1
|
Barbour W, Wolff E, Puar P, Hibino M, Bakbak E, Krishnaraj A, Verma R, Verma M, Quan A, Yan AT, Connelly KA, Teoh H, Mazer CD, Verma S. Effect of empagliflozin on cardiac remodelling in South Asian and non-South Asian individuals: insights from the EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 randomised clinical trial. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2023; 23:557. [PMID: 37964221 PMCID: PMC10648366 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-023-03549-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This exploratory sub-analysis of the EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 trial examined whether the previously reported benefit of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin on left ventricular (LV) mass (LVM) regression differs between individuals of South Asian and non-South Asian ethnicity. METHODS EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that randomised 97 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) to either empagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo for 6 months. LV parameters and function were assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The 6-month changes in LVM and LV volumes, all indexed to baseline body surface area, for South Asian participants were compared to those for non-South Asian individuals. RESULTS Compared to the non-South Asian group, the South Asian sub-cohort comprised more males, was younger and had a lower median body mass index. The adjusted difference for LVMi change over 6 months was -4.3 g/m2 (95% confidence interval [CI], -7.5, -1.0; P = 0.042) for the South Asian group and -2.3 g/m2 (95% CI, -6.4, 1.9; P = 0.28) for the non-South Asian group (Pinteraction = 0.45). There was no between-group difference for the adjusted differences in baseline body surface area-indexed LV volumes and LV ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS There was no meaningful difference in empagliflozin-associated LVM regression between South Asian and non-South Asian individuals living with T2DM and CAD in the EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02998970 (First posted on 21/12/ 2016).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Barbour
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Erika Wolff
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, T12 K8AF, Ireland
| | - Pankaj Puar
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Makoto Hibino
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ehab Bakbak
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Aishwarya Krishnaraj
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Raj Verma
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02 YN77, Ireland
| | - Meena Verma
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
| | - Adrian Quan
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
| | - Andrew T Yan
- Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Kim A Connelly
- Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hwee Teoh
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
| | - C David Mazer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Anesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1E2, Canada
| | - Subodh Verma
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ogliari G, Turner Z, Khalique J, Gordon AL, Gladman JRF, Chadborn NH. Ethnic disparity in access to the memory assessment service between South Asian and white British older adults in the United Kingdom: A cohort study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2020; 35:507-515. [PMID: 31943347 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equality of access to memory assessment services by older adults from ethnic minorities is both an ethical imperative and a public health priority. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether timeliness of access to memory assessment service differs between older people of white British and South Asian ethnicity. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort. SETTING Nottingham Memory Study; outpatient secondary mental healthcare. SUBJECTS Our cohort comprised 3654 white British and 32 South Asian older outpatients. METHODS The criterion for timely access to memory assessment service was set at 90 days from referral. Relationships between ethnicity and likelihood of timely access to memory assessment service were analysed using binary logistic regression. Analyses were adjusted for socio-demographic factors, deprivation and previous access to rapid response mental health services. RESULTS Among white British outpatients, 2272 people (62.2%) achieved timely access to memory assessment service. Among South Asian outpatients, fourteen people (43.8%) achieved timely access to memory assessment service. After full adjustment, South Asian outpatients had a 0.47-fold reduced likelihood of timely access, compared to white British outpatients (odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.95, P value = .035). The difference became non-significant when restricting analyses to outpatients reporting British nationality or English as first language. Older age, lower index of deprivation and previous access to rapid response mental health services were associated with reduced likelihood of timely access, while gender was not. CONCLUSIONS In a UK mental healthcare service, older South Asian outpatients are less likely to access dementia diagnostic services in a timely way, compared to white British outpatients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ogliari
- Department of Medicine for the Elderly, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.,Clinical Development Unit, Medical Directorate, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Zoë Turner
- Clinical Development Unit, Medical Directorate, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Javid Khalique
- Independent Community Engagement Consultant, Nottingham, UK
| | - Adam L Gordon
- Department of Medicine for the Elderly, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.,School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - John R F Gladman
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Neil H Chadborn
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands, Nottingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vijayakumar V, Balakundi M, Metri KG. Challenges faced in diabetes risk prediction among an indigenous South Asian population in India using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score. Public Health 2019; 176:114-117. [PMID: 31447048 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Indigenous populations around the world have a higher health disparity and an increased risk of diabetes. Scientific literature on the prevalence of diabetes in India is not available, and the current work is a pilot study to explore the risk of diabetes in one such indigenous population in India. STUDY DESIGN This is a cross-sectional survey and screening study. METHODS The study took place in a remote tribal hamlet of Machuru in South India. A door-to-door survey was conducted in the hamlet with a population of 555. The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) questionnaire was completed by 160 individuals older than 25 years. Capillary blood glucose levels were measured to compare the glycaemic status with the predicted IDRS. RESULTS Of 160 adults who completed the questionnaire, 37 were at high risk (23.13%) as per the IDRS, 52 at medium risk (32.5%) and 71 at low risk (44.38%). None of the respondents knew their family history of diabetes owing to the lack of awareness about the condition. Interestingly, the villagers had a sedentary lifestyle owing to their unique family dynamics but a healthy diet. Five participants were diagnosed with diabetes, and 18 were diagnosed with impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes. CONCLUSIONS The IDRS might not be an accurate measure to understand the risk of diabetes in this particular population owing to their unique family dynamics and a lack of awareness about diabetes. The best possible way to assess the diabetes risk might be through blood examination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Vijayakumar
- Department of Yoga and Lifesciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA University), Bengaluru, India; Department of Yoga, Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College, Chennai, India.
| | - M Balakundi
- Department of Yoga and Lifesciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA University), Bengaluru, India
| | - K G Metri
- Department of Yoga and Lifesciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA University), Bengaluru, India
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Schroder TH, Sinclair G, Mattman A, Jung B, Barr SI, Vallance HD, Lamers Y. Pregnant women of South Asian ethnicity in Canada have substantially lower vitamin B12 status compared with pregnant women of European ethnicity. Br J Nutr 2017; 118:454-62. [PMID: 28920568 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114517002331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Maternal vitamin B12 (B12) status has been inversely associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and positively with fetal growth and infant development. South Asians, Canada's largest ethnic minority, are prone to B12 deficiency. Yet, data are lacking on B12 status in South Asian pregnant women in North America. We sought to determine B12 status, using multiple biomarkers, in 1st and 2nd trimester pregnant women of South Asian and, for comparison, European ethnicity living in Vancouver, Canada. In this retrospective cohort study, total B12, holotranscobalamin (holoTC), methylmalonic acid (MMA), and total homocysteine concentrations were quantified in two routinely collected (mean gestational week: 11·5 (range 8·3-13·9) and 16·5 (range 14·9-20·9)), banked serum samples of 748 healthy pregnant South Asian (n 371) and European (n 377) women. South Asian pregnant women had significantly lower B12 status than European pregnant women at both time points, as indicated by lower serum total B12 and holoTC concentrations, and higher MMA concentrations (all P≤0·001). The largest difference, which was substantial (Cohen's d≥0·5), was observed in mean serum total B12 concentrations (1st trimester: 189 (95 % CI 180, 199) v. 246 (95 % CI 236, 257) pmol/l; 2nd trimester: 176 (95 % CI 168, 185) v. 226 (95 % CI 216, 236) pmol/l). Further, South Asian ethnicity was a significant negative predictor of B12 status during pregnancy. South Asian women living in Vancouver have substantially lower B12 status during early pregnancy. Future research identifying predictors and health consequences of this observed difference is needed to allow for targeted interventions.
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Objective: The goal of this project was to develop a list of forenames and surnames of South Asian (SA) women that could be used to identify SA breast cancer patients within the cancer registry. This list was compiled, evaluated, and validated to ensure comprehensiveness, accuracy, and applicability of SA names. Methods: This project was conducted by Canadian researchers who are immersed in conducting behavioral studies with SA women diagnosed with cancer in the province of British Columbia. Recruiting SA cancer patients for research can be a difficult task due to social and cultural factors. Methods used by other researchers to identify ethnicity related unique names were employed to filter surnames and forenames that were not common to this ethnic group. Co-author (Gurpreet Oshan) of SA ethnicity rigorously identified and deleted multiple lists and redundant entries along with common English forenames which resulted in a list of 16,888 SA forenames. All co-authors of Indian ethnicity (Gurpreet Oshan, Savitri Singh-Carlson, Harajit Lail) were involved in critiquing and manually reviewing the names list throughout this process. Comprehensive lists of SA surnames and women's forenames were reviewed to identify those that were unique to SA ethnicity. Accuracy was ensured by constantly filtering the redundancy by using an Excel program which helped to illustrate the number of times each name was spelled in different ways. Results: The final lists included 9112 surnames and 16,888 forenames of SA ethnicity. On the basis of the surname linkage only, the sensitivity of the list was 76.6%, specificity was 62.9%, and the positive predictive value was 58.5%. On the basis of both the surname and forename linkage, the specificity of the list was 88.6%. These lists include variations in spelling forenames and surnames as well. Conclusions: The list of surnames and forenames can be useful tools to identify SA ethnic groups from large population database in healthcare-related research. Ethnicity-specific population research is important in order to help identify how cancer care should be delivered for the SA population, as well as for planning and provision of other related health services. We are willing to share this list upon request to the authors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Frances Wong
- British Columbia Cancer Agency, Fraser Valley Centre, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gurpreet Oshan
- British Columbia Cancer Agency, Fraser Valley Centre, British Columbia, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kezo A, Patel RD, Mathkar S, Butada S. Use of a Macintosh blade in extrahepatic portal vein obstruction with difficult intubation: two case reports. J Med Case Rep 2016; 10:245. [PMID: 27599477 PMCID: PMC5011965 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-016-1001-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We report the management of two patents from the Indian subcontinent with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction presenting with anticipated difficult airway. A Macintosh blade was used to secure the airway after using various instruments designed for difficult airway. To the best of our knowledge, no case has previously been reported in which a Macintosh blade was used successfully in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction with a difficult airway. Case presentation Two women (case 1 and case 2) of South Asian ethnicity with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction presented for an elective splenorenal shunt. They both had micrognathia and restricted mouth openings. They had similar airway profiles with mouth openings of just 2 cm, Mallampati class IV, a thyromental distance <4 cm, a hyomental distance <2.5 cm, and a sternomental distance of 10 cm. Awake intubation was attempted in both patients after standard airway preparation in the form of preoperative 4 % lignocaine nebulization and 2 % viscous lignocaine gargle along with an on-table supralaryngeal nerve block using 2 % lignocaine and transtracheal infiltration with 4 % lignocaine. The patient in case 1 tolerated the procedure well whereas the patient in case 2 had to be given propofol 60 mg. Endotracheal intubation with a 6.5 mm polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tube was attempted using a Truview EVO2, an Airtraq, and a Miller blade no. 3 but was unsuccessful. Finally, a trial intubation was performed successfully with a Macintosh blade with a stubby handle assisted by a Frova Intubating Introducer in case 1 and a gum elastic bougie in case 2. Conclusions Although many instruments have been introduced to manage difficult airways, our experience in these cases suggests that the Macintosh blade can be used first when attempting endotracheal intubation before using other instruments. Patients from the Indian subcontinent with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction are often found to have associated temporomandibular joint ankyloses (hence difficult airways). We hypothesize that a difficult intubation should be anticipated in these patients. Such an association has not been made before.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azho Kezo
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Road, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012, India. .,, House no 21, Near Green Park, Sixth Mile, Dimapur, Nagaland, 782062, India.
| | - Rajendra D Patel
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Road, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012, India
| | - Shraddha Mathkar
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Road, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012, India
| | - Sonal Butada
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Road, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012, India
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ginsburg OM, Fischer HD, Shah BR, Lipscombe L, Fu L, Anderson GM, Rochon PA. A population-based study of ethnicity and breast cancer stage at diagnosis in Ontario. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 22:97-104. [PMID: 25908908 DOI: 10.3747/co.22.2359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer stage at diagnosis is an important predictor of survival. Our goal was to compare breast cancer stage at diagnosis (by American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria) in Chinese and South Asian women with stage at diagnosis in the remaining general population in Ontario. METHODS We used the Ontario population-based cancer registry to identify all women diagnosed with breast cancer during 2005-2010, and we applied a validated surname algorithm to identify South Asian and Chinese women. We used logistic regression to compare, for Chinese or South Asian women and for the remaining general population, the frequency of diagnoses at stage ii compared with stage i and stages ii-iv compared with stage i. RESULTS The registry search identified 1304 Chinese women, 705 South Asian women, and 39,287 women in the remaining general population. The Chinese and South Asian populations were younger than the remaining population (mean: 54, 57, and 61 years respectively). Adjusted for age, South Asian women were more often diagnosed with breast cancer at stage ii than at stage i [odds ratio (or): 1.28; 95% confidence interval (ci): 1.08 to 1.51] or at stages ii-iv than at stage i (or: 1.27; 95% ci: 1.08 to 1.48); Chinese women were less likely to be diagnosed at stage ii than at stage i (or: 0.82; 95% ci: 0.72 to 0.92) or at stages ii-iv than at stage i (or: 0.73; 95% ci: 0.65 to 0.82). CONCLUSIONS Breast cancers were diagnosed at a later stage in South Asian women and at an earlier stage in Chinese women than in the remaining population. A more detailed analysis of ethnocultural factors influencing breast screening uptake, retention, and care-seeking behavior might be needed to help inform and evaluate tailored health promotion activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- O M Ginsburg
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON. ; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
| | - H D Fischer
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON
| | - B R Shah
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON
| | - L Lipscombe
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON. ; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON
| | - L Fu
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON
| | - G M Anderson
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON. ; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON
| | - P A Rochon
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON. ; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bush K, Thomas R, Raymond NT, Sankar S, Barker PJ, O'Hare JP. Cluster randomised controlled trial evaluation of a Link Worker-delivered intervention to improve uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening in a South Asian population. Diab Vasc Dis Res 2014; 11:294-297. [PMID: 24845073 DOI: 10.1177/1479164114532964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening in minority ethnic groups, including the South Asian population, is known to be poor. We describe a cluster randomised controlled trial conducted in 10 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in Coventry, UK, during 2007 which aimed to evaluate the use of a Link Worker-delivered intervention to improve attendance. The intervention consisted of a simple telephone reminder with the main outcome measure being attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening. We found a statistically significant difference between mean attendance proportions for intervention (0.89) and control (0.74) practices: difference (95% confidence interval (CI)) 0.15 (0.04-0.27), t = 3.03, p = 0.0162; this difference remained significant when adjusted for previous year's proportions. In this proof-of-concept study, in inner city Coventry, we demonstrated increased attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening by use of a simple Link Worker-implemented telephone call intervention. The use of Link Worker phone calls may be a useful tool to increase attendance for diabetic retinopathy screening in a group with high did-not-attend (DNA) rates and a high prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and visual impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Bush
- ST5 Ophthalmology, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth, UK
| | - Ruth Thomas
- Coventry and Warwickshire Retinal Screening, Retinal Screening Unit, Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, UK
| | - Neil T Raymond
- Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sailesh Sankar
- Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - J Paul O'Hare
- Division of Metabolic and Vascular Health, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| |
Collapse
|