenous Peoples' differential access to the wider social determinants of health, effective interservice linkages and communication, and equity-driven and congruent data systems.

CONCLUSION

The findings are consistent with other literature exploring access to health care for rural Indigenous Peoples. This review offers a novel approach to summarising literature by situating the themes within the context of equity and rights for Indigenous Peoples. This review also highlighted the need for further research in this area to be conducted in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Development and validation of cardiovascular risk prediction equations in 76 000 people with known cardiovascular disease

AIMS

Multiple health administrative databases can be individually linked in Aotearoa New Zealand, using encrypted identifiers. These databases were used to develop cardiovascular risk prediction equations for patients with known cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Administrative health databases were linked to identify all people aged 18-84 years with known CVD, living in Auckland and Northland, Aotearoa New Zealand, on 1 January 2014. The cohort was followed until study outcome, death, or 5 years. The study outcome was death or hospitalization due to ischaemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease. Sex-specific 5-year CVD risk prediction equations were developed using multivariable Fine and Gray models. A total of 43 862 men {median age: 67 years [interquartile range (IQR): 59-75]} and 32 724 women [median age: 70 years (IQR: 60-77)] had 14 252 and 9551 cardiovascular events, respectively. Equations were well calibrated with good discrimination. Increasing age and deprivation, recent cardiovascular hospitalization, Mori ethnicity, smoking history, heart failure, diabetes, chronic renal disease, atrial fibrillation, use of blood pressure lowering and anti-thrombotic drugs, haemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol, and creatinine were statistically significant independent predictors of the study outcome. Fourteen per cent of men and 23% of women had predicted 5-year cardiovascular risk <15%, while 28 and 24% had ≥40% risk.

CONCLUSION

Robust cardiovascular risk prediction equations were developed from linked routine health databases, a currently underutilized resource worldwide. The marked heterogeneity demonstrated in predicted risk suggests that preventive therapy in people with known CVD would be better informed by risk stratification beyond a one-size-fits-all high-risk categorization.

Upholding te mana o te wā: Māori patients and their families' experiences of accessing care following an out-of-hospital cardiac event

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Māori patients and their families accessing care for an acute out-of-hospital cardiac event and to identify any barriers or enablers of timely access to care.

Design

Eleven interviews with patients and their families were conducted either face-to-face or using online conferencing. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis using Kaupapa Māori methodology.

Results

Data analysis identified three themes: (1) me and the event, (2) the people (3) upholding te mana ō te wā or self-determined heart wellbeing. Knowledge of symptoms and a desire to maintain personal dignity at the time of the event affected emergency medical service initiation. Participants described relationships with health professionals, the importance of good quality information, having family support, and drawing on cultural practices as vital for their health care journey.

Conclusion

Systemic barriers including racism, discrimination, and inadequate resourcing exist for Māori journeying to and through care following an out of hospital cardiac event. Improving the cultural safety of health professionals, better access to community defibrillation, and improving understanding of the life-long impacts a cardiac event has on patients and whānau is recommended.

Who are Pacific peoples in terms of ethnicity and country of birth? A cross sectional study of 2,238,039 adults in Aotearoa New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure

Background

The aggregation of Indigenous peoples from Pacific Island nations as 'Pacific peoples' in literature may mask diversity in the health needs of these different groups. The aim of this study was to examine the heterogeneity of Pacific groups according to ethnicity and country of birth.

Methods

Anonymised individual-level linkage of administrative data identified all NZ residents aged 30-74 years on 31 March 2013 with known ethnicity and country of birth. All participants were described according to ethnicity and country of birth. Pacific participants were also described according to the number of ethnicities they identified.

Findings

A total of 2,238,039 NZ residents were included, of whom 117,957 (5·0%) were Pacific. Nearly two-thirds of Pacific peoples (65·7%) were born overseas, ranging from 45·3% (Cook Islands Māori) to 82·7% (Fijian) (Māori 2·3%, non-Māori non-Pacific 28·9%). Among NZ-born Pacific peoples, 46·9% (Samoan) to 81·9% (Fijian) were multi-ethnic; the proportion was much lower for overseas-born Pacific peoples (ranging from 3·7% [Tongan] to 23·9% [Tokelauan]).

Interpretation

There is substantial heterogeneity among Pacific peoples in their country of birth and identification with sole or multiple ethnicities. Assumptions regarding homogeneity in the needs of Pacific peoples are not appropriate and government statistics should therefore disaggregate Pacific peoples whenever possible.

Funding

Supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and a part of Manawataki Fatu Fatu, a programme of research funded by the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand and Healthier Lives - He Oranga Hauora - National Science Challenge of New Zealand.

Paired risk scores to predict ischaemic and bleeding risk twenty-eight days to one year after an acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The recommended duration of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) varies from 1 month to 1 year depending on the balance of risks of ischaemia and major bleeding. We designed paired ischaemic and major bleeding risk scores to inform this decision.

METHODS

New Zealand (NZ) patients with ACS investigated with coronary angiography are recorded in the All NZ ACS Quality Improvement registry and linked to national health datasets. Patients were aged 18-84 years (2012-2020), event free at 28 days postdischarge and without atrial fibrillation. Two 28-day to 1-year postdischarge multivariable risk prediction scores were developed: (1) cardiovascular mortality/rehospitalisation with myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke (ischaemic score) and (2) bleeding mortality/rehospitalisation with bleeding (bleeding score).

FINDINGS

In 27 755 patients, there were 1200 (4.3%) ischaemic and 548 (2.0%) major bleeding events. Both scores were well calibrated with moderate discrimination performance (Harrell's c-statistic 0.75 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.77) and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.67 to 0 .71), respectively). Applying these scores to the 2020 European Society of Cardiology ACS antithrombotic treatment algorithm, the 31% of the cohort at elevated (>2%) bleeding and ischaemic risk would be considered for an abbreviated DAPT duration. For those at low bleeding risk, but elevated ischaemic risk (37% of the cohort), prolonged DAPT may be appropriate, and for those with low bleeding and ischaemic risk (29% of the cohort) short duration DAPT may be justified.

CONCLUSION

We present a pair of ischaemic and bleeding risk scores specifically to assist clinicians and their patients in deciding on DAPT duration beyond the first month post-ACS.

Risk of cardiovascular disease in cancer survivors: A cohort study of 446,384 New Zealand primary care patients

BACKGROUND

Given advances in the management of cancer, it is increasingly important for clinicians to appropriately manage the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among cancer survivors. It is unclear whether CVD risk is increased among cancer survivors overall, and there is inconsistency in evidence to date about CVD incidence and mortality by cancer type.

METHODS

Patients aged 30-74 years entered an open cohort study at the time of first CVD risk assessment, between 2004 and 2018, in primary care in New Zealand. Patients with established CVD or cancer within 2 years prior to study entry were excluded. Cancer diagnosis (1995-2016) was determined from a national cancer registry. Cause-specific hazard models were used to examine the association between history of cancer and two outcomes: (1) CVD-related hospitalization and/or death and (2) CVD death.

RESULTS

The study included 446,384 patients, of whom 14,263 (3.2%) were cancer survivors. Risk of CVD hospitalization and/or death was increased among cancer survivors compared with patients without cancer at cohort entry (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, mHR, 1.11, 95% CI 1.05-1.18), more so for CVD death (1.31, 1.14-1.52). Risk of CVD hospitalization and/or death was increased in patients with myeloma (2.66, 1.60-4.42), lung cancer (2.19, 1.48-3.24) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (1.90, 1.42-2.54), but not for some cancers (e.g., colorectal, 0.87, 0.71-1.06). Risk of CVD death was increased in several cancer types including melanoma (1.73, 1.25-2.38) and breast cancer (1.56, 1.16-2.11).

CONCLUSION

CVD risk management needs to be prioritized among cancer survivors overall, and particularly in those with myeloma, lung cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma given consistent evidence of increased risk.

Pacific patients' reasons for attending the emergency department of Counties Manukau for non-urgent conditions

AIM

To determine Pacific patients' reasons for Emergency Department (ED) use for non-urgent conditions by Pacific people at Counties Manukau Health.

METHODS

Patients who self-presented to Counties Manukau ED with a non-urgent condition in June 2019 were surveyed. Responses to open-ended questions were analysed using a general inductive approach, in discussion with key stakeholders.

RESULTS

Of 353 participants with ethnicity reported, 139 (39%) were Pacific, 66 (19%) Māori and 148 (42%) were non-Māori non-Pacific, nMnP. A total of 58 (42%) of Pacific participants had been to their general practitioner prior to presenting to the ED; this proportion was similar for Māori (19 [30%]) and nMnP (59 [40%]) (p=0.215). The most common reasons for ED attendance among Pacific (as well as other) participants were 1) advice by a health professional (41%, 95% CI 33-50%), 2) usual care unavailable (28%, 20-36%), 3) symptoms not improving (21%, 14-28%), and 4) symptoms too severe to be managed elsewhere (19%, 12-26%).

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple reasons underlie non-urgent use of EDs by Pacific and other ethnic groups. These reasons need to be considered simultaneously in the design, implementation, and evaluation of multi-dimensional initiatives that discourage non-urgent use of EDs to ensure that such initiatives are effective, equitable, and unintended consequences are avoided.

Association Between Women's Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Self-reported Health Outcomes in New Zealand

IMPORTANCE

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor for long-term health problems; however, few studies have assessed these health outcomes using consistent and comprehensive IPV measures or representative population-based samples.

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations between women's lifetime IPV exposure and self-reported health outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The cross-sectional, retrospective 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Study, adapted from the World Health Organization's Multi-Country Study on Violence Against Women, assessed data from 1431 ever-partnered women (63.7% of eligible women contacted) in New Zealand. The survey was conducted from March 2017 to March 2019, across 3 regions, which accounted for approximately 40% of the New Zealand population. Data analysis was performed from March to June 2022.

EXPOSURES

Exposures were lifetime IPV by types (physical [severe/any], sexual, psychological, controlling behaviors, and economic abuse), any IPV (at least 1 type), and number of IPV types.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Outcome measures were poor general health, recent pain or discomfort, recent pain medication use, frequent pain medication use, recent health care consultation, any diagnosed physical health condition, and any diagnosed mental health condition. Weighted proportions were used to describe the prevalence of IPV by sociodemographic characteristics; bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used for the odds of experiencing health outcomes by IPV exposure.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 1431 ever-partnered women (mean [SD] age, 52.2 [17.1] years). The sample was closely comparable with New Zealand's ethnic and area deprivation composition, although younger women were slightly underrepresented. More than half of the women (54.7%) reported any lifetime IPV exposure, of whom 58.8% experienced 2 or more IPV types. Compared with all other sociodemographic subgroups, women who reported food insecurity had the highest IPV prevalence for any IPV (69.9%) and all specific types. Exposure to any IPV and specific IPV types was significantly associated with increased likelihood of reporting adverse health outcomes. Compared with those unexposed to IPV, women who experienced any IPV were more likely to report poor general health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.02; 95% CI, 1.46-2.78), recent pain or discomfort (AOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.34-2.46), recent health care consultation (AOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.01-1.65), any diagnosed physical health condition (AOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.13-1.96), and any mental health condition (AOR, 2.78; 95% CI, 2.05-3.77). Findings suggested a cumulative or dose-response association because women who experienced multiple IPV types were more likely to report poorer health outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cross-sectional study of women in New Zealand, IPV exposure was prevalent and associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing adverse health. Health care systems need to be mobilized to address IPV as a priority health issue.

Performance of cardiovascular disease risk prediction equations in more than 14 000 survivors of cancer in New Zealand primary care: a validation study

BACKGROUND

People with cancer have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Risk prediction equations developed in New Zealand accurately predict 5-year cardiovascular disease risk in a general primary care population in the country. We assessed the performance of these equations for survivors of cancer in New Zealand.

METHODS

For this validation study, patients aged 30-74 years from the PREDICT open cohort study, which was used to develop the New Zealand cardiovascular disease risk prediction equations, were included in the analysis if they had a primary diagnosis of invasive cancer at least 2 years before the date of the first cardiovascular disease risk assessment. The risk prediction equations are sex-specific and include the following predictors: age, ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation index, family history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status, history of atrial fibrillation and diabetes, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, and preventive pharmacotherapy (blood-pressure-lowering, lipid-lowering, and antithrombotic drugs). Calibration was assessed by comparing the mean predicted 5-year cardiovascular disease risk, estimated using the risk prediction equations, with the observed risk across deciles of risk, for men and women, and according to the three clinical 5-year cardiovascular disease risk groups in New Zealand guidelines (<5%, 5% to <15%, and ≥15%). Discrimination was assessed by Harrell's C statistic.

FINDINGS

14 263 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 61 years (SD 9) for men and 60 years (SD 8) for women, with a median follow-up of 5·8 years for men and 5·7 years for women. The observed cardiovascular disease risk was underpredicted by a maximum of 2·5% in male and 3·2% in female decile groups. When patients were grouped according to clinical risk groups, observed cardiovascular disease risk was underpredicted by less than 2% in the lower risk groups and overpredicted by 2·2% for men and 3·3% for women in the highest risk group. Harrell's C statistics were 0·67 (SE 0·01) for men and 0·73 (0·01) for women.

INTERPRETATION

The New Zealand cardiovascular disease risk prediction equations reasonably predicted the observed 5-year cardiovascular disease risk in survivors of cancer in the country, in whom risk prediction was considered clinically appropriate. Prediction could be improved by adding cancer-specific variables and considering competing risks. Our findings suggest that the equations are reasonable clinical tools for use in survivors of cancer in New Zealand.

FUNDING

Auckland Medical Research Foundation, Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Association Between Men's Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Self-reported Health Outcomes in New Zealand

Importance

Health implications of intimate partner violence (IPV) against men is relatively underexplored, although substantial evidence has identified associations between IPV and long-term physical health problems for women. Given the gendered differences in IPV exposure patterns, exploration of men's IPV exposure and health outcomes using population-based samples is needed.

Objective

To assess the association between men's lifetime IPV exposure and self-reported health outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Study, which was conducted across 3 regions of New Zealand. The representative sample included ever-partnered men aged 16 years or older. Data analysis was performed between May and September 2022.

Exposures

Lifetime IPV against men by types (physical [severe or any], sexual, psychological, controlling behaviors, and economic abuse), any IPV (at least 1 type), and number of IPV types experienced.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The 7 health outcomes were poor general health, recent pain or discomfort, recent use of pain medication, frequent use of pain medication, recent health care consultation, any diagnosed physical health condition, and any diagnosed mental health condition.

Results

The sample comprised 1355 ever-partnered men (mean [SD] age, 51.3 [16.9] years), who predominantly identified as heterosexual (96.9%; 95% CI, 95.7%-97.8%). Half of the sample (49.9%) reported experiencing any lifetime IPV, of whom 62.1% reported at least 2 types. Of all sociodemographic subgroups, unemployed men had the greatest prevalence of reporting exposure to any IPV (69.2%) and all IPV types. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, men's exposure to any lifetime IPV was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting 4 of the 7 assessed health outcomes: poor general health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.78; 95% CI, 1.34-2.38), recent pain or discomfort (AOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.21-2.25), recent use of pain medication (AOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.00-1.62), and any diagnosed mental health condition (AOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.11-2.49). Specific IPV types were inconsistently associated with poor health outcomes. Any physical IPV exposure was associated with poor general health (AOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.33-2.43), recent pain or discomfort (AOR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.64-3.04), and frequent use of pain medication (AOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.08-2.63), which appeared to be associated with exposure to severe physical IPV. Exposure to sexual IPV, controlling behaviors, and economic abuse was not associated with any assessed outcomes after sociodemographic adjustment. Experience of a higher number of IPV types did not show a clear stepwise association with number of health outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this study indicate that exposure to IPV can adversely affect men's health but is not consistently a factor in men's poor health at the population level. These findings do not warrant routine inquiry for IPV against men in clinical settings, although appropriate care is needed if IPV against men is identified.

Reduced efficacy of blood pressure lowering drugs in the presence of diabetes mellitus-results from the TRIUMPH randomised controlled trial

We investigated whether diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the efficacy of a low-dose triple combination pill and usual care among people with mild-moderate hypertension. TRIUMPH (TRIple pill vs Usual care Management for Patients with mild-to-moderate Hypertension) was a randomised controlled open-label trial of patients requiring initiation or escalation of antihypertensive therapy. Patients were randomised to a once-daily low-dose triple combination polypill (telmisartan-20mg/amlodipine-2.5 mg/chlorthalidone-12.5 mg) or usual care. This analysis compared BP reduction in people with and without DM, both in the intervention and control groups over 24-week follow-up. Predicted efficacy of prescribed therapy was calculated (estimation methods of Law et al.). The trial randomised 700 patients (56 ± 11 yrs, 31% DM). There was no difference in the number of drugs prescribed or predicted efficacy of therapy between people with DM and without DM. However, the observed BP reduction from baseline to week 24 was lower in those with DM compared to non-diabetics in both the triple pill (25/11 vs 31/15 mmHg, p ≤ 0.01) and usual care (17/7 vs 22/11 mmHg, p ≤ 0.01) groups, and these differences remained after multivariable adjustment. DM was a negative predictor of change in BP (β-coefficient -0.08, p = 0.02). In conclusion, patients with DM experienced reduced efficacy of BP lowering therapies as compared to patients without DM, irrespective of the type of BP lowering therapy received.

Understanding the barriers and facilitators that influence access to quality cardiovascular care for rural Indigenous peoples: protocol for a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Māori (the Indigenous peoples of New Zealand) are disproportionately represented in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence, morbidity and mortality rates, and are less likely to receive evidence-based CVD healthcare. Rural Māori experience additional barriers to treatment access, poorer health outcomes and a more significant burden of CVD risk factors compared with non-Māori and Māori living in urban areas. Importantly, these inequities are similarly experienced by Indigenous peoples in other nations impacted by colonisation. Given the scarcity of available literature, we are conducting a scoping review of literature exploring barriers and facilitators in accessing quality CVD healthcare for rural Māori and other Indigenous peoples in nations impacted by colonisation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A scoping review will be conducted to identify and map the extent of research available and identify any gaps in the literature. This review will be underpinned by Kaupapa Māori Research methodology and will be conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) methodological framework. A database search of MEDLINE (OVID), PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, CINAHL Plus, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre and NZResearch.org will be used to explore empirical research literature. A grey literature search will also be conducted. Two authors will independently review and screen search results in an iterative manner. The New Zealand Ministry of Health Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) Framework principles will be used as a framework to summarise and construct a narrative of existing literature. Existing literature will also be appraised using the CONSolIDated critERia for strengthening the reporting of health research involving Indigenous Peoples (CONSIDER) statement.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval has not been sought for this review as we are using publicly available data. We will publish this protocol and the findings of our review in an open-access peer-reviewed journal. This protocol has been registered on Open Science Framework (DOI:10.17605/osf.io/xruhy).

Identification of clinically relevant cohorts of people with heart failure from electronic health data in Aotearoa: potential, pitfalls and a plan

Heart failure (HF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and contributes to substantial burden of disease, significant inequities and high healthcare cost globally as well as in Aotearoa. Management of chronic HF is driven by HF phenotype, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), as only those with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have been shown to experience reduced mortality and morbidity with long-term pharmacotherapy. To ensure appropriate and equitable implementation of HF management we need to be able to identify clinically relevant cohorts of patients with HF, in particular, those with HFrEF. The ideal HF registry would incorporate and link HF diagnoses and phenotype from primary and secondary care with echocardiography and pharmacotherapy data. In this article we consider several options for identifying such cohorts from electronic health data in Aotearoa, as well as the potential and pitfalls of these options. Given the urgent need to identify people with HF according to EF phenotype, the options for identifying them from electronic health data, and the opportunities presented by health system reform, including a focus on digital solutions, we recommend the following four actions, with oversight from a national HF working group: 1) Establish a HF registry based on random and representative sampling of HF admissions; 2) investigate obtaining HF diagnosis and EF-phenotype from primary care-coded data; 3) amalgamate national echocardiography data; and 4) investigate options to enable the systematic collection of HF diagnosis and EF-phenotype from outpatient attendances. Future work will need to consider reliability and concordance of data across sources. The case for urgent action in Aotearoa is compounded by the stark inequities in the burden of HF, the likely contribution of health service factors to these inequities and the legislative requirement under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 that "the health sector should be equitable, which includes ensuring Māori and other population groups - (i) have access to services in proportion to their health needs; and (ii) receive equitable levels of service; and (iii) achieve equitable health outcomes".

What are the gaps in cardiovascular risk assessment and management in primary care for Māori and Pacific people in Aotearoa New Zealand? Protocol for a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

In New Zealand, significant inequities exist between Māori and Pacific peoples compared with non-Māori, non-Pacific peoples in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, hospitalisations and management rates. This review will quantify and qualify already-reported gaps in CVD risk assessment and management in primary care for Māori and Pacific peoples compared with non-Māori/non-Pacific peoples in New Zealand.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will conduct a systematic search of the following electronic databases and websites from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021: MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, NZresearch.org, National Library Catalogue (Te Puna), Index New Zealand (INNZ), Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre. In addition, we will search relevant websites such as the Ministry of Health and research organisations. Data sources will include published peer reviewed articles, reports and theses employing qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.Two reviewers will independently screen the titles and abstracts of the citations and grade each as eligible, not eligible or might be eligible. Two reviewers will read each full report, with one medically qualified reviewer reading all reports and two other reviewers reading half each. The final list of included citations will be compiled from the results of the full report reading and agreed on by three reviewers. Data abstracted will include authors, title, year, study characteristics and participant characteristics. Data analysis and interpretation will involve critical inquiry and a strength-based approach that is inclusive of Māori and Pacific values. This means that critical appraisal includes an assessment of quality from an Indigenous perspective.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and shared with stakeholders. This review contributes to a larger project which creates a Quality-Improvement Equity Roadmap to reduce barriers to Māori and Pacific peoples accessing evidence-based CVD care.

The risk of subsequent invasive melanoma after a primary in situ or invasive melanoma in a high incidence country (New Zealand)

Background

Patients with invasive melanoma are at increased risk of developing subsequent invasive melanoma, but the risks for those with primary in situ melanoma are unclear.

Objectives

To assess and compare the cumulative risk of subsequent invasive melanoma after primary invasive or in situ melanoma. To estimate the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of subsequent invasive melanoma compared to population incidence in both cohorts.

Methods

Patients with a first diagnosis of melanoma (invasive or in situ) between 2001 and 2017 were identified from the New Zealand national cancer registry, and any subsequent invasive melanoma during follow-up to the end of 2017 identified. Cumulative risk of subsequent invasive melanoma was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis separately for primary invasive and in situ cohorts. Risk of subsequent invasive melanoma was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. SIR was assessed, allowing for age, sex, ethnicity, year of diagnosis and follow up time.

Results

Among 33 284 primary invasive and 27 978 primary in situ melanoma patients, median follow up time was 5.5 and 5.7 years, respectively. A subsequent invasive melanoma developed in 1777 (5%) of the invasive and 1469 (5%) of the in situ cohort, with the same median interval (2.5 years) from initial to first subsequent lesion in both cohorts. The cumulative incidence of subsequent invasive melanoma at 5 years was similar in the two cohorts (invasive 4.2%, in situ 3.8%); the cumulative incidence increased linearly over time in both cohorts. The risk of subsequent invasive melanoma was marginally higher for primary invasive compared to in situ melanoma after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity and body site of the initial lesion (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21). Compared to population incidence, the SIR of invasive melanoma was 4.6 (95% CI 4.3-4.9) for the primary invasive and 4 (95% CI 3.7-4.2) for the primary in situ melanoma cohorts.

Conclusions

The risk of subsequent invasive melanoma is similar whether patients present with in situ or invasive melanoma. Thus follow-up surveillance for new lesions should be similar, although patients with invasive melanoma require more surveillance for recurrence.

Association of Low-Dose Triple Combination Therapy vs Usual Care With Time at Target Blood Pressure: A Secondary Analysis of the TRIUMPH Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Cumulative exposure to high blood pressure (BP) is an adverse prognostic marker. Assessments of BP control over time, such as time at target, have been developed but assessments of the effects of BP-lowering interventions on such measures are lacking.

Objective

To evaluate whether low-dose triple combination antihypertensive therapy was associated with greater rates of time at target compared with usual care.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Triple Pill vs Usual Care Management for Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension (TRIUMPH) trial was a open-label randomized clinical trial of low-dose triple BP therapy vs usual care conducted in urban hospital clinics in Sri Lanka from February 2016 to May 2017. Adults with hypertension (systolic BP >140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >90 mm Hg or in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, systolic BP >130 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >80 mm Hg) requiring initiation (untreated patients) or escalation (patients receiving monotherapy) of antihypertensive therapy were included. Patients were excluded if they were currently taking 2 or more blood pressure-lowering drugs or had severe or uncontrolled blood pressure, accelerated hypertension or physician-determined need for slower titration of treatment, a contraindication to the triple combination pill therapy, an unstable medical condition, or clinically significant laboratory values deemed by researchers to be unsuitable for the study. All 700 individuals in the original trial were included in the secondary analysis. This post hoc analysis was conducted from December 2020 to December 2021.

Intervention

Once-daily fixed-dose triple combination pill (telmisartan 20 mg, amlodipine 2.5 mg, and chlorthalidone 12.5 mg) therapy vs usual care.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Between-group differences in time at target were compared over 24 weeks of follow-up, with time at target defined as percentage of time at target BP.

Results

There were a total of 700 randomized patients (mean [SD] age, 56 [11] years; 403 [57.6%] women). Patients allocated to the triple pill group (n = 349) had higher time at target compared with those in the usual care group (n = 351) over 24 weeks' follow-up (64% vs 43%; risk difference, 21%; 95% CI, 16-26; P < .001). Almost twice as many patients receiving triple pill therapy achieved more than 50% time at target during follow-up (64% vs 37%; P < .001). The association of the triple pill with an increase in time at target was seen early, with most patients achieving more than 50% time at target by 12 weeks. Those receiving the triple pill achieved a consistently higher time at target at all follow-up periods compared with those receiving usual care (mean [SD]: 0-6 weeks, 36.3% [30.9%] vs 21.7% [28.9%]; P < .001; 6-12 weeks, 5.2% [31.9%] vs 33.7% [33.0%]; P < .001; 12-24 weeks, 66.0% [31.1%] vs 43.5% [34.3%]; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

To our knowledge, this analysis provides the first estimate of time at target as an outcome assessing longitudinal BP control in a randomized clinical trial. Among patients with mild to moderate hypertension, treatment with a low-dose triple combination pill was associated with substantially higher time at target compared with usual care.

Cardiovascular disease preventive medication dispensing for almost every New Zealander 65 years and over: a preventive treatment paradox?

OBJECTIVE

To describe the dispensing of cardiovascular disease (CVD) preventive medications among older New Zealanders with and without prior CVD or diabetes.

METHODS

New Zealanders aged ≥65 years in 2013 were identified using anonymised linkage of national administrative health databases. Dispensing of blood pressure lowering (BPL), lipid lowering (LL) or antithrombotic (AT) medications, was documented, stratified by age and by history of CVD, diabetes, or neither.

RESULTS

Of the 593,549 people identified, 32% had prior CVD, 14% had diabetes (of whom half also had prior CVD) and 61% had neither diagnosis. For those with prior CVD, between 79-87% were dispensed BPL and 73-79% were dispensed AT medications, across all age groups. In contrast, LL dispensing was lower than either BPL or AT in every age group, falling from 75% at age 65-69 years to 43% at 85+ years. For people with diabetes, BPL and LL dispensing was similar to those with prior CVD, but AT dispensing was approximately 20% lower. Among people without prior CVD or diabetes, both BPL and AT dispensing increased with age (from 39% and 17% at age 65-69 years to 56% and 35% at 85+ years respectively), whereas LL dispensing was 26-31% across the 65-84 year age groups, falling to 17% at 85+ years.

CONCLUSION

The much higher dispensing of BPL and AT compared to LL medications with increasing age suggests a preventive treatment paradox for older people, with the medications most likely to cause adverse effects being dispensed most often.

Cardiovascular disease and its management among Pacific people: a systematic review by ethnicity and place of birth

Background

Pacific people experience a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), whether they remain in their country of origin or migrate to higher-income countries, such as Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand or the United States of America. We sought to determine whether the CVD health needs of Pacific people vary according to their ethnicity or place of birth.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of medical research databases and grey literature to identify relevant data published up to 2020. Texts were included if they contained original data stratified by Pacific-specific ethnicity or place of birth on the burden or management of CVD, and were assessed as having good quality using a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute quality assessment tool. The protocol for this review was registered with the Open Science Forum (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/X7NR6).

Results

Of 3679 texts identified, 310 full texts were reviewed and the quality of 23 of these assessed, using the pre-defined search strategy. Six items (four reports, one article, one webpage) of good quality met the review eligibility criteria. All included texts provided data on epidemiology but only one reported on the management of CVD. Four texts were of Pacific populations in Pacific Island countries and two were of Pacific diaspora in other countries. Data from the Global Burden of Disease study, which provided estimates for the greatest number of Pacific countries, showed substantial differences in mortality rates between Pacific countries for every CVD type. For example, the mortality rate per 100,000 for ischemic heart disease (IHD) ranged from 103.41 in the Cook Islands to 430.35 in the Solomon Islands. A New Zealand-based report showed differences in CVD rates by Pacific ethnicity (e.g. the age-standardised prevalence of IHD per 1,000 population in Auckland ranged from 107.8 (Niuean) to 138 among Cook Islands Māori (p < 0.001)).

Conclusions

This review of published studies reveals that the epidemiology of CVD among Pacific people varies by specific ethnic groups, place of birth, and country of residence. There is a critical need for high-quality contemporary ethnic-specific Pacific data to respond to the diverse CVD health needs in these underrepresented groups.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-021-02313-x.

Contrasting trends in heart failure incidence in younger and older New Zealanders, 2006-2018

OBJECTIVE

Studies indicate that age-standardised heart failure (HF) incidence has been decreasing internationally; however, contrasting trends in different age groups have been reported, with rates increasing in younger people and decreasing in the elderly. We aimed to describe age-specific trends in HF incidence in New Zealand (NZ).

METHODS

In this nationwide data linkage study, we used routinely collected hospitalisation data to identify incident HF hospitalisations in NZ residents aged ≥20 years between 2006 and 2018. Age-specific and age-standardised incidence rates were calculated for each calendar year. Joinpoint regression was used to compare incidence trends.

RESULTS

116 113 incident HF hospitalisations were identified over the 13-year study period. Between 2006 and 2013, age-standardised incidence decreased from 403 to 323 per 100 000 (annual percentage change (APC) -2.6%, 95% CI -3.6 to -1.6%). This reduction then plateaued between 2013 and 2018 (APC 0.8%, 95% CI -0.8 to 2.5%). Between 2006 and 2018, rates in individuals aged 20-49 years old increased by 1.5% per year (95% CI 0.3 to 2.7%) and decreased in those aged ≥80 years old by 1.2% per year (95% CI -1.7 to -0.7%). Rates in individuals aged 50-79 years old initially declined from 2006 to 2013, and then remained stable or increased from 2013 to 2018. The proportion of HF hospitalisations associated with ischaemic heart disease decreased from 35.1% in 2006 to 28.0% in 2018.

CONCLUSION

HF remains an important problem in NZ. The decline in overall incidence has plateaued since 2013 due to increasing rates of HF in younger age groups despite an ongoing decline in the elderly.

Māori and Pacific peoples' experiences of a Māori-led diabetes programme

AIM

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Despite this, the lived experiences of T2DM and its management by Māori and Pacific peoples are scarcely acknowledged in health literature. The present study examines the lived experiences of T2DM by Māori and Pacific participants in the Mana Tū diabetes programme. Mana Tū is a Māori-led diabetes support programme co-designed by the National Hauora Coalition (NHC) alongside patients with diabetes, clinicians, health service planners and whānau ora providers.

METHOD

The study used qualitative methods underpinned by Kaupapa Māori (Māori approaches) approaches. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants of the Mana Tū diabetes programme and their whānau (thirteen Māori, 9 Pacific) from Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Te Tai Tokerau (Northland).

RESULTS

The study identified barriers, facilitators and motivators for participants to live well with T2DM. Four key themes were constituted: (1) whānau experience of T2DM, (2) cultural safety in healthcare interactions, (3) whānau ora (collective family wellbeing) and (4) Kaupapa Māori approaches to health interventions. Themes were consistent across Māori and Pacific participants.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that Māori-led health interventions can better support Māori and Pacific people living with T2DM and are needed to ensure these communities receive appropriate, responsive and equitable healthcare.

Workplace wellbeing in emergency departments in Aotearoa New Zealand 2020

AIM

To quantify staff burnout and wellbeing in emergency departments (EDs) throughout New Zealand (NZ).

METHODS

A national cross sectional electronic survey of New Zealand clinical and non-clinical ED staff was conducted between 9 March and 3 April 2020. Burnout and wellbeing were assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and a variety of quantitative measures. Differences between measures were assessed by demography and work role using univariate analyses. Multivariate analyses assessed associations between burnout and wellbeing.

RESULTS

1,372 staff responded from 22 EDs around New Zealand (response rate 43%). Most were female (n=678, 63%), NZ European (n=799, 59%), aged 20-39 years (n=743, 54%) and nurses (n=711, 52%). The overall prevalence of personal burnout was 60%, work-related burnout 55% and patient-related burnout 19%. There was a wide variation of burnout across all EDs. Females and nurses showed the highest degree of burnout by gender and role, respectively. Measures of wellbeing with significant negative correlations with burnout were work-related happiness, work-life balance, job satisfaction and perceived workplace excellence. Work stress had significant positive correlation with burnout.

CONCLUSION

New Zealand ED staff have a high degree of burnout. Safety, financial sustainability and quality of care are likely being adversely affected. Stakeholders can be informed by findings from this study to inspire meaningful interventions in EDs and throughout the New Zealand healthcare system.

601Is in-situ melanoma a precursor of invasive melanoma; a New Zealand study

Background

Melanoma is diagnosed as either in-situ or invasive disease. The relationship between the two diseases is unclear. If every in-situ is an early stage of invasive melanoma, diagnosis and removal of in-situ lesions should reduce the incidence of invasive melanoma. If the association is more complex, the excision of in-situ lesions might not effectively prevent invasive disease and may represent overdiagnosis.

Methods

A population-based cohort study involved all patients diagnosed with either in-situ or invasive melanoma from the New Zealand Cancer Registry between 2001 and 2017. The pattern of in-situ and invasive melanoma was compared by incidence, trends, and key patient characteristics (age at diagnosis, sex, body site, and ethnicity).

Results

The incidence of in-situ melanoma increased annually by 3.77% whereas that of invasive melanoma was relatively stable (annual increase 0.04%) over the study period. The pattern of in-situ and invasive melanoma was similar by sex and ethnicity but differed by body site. Since the distribution of melanoma for age at diagnosis was highly influenced by body site and sex, it was difficult to compare between the two diseases. The observed risk of invasive melanoma among in-situ cohort was four times higher than that expected among general population.

Conclusions

Not every in-situ was a precursor of invasive melanoma, but some did progress to an invasive lesion.

Key-messages

Plans should be considered to compare the potential harms and benefits of the screening and excision of in-situ melanoma.

Emergency COVID-19 funding to general practices in early 2020: lessons for future allocation to support equity

AIM

To (1) describe the distribution of Ministry of Health (MOH) COVID-19 emergency funding to general practices in March and April 2020 and (2) consider whether further funding to general practices should be allocated differently to support equity for patients.

METHODS

Emergency funding allocation criteria and funding amounts by general practice were obtained from the MOH. Practices were stratified according to their proportion of high-needs enrolled patients (Māori, Pacific or living in an area with the highest quintile of socioeconomic deprivation). Funding per practice was calculated for separate and total payments according to practice stratum of high-needs enrolled patients.

RESULTS

The median combined March and April funding for general practices with 80% high-needs patients was 28% higher per practice ($36,674 vs $28,686) and 48% higher per patient ($10.50 vs $7.11) compared with the funding received by general practices with fewer than 20% high-needs patients. Although the March allocation did increase funding for high-needs patients, the April allocation did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency support funding for general practices was organised by the MOH at short notice and in exceptional circumstances. In the future, the MOH should apply pro-equity resource allocation in all emergencies, as with other circumstances.

Facilitators, barriers and opportunities in workplace wellbeing: A national survey of emergency department staff

INTRODUCTION

Emergency department (ED) staff face daily exposure to the illness, injury, intoxication, violence and distress of others. Rates of clinician burnout are high and associated with poor patient outcomes. This study sought to measure the prevalence of burnout in ED personnel as well as determine the important facilitators of and barriers to workplace wellbeing.

METHOD

An anonymous online survey including six open-ended questions on workplace wellbeing was completed by 1372 volunteer participants employed as nurses, doctors, allied health or nonclinical roles at 22 EDs in Aotearoa, New Zealand in 2020. Responses to the questions were analysed using a general inductive approach.

RESULTS

The three key themes that characterise what matters most to participants' workplace wellbeing are: (1) Supportive team culture (2) Delivering excellent patient-centred care and (3) Professional development opportunities. Opportunities to improve wellbeing also focused on enhancements in these three areas.

CONCLUSION

In order to optimise workplace wellbeing, emergency departments staff value adequate resourcing for high-quality patient care, supportive and cohesive teams and professional development opportunities. Initiatives in these areas may facilitate staff wellbeing as well as improving safety and quality of patient care.

Cardiovascular risk prediction in type 2 diabetes before and after widespread screening: a derivation and validation study

BACKGROUND

Until recently, most patients with diabetes worldwide have been diagnosed when symptomatic and have high cardiovascular risk, meaning most should be prescribed cardiovascular preventive medications. However, in New Zealand, a world-first national programme led to approximately 90% of eligible adults being screened for diabetes by 2016, up from 50% in 2012, identifying many asymptomatic patients with recent-onset diabetes. We hypothesised that cardiovascular risk prediction equations derived before widespread screening would now significantly overestimate risk in screen-detected patients.

METHODS

New Zealanders aged 30-74 years with type 2 diabetes and without known cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or substantial renal impairment were identified from the 400 000-person PREDICT primary care cohort study between Oct 27, 2004, and Dec 30, 2016, covering the period before and after widespread screening. Sex-specific equations estimating 5-year risk of cardiovascular disease were developed using Cox regression models, with 18 prespecified predictors, including diabetes-related and renal function measures. Equation performance was compared with an equivalent equation derived in the New Zealand Diabetes Cohort Study (NZDCS), which recruited between 2000 and 2006, before widespread screening.

FINDINGS

46 652 participants were included in the PREDICT-1° Diabetes subcohort, of whom 4114 experienced first cardiovascular events during follow-up (median 5·2 years, IQR 3·3-7·4). 14 829 (31·8%) were not taking oral hypoglycaemic medications or insulin at baseline. Median 5-year cardiovascular risk estimated by the new equations was 4·0% (IQR 2·3-6·8) in women and 7·1% (4·5-11·2) in men. The older NZDCS equation overestimated median cardiovascular risk by three times in women (median 14·2% [9·7-20·0]) and two times in men (17·1% [4·5-20·0]). Model and discrimination performance measures for PREDICT-1° Diabetse equations were also significantly better than for the NZDCS equation (eg, for women: R²=32% [95% CI 29-34], Harrell's C=0·73 [0·72-0·74], Royston's D=1·410 [1·330-1·490] vs R²=24% [21-26], C=0·69 [0·67-0·70], and D=1·147 [1·107-1·187]).

INTERPRETATION

International treatment guidelines still consider most people with diabetes to be at high cardiovascular risk; however, we show that recent widespread diabetes screening has radically changed the cardiovascular risk profile of people with diabetes in New Zealand. Many of these patients have normal renal function, are not dispensed glucose-lowering medications, and have low cardiovascular risk. These findings have clear international implications as increased diabetes screening is inevitable due to increasing obesity, simpler screening tests, and the introduction of new-generation glucose-lowering medications that prevent cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular risk prediction equations derived from contemporary diabetes populations, with multiple diabetes-related and renal function predictors, will be required to better differentiate between low-risk and high-risk patients in this increasingly heterogeneous population and to inform appropriate non-pharmacological management and cost-effective targeting of expensive new medications.

FUNDING

Health Research Council of New Zealand, Heart Foundation of New Zealand, and Healthier Lives National Science Challenge.

Risk of major bleeding by ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation among 488,107 people in primary care: a cohort study

Background

Antithrombotic medications (antiplatelets and anticoagulants) reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but with the disadvantage of increasing bleeding risk. Ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation are independent predictors of major bleeds among patients without CVD, but it is unclear whether they are also predictors of major bleeds among patients with CVD or atrial fibrillation (AF) after adjustment for clinical variables.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of 488,107 people in New Zealand Primary Care (including 64,420 Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand) aged 30–79 years who had their CVD risk assessed between 2007 and 2016. Participants were divided into three mutually exclusive subgroups: (1) AF with or without CVD (n = 15,212), (2) CVD and no AF (n = 43,790), (3) no CVD or AF (n = 429,105). Adjusted hazards ratios (adjHRs) were estimated from Cox proportional hazards models predicting major bleeding risk for each of the three subgroups to determine whether ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation are independent predictors of major bleeds in different cardiovascular risk groups.

Results

In all three subgroups (AF, CVD, no CVD/AF), Māori (adjHR 1.63 [1.39–1.91], 1.24 [1.09–1.42], 1.57 [95% CI 1.45–1.70], respectively), Pacific people (adjHR 1.90 [1.58–2.28], 1.30 [1.12–1.51], 1.62 [95% CI 1.49–1.75], respectively) and Chinese people (adjHR 1.53 [1.08–2.16], 1.15 [0.90–1.47], 1.13 [95% CI 1.01–1.26], respectively) were at increased risk of a major bleed compared to Europeans, although for Chinese people the effect did not reach statistical significance in the CVD subgroup. Compared to Europeans, Māori and Pacific peoples were generally at increased risk of all bleed types (gastrointestinal, intracranial and other bleeds). An increased risk of intracranial bleeds was observed among Chinese and Other Asian people and, in the CVD and no CVD/AF subgroups, among Indian people. Increasing socioeconomic deprivation was also associated with increased risk of a major bleed in all three subgroups (adjHR 1.07 [1.02–1.12], 1.07 [1.03–1.10], 1.10 [95% CI 1.08–1.12], respectively, for each increase in socioeconomic deprivation quintile).

Conclusion

Ethnicity and socioeconomic status should be considered in bleeding risk assessments to guide the use of antithrombotic medication for the management of AF and CVD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-021-01993-9.

Association of Low-Dose Triple Combination Therapy With Therapeutic Inertia and Prescribing Patterns in Patients With Hypertension: A Secondary Analysis of the TRIUMPH Trial

Importance

Fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapies are being increasingly recommended for initial or early management of patients with hypertension, as they reduce treatment complexity and potentially reduce therapeutic inertia.

Objective

To investigate the association of antihypertensive triple drug FDC therapy with therapeutic inertia and prescribing patterns compared with usual care.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A post hoc analysis of the Triple Pill vs Usual Care Management for Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension (TRIUMPH) study, a randomized clinical trial of 700 patients with hypertension, was conducted. Patients were enrolled from 11 urban hospital clinics in Sri Lanka from February 2016 to May 2017; follow-up ended in October 2017. Data were analyzed from September to November 2019.

Interventions

Once-daily FDC antihypertensive pill (telmisartan, 20 mg; amlodipine, 2.5 mg; and chlorthalidone, 12.5 mg) or usual care.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Therapeutic inertia, defined as not intensifying therapy in those with blood pressure (BP) above target, was assessed at baseline and during follow-up visits. Prescribing patterns were characterized by BP-lowering drug class and treatment regimen potency. Predictors of therapeutic inertia were assessed with binomial logistic regression.

Results

Of the 700 included patients, 403 (57.6%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 56 (11) years. Among patients who did not reach the BP target, therapeutic inertia was more common in the triple pill group compared with the usual care group at the week 6 visit (92 of 106 [86.8%] vs 124 of 194 [63.9%]; P < .001) and week 12 visit (81 of 90 [90%] vs 116 of 179 [64.8%]; P < .001). At the end of the study, 221 of 318 patients in the triple pill group (69.5%) and 182 of 329 patients in the usual care group (55.3%) reached BP targets. Among those who received treatment intensification, the increase in estimated regimen potency was greater in the triple pill group compared with the usual care group at baseline (predicted mean [SD] increase in regimen potency: triple pill, 15 [6] mm Hg; usual care, 10 [5] mm Hg; P < .001), whereas there were no significant differences at the week 6 or at week 12 visit. Clinic systolic BP level was the only consistent predictor of treatment intensification during follow-up. During follow-up, there were 23 vs 54 unique treatment regimens per 100 treated patients in the triple pill vs usual care groups, respectively (P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

Triple pill FDC therapy was associated with greater rates of therapeutic inertia compared with usual care. Despite this, triple pill FDC therapy substantially simplified prescribing patterns and improved 6-month BP control rates compared with usual care. Further improvements in hypertension control could be achieved by addressing therapeutic inertia among the minority of patients who do not achieve BP control after initial FDC therapy.

Trial Registration

ANZCTR Identifier: ACTRN12612001120864.

Cardiovascular preventive pharmacotherapy stratified by predicted cardiovascular risk: a national data linkage study

AIMS

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management guided by predicted CVD risk is widely recommended internationally. This is the first study to examine CVD preventive pharmacotherapy in a whole-of-country primary prevention population, stratified by CVD risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Anonymized individual-level linkage of New Zealand administrative health and non-health data identified 2 250 201 individuals without atherosclerotic CVD, alive, and aged 30-74 years on 31 March 2013. We identified individuals with ≥1 dispensing by community pharmacies of blood pressure lowering (BPL) and/or lipid-lowering (LL) medications at baseline (1 October 2012-31 March 2013) and in 6-month periods between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2016. Individuals were stratified using 5-year CVD risk equations specifically developed for application in administrative datasets. One-quarter of individuals had ≥5% 5-year risk (the current New Zealand guideline threshold for discussing preventive medications) and 5% met the ≥15% risk threshold for recommended dual therapy. By study end, dual therapy was dispensed to 2%, 18%, 34%, and 49% of individuals with <5%, 5-9%, 10-14%, and ≥15% 5-year risk, respectively. Among those dispensed baseline dual therapy, 83-89% across risk strata were still treated after 3 years. Dual therapy initiation during follow-up occurred among only 13% of high-risk individuals untreated at baseline. People without diabetes and those aged ≥65 years were more likely to remain untreated.

CONCLUSION

Cardiovascular disease primary preventive pharmacotherapy was strongly associated with predicted CVD risk and, once commenced, was generally continued. However, only half of high-risk individuals received recommended dual therapy and treatment initiation was modest. Individually linked administrative datasets can identify clinically relevant quality improvement opportunities for entire populations.

Iwi (tribal) data collection at a primary health care organisation in Aotearoa

INTRODUCTION Indigenous peoples' rights include the right to self-determine one's identity. For Māori, this includes self-assignment of ethnicity, and traditional identities such as Iwi (tribe). New Zealand's Ministry of Health requires health services to collect ethnicity data using standard protocols. Iwi data are also collected by some health services; however, with no health-specific protocols, little is known about Iwi data collection and quality. The National Hauora Coalition (NHC) Primary Healthcare Organisation (PHO) sought to understand Iwi data collection across its network of primary care providers. AIM To understand Iwi data collection at the NHC PHO; specifically, is it being routinely collected, how is it being collected and what are the results? METHODS In 2017, NHC's general practice clinics were invited to submit their enrolment forms, which capture ethnicity and potentially Iwi information, by e-mail to the audit team. Forms were reviewed to determine whether Iwi information was being collected and if so, what question was being used. Iwi numbers were collated from the annual data extract. RESULTS Thirty-three of a total of 35 clinics (94%) submitted their enrolment forms to the audit team. Nine of the 33 clinics (27%) sought Iwi name/s with a specific question on their enrolment form. Six different 'Iwi' questions were used by the nine clinics. The data extract revealed that the NHC had Iwi data for 13% (2672/20,814) of its Māori enrolments. Ngāpuhi were the largest Iwi group at the NHC. DISCUSSION This is the first study to describe the quantity and quality of Iwi data collection in NZ primary care. Standard procedures for collecting, recording and using Iwi data are being developed by the NHC PHO. These could inform national protocols to optimise the quality of Iwi data.

Both incidence and prevalence of ischaemic heart disease are declining in parallel: a national data-linkage study in New Zealand (ANZACS-QI 52)

AIMS

To examine trends in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) incidence and prevalence in New Zealand from 2005 to 2016, using comprehensive linked national hospitalization and mortality data as proxy measures of all significant events.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Incident and prevalent cases of IHD in people aged ≥25 years were identified using individual patient-linkage of routinely collected ICD-10-coded hospitalization and mortality data. Incidence rates and prevalence proportions were calculated by sex and age group and then age-standardized to the 2016 New Zealand population. Ischaemic heart disease incidence and prevalence declined in men and women in all age groups. The average annual rate of decline in age-standardized IHD incidence was 3.3% for women and 2.7% for men, and the rate of decline in age-standardized IHD prevalence was 3.2% for women and 2.2% for men. Despite a 17% increase in the New Zealand population aged 25 years and over during the study period, the total number of people living with IHD also decreased, particularly in those aged 65 years and older.

CONCLUSION

In contrast to observations from other countries, where IHD incidence but not IHD prevalence has been falling, declining IHD incidence in New Zealand in recent decades is now mirrored by declining IHD prevalence.

Ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk profiles among 475,241 adults in primary care in Aotearoa, New Zealand

AIM

In Aotearoa, New Zealand, cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden is greatest among Indigenous Māori, Pacific and Indian people. The aim of this study was to describe CVD risk profiles by ethnicity.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of people aged 35-74 years who had a CVD risk assessment in primary care between 2004 and 2016. Primary care data were supplemented with linked data from regional/national databases. Comparisons between ethnic groups were made using age-adjusted summaries of continuous or categorical data.

RESULTS

475,241 people (43% women) were included. Fourteen percent were Māori, 13% Pacific, 8% Indian, 10% Other Asian and 55% European. Māori and Pacific people had a much higher prevalence of smoking, obesity, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and prior CVD compared with other ethnic groups. Pacific and Indian peoples, and to a lesser extent Māori and Other Asian people, had markedly elevated diabetes prevalence compared with Europeans. Indian men had the highest prevalence of prior coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Māori and Pacific people experience the most significant inequities in exposure to CVD risk factors compared with other ethnic groups. Indians have a high prevalence of diabetes and coronary heart disease. Strong political commitment and cross-sectoral action to implement effective interventions are urgently needed.

Trends in cardiovascular outcomes after acute coronary syndrome in New Zealand 2006-2016

OBJECTIVES

Characterisation of trends in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) outcomes are critical to informing clinical practice and quality improvement, but there are few recent population studies for ACS. We reviewed the recent trends in the outcomes of ACS in New Zealand (NZ).

METHODS

All patients with ACS admitted to NZ public hospitals in 2006-2016 were identified from hospital discharge records, and their first ACS hospitalisations per year extracted for analysis. Thirty-day and 1-year death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure and bleeding rates were calculated for each calendar year. Trends in outcome rates were assessed using generalised linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Total annual ACS hospitalisations decreased from 685 to 424 per 100 000. Using first patient hospitalisations per year (n=1 55 060), we found significant annual declines in all major outcomes except for non-cardiovascular deaths. All-cause mortality fell from 10.5% to 9.1% at 30 days (adjusted OR 0.985 per year change, p<0.001) and from 21.8% to 18.7% at 1 year (OR=0.994, p=0.016). This was related to significant decreases in cardiovascular death at both time points (OR=0.982 and 0.987, respectively, p<0.001), outweighing a slight increase in non-cardiovascular death at 1 year (OR=1.009, p=0.014). One-year rates of myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke and bleeding rates all decreased significantly over time.

CONCLUSION

ACS outcomes including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure and bleeding at 30 days and 1 year improved over the last decade in NZ, reflecting successful implementation and advances in prevention, medical and invasive management in ACS over time.

The State of Quality Improvement Teaching in Medical Schools: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

While teaching patient safety and quality improvement (QI) skills to medical students is endorsed as being important, best practice for achieving learner outcomes in QI is particularly unclear. We systematically reviewed QI curricula for medical students to identify approaches to QI training that are associated with positive learner outcomes.

METHODS

We searched databases (Medline, EMBASE, and Scopus) and article bibliographies for studies published from 2009 to 2018. Studies evaluating QI teaching for medical students in any setting and reporting learner outcomes were included. Educational content, teaching format, achievement of learning outcomes, and methodological features were abstracted. Outcomes assessed were learners' satisfaction, attitudes, knowledge and skills, changes in behavior and clinical processes, and benefits to patients.

RESULTS

Twenty of 25 curricula targeted medical students exclusively. Most curricula were well accepted by students (11/13 studies), increased their confidence in QI (9/11) and led to knowledge acquisition (17/20). Overall, positive learner outcomes (Kirkpatrick Levels 1 to 4A) were demonstrated across a range of curricular content and teaching modalities. In particular, 2 curricula demonstrated positive changes in learners' behavior (Kirkpatrick Level 3), both incorporating a clinical audit or QI project based in hospitals, and supplemented by didactic lectures. Seven curricula were associated with improvements in processes of care (Kirkpatrick Level 4A) all of which were set in a clinical setting and supplemented by didactic lectures and/or small group sessions. None of the curricula evaluated patient benefits (Kirkpatrick Level 4B).

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst there is heterogeneity in educational content and teaching methods, most curricula are well accepted and led to learners' knowledge acquisition. Although there is limited evidence for the impact of QI curricula on learner behavior and benefit to patients, and for interprofessional QI curricula, teaching QI in the clinical setting leads to better learner outcomes with location being potentially a surrogate for clinical experience.

Performance of CVD risk equations for older patients assessed in general practice: a cohort study

AIMS

To investigate how well the New Zealand PREDICT-CVD risk equations, derived in people aged 30-74 years and US Pooled Cohort Equations (PCEs) derived in people aged 40-79 years, perform for older people.

METHODS

The PREDICT cohort study automatically recruits participants when clinicians use PREDICT software to conduct a CVD risk assessment. We identified patients aged 70 years and over, without prior CVD, renal disease or heart failure who had been risk assessed between 2004 and 2016. Equation performance was assessed in five-year age bands using calibration graphs and standard discrimination metrics.

RESULTS

40,161 patients (median 73 years; IQR 71-77) experienced 5,948 CVD events during 185,150 person-years follow-up. PREDICT-CVD equations were well calibrated in 70-74 year olds but underestimated events for women from 75 years and men from 80 years. Discrimination metrics were also poor for these age groups. Recalibrated PCEs overestimated CVD risk in both sexes and had poor discrimination from age 70 years for men and from age 75 years for women.

CONCLUSIONS

While PREDICT-CVD equations performed better than PCEs, neither performed well. Multimorbidity and competing risks are likely to contribute to the poor performance and new CVD risk equations need to include these factors.

Long-term follow up of older people on diabetes medications: observational study using linked health databases

There is uncertainty about the long-term benefits and risks of diabetes medications in older people. We investigated differences in hypoglycaemia, cardiovascular disease (CVD) or mortality in older people according to diabetes medication, using linked national hospitalisation and mortality data from New Zealand. Adults aged ≥65 years dispensed diabetes medication in 2010 with a baseline glycated haemoglobulin (HbA1c) level (n=18099, mean age 73 years, 50% female) were included and stratified into four groups: metformin-only (42%); metformin-plus-other-oral-hypoglycaemic/s (27%); other-oral/s-only (11%); and any-insulin (20%). Time to first event was analysed with Cox models adjusted for sociodemographic factors; clinical history (prior hospitalisation for diabetes or CVD, and comorbidities); glycated haemoglobin; and CVD medications. Over 7-year follow up, 16% of participants experienced hypoglycaemia, 36% a CVD event and 31% died. Compared with metformin-only, insulin and other oral hypoglycaemic/s were associated with five- to 10-fold long-term increased risk of hypoglycaemia, and increased risk of CVD and death although adjusted survival curves showed no important separation between medication groups for CVD and death with the possible exception of insulin. Although confounding by indication is unable to be eliminated, this study raises further questions about the use of second-line diabetes medications in older people.

Personalized Prediction of Cardiovascular Benefits and Bleeding Harms From Aspirin for Primary Prevention: A Benefit-Harm Analysis

BACKGROUND

Whether the benefits of aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) outweigh its bleeding harms in some patients is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To identify persons without CVD for whom aspirin would probably result in a net benefit.

DESIGN

Individualized benefit-harm analysis based on sex-specific risk scores and estimates of the proportional effect of aspirin on CVD and major bleeding from a 2019 meta-analysis.

SETTING

New Zealand primary care.

PARTICIPANTS

245 028 persons (43.6% women) aged 30 to 79 years without established CVD who had their CVD risk assessed between 2012 and 2016.

MEASUREMENTS

The net effect of aspirin was calculated for each participant by subtracting the number of CVD events likely to be prevented (CVD risk score × proportional effect of aspirin on CVD risk) from the number of major bleeds likely to be caused (major bleed risk score × proportional effect of aspirin on major bleeding risk) over 5 years.

RESULTS

2.5% of women and 12.1% of men were likely to have a net benefit from aspirin treatment for 5 years if 1 CVD event was assumed to be equivalent in severity to 1 major bleed, increasing to 21.4% of women and 40.7% of men if 1 CVD event was assumed to be equivalent to 2 major bleeds. Net benefit subgroups had higher baseline CVD risk, higher levels of most established CVD risk factors, and lower levels of bleeding-specific risk factors than net harm subgroups.

LIMITATIONS

Risk scores and effect estimates were uncertain. Effects of aspirin on cancer outcomes were not considered. Applicability to non-New Zealand populations was not assessed.

CONCLUSION

For some persons without CVD, aspirin is likely to result in net benefit.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

Health Research Council of New Zealand.

The strong case for government funding of a polypill for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in New Zealand

Wald and Law, who popularised the term 'polypill' in 2003, proposed giving everyone above a certain age a polypill to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A more compelling potential application, proposed in 2001 by the World Health Organization, is to use a polypill containing antiplatelet, statin and blood pressure-lowering therapy among people with established CVD, in whom the components are already indicated but in whom guideline implementation and adherence are suboptimal. This article outlines relevant international and New Zealand evidence on the likely benefits and harms of a polypill for the secondary prevention of CVD. The evidence indicates that the benefits are likely to outweigh the harms, particularly given the persistence of substantial treatment gaps and inequities in the management of and outcomes in CVD. The time is long overdue for the polypill to be funded for the secondary prevention of CVD.

Fixed-combination, low-dose, triple-pill antihypertensive medication versus usual care in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension in Sri Lanka: a within-trial and modelled economic evaluation of the TRIUMPH trial

BACKGROUND

Elevated blood pressure incurs a major health and economic burden, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The Triple Pill versus Usual Care Management for Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension (TRIUMPH) trial showed a greater reduction in blood pressure in patients using fixed-combination, low-dose, triple-pill antihypertensive therapy (consisting of amlodipine, telmisartan, and chlorthalidone) than in those receiving usual care in Sri Lanka. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the triple-pill strategy.

METHODS

We did a within-trial (6-month) and modelled (10-year) economic evaluation of the TRIUMPH trial, using the health system perspective. Health-care costs, reported in 2017 US dollars, were determined from trial records and published literature. A discrete-time simulation model was developed, extrapolating trial findings of reduced systolic blood pressure to 10-year health-care costs, cardiovascular disease events, and mortality. The primary outcomes were the proportion of people reaching blood pressure targets (at 6 months from baseline) and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted (at 10 years from baseline). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated to estimate the cost per additional participant achieving target blood pressure at 6 months and cost per DALY averted over 10 years.

FINDINGS

The triple-pill strategy, compared with usual care, cost an additional US$9·63 (95% CI 5·29 to 13·97) per person in the within-trial analysis and $347·75 (285·55 to 412·54) per person in the modelled analysis. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were estimated at $7·93 (95% CI 6·59 to 11·84) per participant reaching blood pressure targets at 6 months and $2842·79 (-28·67 to 5714·24) per DALY averted over a 10-year period.

INTERPRETATION

Compared with usual care, the triple-pill strategy is cost-effective for patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. Scaled up investment in the triple pill for hypertension management in Sri Lanka should be supported to address the high population burden of cardiovascular disease.

FUNDING

Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

What is the Optimal Rate of Invasive Coronary Angiography After Acute Coronary Syndrome? (ANZACS-QI 22)

BACKGROUND

Invasive coronary angiography plays a pivotal role in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Wide variability in its use has been previously documented. Our aim was to investigate whether coronary angiography is being used appropriately prior to discharge after ACS, taking into account relative contraindications of the procedure.

METHODS

Patients presenting with ACS in 2015 to two large, demographically distinct New Zealand (NZ) District Health Boards (DHBs)-Counties Manukau (CMDHB) and Waitemata (WDHB)-were identified from the NZ Ministry of Health National Dataset using ICD-10-AM codes. Patients' clinical data were obtained from the electronic and paper clinical records. Pre-defined relative contraindications to coronary angiography were identified.

RESULTS

Of the 3,809 patient admissions coded with ACS, 600 patient admissions (300 from each DHB) were reviewed. Sixty-one (61) (10%) did not meet diagnostic criteria for ACS on review of clinical data and were excluded. Of the patients reviewed, 55% received coronary angiography, with a higher rate in WDHB than CMDHB (61% and 49%, respectively) and 37.5% had relative contraindications documented. The overall rate of angiography was appropriately high in those without a relative contraindication (90.3%) and low in those with one (7.4%). There were fewer patients with relative contraindications in WDHB than CMDHB (36.7% and 48.5%) but the rate of angiography in those with (6.9% and 7.8%) and without (92.5% and 87.5%) contraindications in the two DHBs was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

The decision to offer coronary angiography after ACS appears to be appropriately influenced by the presence or absence of relative contraindications. Approximately 60% of patients had no documented relative contraindication suggesting that this may be an appropriate angiography rate in New Zealand practice. However, differences between the two DHBs of around 10% appear to be clinically appropriate due to variation in contraindication rates.

Predicting Bleeding Risk to Guide Aspirin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Many prognostic models for cardiovascular risk can be used to estimate aspirin's absolute benefits, but few bleeding risk models are available to estimate its likely harms.

OBJECTIVE

To develop prognostic bleeding risk models among persons in whom aspirin might be considered for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

New Zealand primary care.

PARTICIPANTS

The study cohort comprised 385 191 persons aged 30 to 79 years whose CVD risk was assessed between 2007 and 2016. Those with indications for or contraindications to aspirin and those who were already receiving antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy were excluded.

MEASUREMENTS

For each sex, Cox proportional hazards models were developed to predict major bleeding risk; participants were censored at the earliest of the date on which they first met an exclusion criterion, date of death, or study end date (30 June 2017). The main models included the following predictors: demographic characteristics (age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic deprivation), clinical measurements (systolic blood pressure and ratio of total-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), family history of premature CVD, medical history (smoking, diabetes, bleeding, peptic ulcer disease, cancer, chronic liver disease, chronic pancreatitis, or alcohol-related conditions), and medication use (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, corticosteroids, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

RESULTS

During 1 619 846 person-years of follow-up, 4442 persons had major bleeding events (of which 313 [7%] were fatal). The main models predicted a median 5-year bleeding risk of 1.0% (interquartile range, 0.8% to 1.5%) in women and 1.1% (interquartile range, 0.7% to 1.6%) in men. Plots of predicted-against-observed event rates showed good calibration throughout the risk range.

LIMITATION

Hemoglobin level, platelet count, and body mass index were excluded from the main models because of high numbers of missing values, and the models were not externally validated in non-New Zealand populations.

CONCLUSION

Prognostic bleeding risk models were developed that can be used to estimate the absolute bleeding harms of aspirin among persons in whom aspirin is being considered for the primary prevention of CVD.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

The Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate and incident cardiovascular disease in an ethnically diverse primary care cohort

AIM

To investigate eGFR as an independent risk factor for CVD in a New Zealand primary care cohort, stratified by disease status (prior CVD, diabetes or no CVD or diabetes).

METHOD

The PREDICT-CVD open cohort study is a large, ethnically diverse, New Zealand primary care cohort, generated by using a web-based CVD risk assessment tool. Using encrypted identifiers, participant profiles were linked anonymously to a regional laboratory database (to determine renal function) and to national hospitalisation and mortality datasets. Analyses using a single baseline eGFR measurement were undertaken in three clinical sub-cohorts of participants: those with prior CVD (n=29,742), with diabetes (n=44,416) and with neither CVD nor diabetes (n=192,696). The association between baseline eGFR (by category ≥90, 60-89.9, 30-59.9, and <30ml/min/1.73m2) and incident CVD was analysed with Kaplan Meier plots and Cox regression models.

RESULTS

After adjustment for traditional CVD risk factors, there was an inverse relationship between CVD risk and eGFR, up to an eGFR of 60ml/min/1.73m2 in all three clinical sub-cohorts, and up to an eGFR of 90ml/min/1.73m2 in the sub-cohort with CVD or diabetes. Compared to eGFR ≥90ml/min/1.73m2, the adjusted hazard ratios of a new CVD event for eGFR <30ml/min/1.73m2 in the CVD, diabetes and no CVD/no diabetes sub-cohorts were 2.29 (95% CI 2.00-2.61), 4.71 (3.92-5.67) and 2.78 (2.05-3.77), respectively. Compared to European/Other ethnic groups, Māori participants remained at greater adjusted risk of a new CVD event in all clinical sub-cohorts and Pacific people only in the no CVD/no diabetes sub-cohort, whereas Indian participants had a similar adjusted risk to European/Other, and Other Asian patients were consistently at lower adjusted risk. Sensitivity analyses for individuals with consecutive eGFR results (>90 days apart) yielded similar results.

CONCLUSION

This study has confirmed that, in a large ethnically diverse primary care cohort, eGFR is a significant independent predictor of CVD risk, and the risk varies by ethnic group.

Indigenous health worker support for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of the Mana Tū programme

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications are more common among Māori and Pacific people compared with other ethnic groups in New Zealand. Comprehensive and sustained approaches that address social determinants of health are required to address this condition, including culturally specific interventions. Currently, New Zealand has no comprehensive T2DM management programme for Māori or Pacific people.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Mana Tū programme was developed by a Māori-led collaborative of primary healthcare workers and researchers, and codesigned with whānau (patients and their families) in order to address this gap. The programme is based in primary care and has three major components: a Network hub, Kai Manaaki (skilled case managers who work with whānau with poorly controlled diabetes) and a cross-sector network of services to whom whānau can be referred to address the wider determinants of health. The Network hub supports the delivery of the intervention through training of Kai Manaaki, referrals management, cross-sector network development and quality improvement of the programme. A two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mana Tū programme among Māori, Pacific people or those living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation who also have poorly controlled diabetes (glycated haemoglobin, HbA1c, >65 mmol/mol (8%)), compared with being on a wait list for the programme. A total of 400 participants will be included from 10 general practices (5 practices per group, 40 participants per practice). The primary outcome is HbA1c at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include blood pressure, lipid levels, body mass index and smoking status at 12 months. This protocol outlines the proposed study design and analysis methods.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval for the trial has been obtained from the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee (17/NTB/249). Findings will be presented to practices and their patients at appropriate fora, and disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12617001276347; Pre-result.

Mana Tū: a whānau ora approach to type 2 diabetes

In 2017, the National Hauora Coalition, a Māori-led Primary Health Organisation (PHO), was awarded a Long-Term Conditions Partnership Research grant to test the effectiveness of Mana Tū: a whānau ora approach to type 2 diabetes. With moves to replicate aspects of it in programmes around New Zealand, it is timely to describe the rationale for Mana Tū and the key components of its unique model of care. Mana Tū was developed in response to current ethnic and social inequities in type 2 diabetes rates, outcomes and wider determinants. It attempts to address various system, service and patient factors that impact on the whānau's ability to 'mana tū' or 'stand with authority' when living with a long-term condition. Results, including clinical, implementation and cost-effectiveness data, will be collected and analysed over the next two years.

Feasibility and reliability of clinical coding surveillance for the routine monitoring of adverse drug events in New Zealand hospitals

AIM

To explore the feasibility and reliability of Clinical Coding Surveillance (CCS) for the routine monitoring of Adverse Drug Events (ADE) and describe the characteristics of harm identified through this approach in a large district health board (DHB).

METHOD

All hospital admissions at Waitemata DHB from 2015 to 2016 with an ADE-related ICD10-AM code of Y40-Y59, X40-X49 or T36-T50 were extracted from clinical coded data. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, statistical process control and Pareto charts. Two clinicians assessed a random sample of 140 ADEs for their accuracy against what was clinically documented in medical records.

RESULTS

A total of 11,999 ADEs were identified in 244,992 admissions (4.9 ADEs per 100 admissions). ADEs were more prevalent in older adults and associated with longer average length of stays and medicines such as analgesics, antibiotics, anticoagulants and diuretics. Only 2,164 (18%) of ADEs were classified as originating within hospital. Of ADEs originating outside of the hospital, the main causes were poisoning by psychotropics, anti-epileptics and anti-parkinsonism agents and non-opioid analgesics. Clinicians agreed that 91% of ADE positive admissions were accurately classified as per clinical documentation.

CONCLUSION

CCS is a feasible and reliable approach for the routine monitoring of ADEs in hospitals.

Are the benefits of aspirin likely to exceed the risk of major bleeds among people in whom aspirin is recommended for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease?

AIM

The 2018 New Zealand Consensus Statement on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and management recommends the use of aspirin in people aged less than 70 years with a five-year CVD risk >15% but without prior CVD. We determined whether the estimated number of CVD events avoided by taking aspirin is likely to exceed the number of additional major bleeds caused by aspirin in this patient population.

METHOD

Major bleeding rates were obtained from the PREDICT primary care study, a large New Zealand cohort of people eligible for CVD risk assessment, after excluding those with no other indications for (eg, established CVD) or contraindications/cautions (eg, prior major bleed) to aspirin use. We modelled the benefits (CVD events avoided) and harms (additional major bleeds) of aspirin for primary prevention of CVD over five years using hypothetical populations aged 40 to 79 years, stratified by sex, age-group and estimated five-year CVD risk. Two clinical scenarios were modelled, according to whether or not optimisation of lipid- and blood pressure-lowering therapy was required prior to aspirin initiation.

RESULTS

In both clinical scenarios the number of CVD events prevented by aspirin over five years was estimated to be, on average, more than the number of bleeds caused by aspirin among people aged less than 70 years with estimated five-year CVD risk of >15%. However, the magnitude of the net benefit of aspirin was modest among people aged 60-69 years, particularly if lipid- and blood pressure-lowering therapy had not already been optimised.

CONCLUSION

The benefits of aspirin are likely to exceed the risk of major bleeds among people in whom aspirin is recommended for the primary prevention of CVD. A more cautious approach to the use of aspirin is appropriate for people aged 60-69 years who are likely to have a smaller net benefit from aspirin, particularly those in whom lipid- and blood pressure-lowering therapy has not already been optimised or who have other bleeding risk factors, such as diabetes or smoking. More specific recommendations will be possible when bleeding risk equations are developed to complement the recently developed New Zealand CVD risk equations.

Fixed Low-Dose Triple Combination Antihypertensive Medication vs Usual Care for Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypertension in Sri Lanka: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Poorly controlled hypertension is a leading global public health problem requiring new treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether a low-dose triple combination antihypertensive medication would achieve better blood pressure (BP) control vs usual care.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Randomized, open-label trial of a low-dose triple BP therapy vs usual care for adults with hypertension (systolic BP >140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >90 mm Hg; or in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease: >130 mm Hg and/or >80 mm Hg) requiring initiation (untreated patients) or escalation (patients receiving monotherapy) of antihypertensive therapy. Patients were enrolled from 11 urban hospital clinics in Sri Lanka from February 2016 to May 2017; follow-up ended in October 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

A once-daily fixed-dose triple combination pill (20 mg of telmisartan, 2.5 mg of amlodipine, and 12.5 mg of chlorthalidone) therapy (n = 349) or usual care (n = 351).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the proportion achieving target systolic/diastolic BP (<140/90 mm Hg or <130/80 mm Hg in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included mean systolic/diastolic BP difference during follow-up and withdrawal of BP medications due to an adverse event.

RESULTS

Among 700 randomized patients (mean age, 56 years; 58% women; 29% had diabetes; mean baseline systolic/diastolic BP, 154/90 mm Hg), 675 (96%) completed the trial. The triple combination pill increased the proportion achieving target BP vs usual care at 6 months (70% vs 55%, respectively; risk difference, 12.7% [95% CI, 3.2% to 22.0%]; P < .001). Mean systolic/diastolic BP at 6 months was 125/76 mm Hg for the triple combination pill vs 134/81 mm Hg for usual care (adjusted difference in postrandomization BP over the entire follow-up: systolic BP, -9.8 [95% CI, -7.9 to -11.6] mm Hg; diastolic BP, -5.0 [95% CI, -3.9 to -6.1] mm Hg; P < .001 for both comparisons). Overall, 419 adverse events were reported in 255 patients (38.1% for triple combination pill vs 34.8% for usual care) with the most common being musculoskeletal pain (6.0% and 8.0%, respectively) and dizziness, presyncope, or syncope (5.2% and 2.8%). There were no significant between-group differences in the proportion of patient withdrawal from BP-lowering therapy due to adverse events (6.6% for triple combination pill vs 6.8% for usual care).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients with mild to moderate hypertension, treatment with a pill containing low doses of 3 antihypertensive drugs led to an increased proportion of patients achieving their target BP goal vs usual care. Use of such medication as initial therapy or to replace monotherapy may be an effective way to improve BP control.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12612001120864; slctr.lk Identifier: SLCTR/2015/020.