Does practice analysis agree with the ambulatory care sensitive conditions' list of avoidable unplanned admissions?: a cross-sectional study in the East of England.

Objectives: To use significant event audits (SEAs) in primary care to determine which of a sample of emergency (unplanned) admissions were potentially avoidable; and compare with the National Health Service (NHS) list of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs).

Design: Analysis of unplanned medical admissions randomly identified in secondary care.

Setting: Primary care in the East of England.

Important factors in predicting mortality outcome from stroke: findings from the Anglia Stroke Clinical Network Evaluation Study.

Background: Although variation in stroke service provision and outcomes have been previously investigated, it is less well known what service characteristics are associated with reduced short- and medium-term mortality.

Methods: Data from a prospective multicentre study (2009–12) in eight acute regional NHS trusts with a catchment population of about 2.6 million were used to examine the prognostic value of patient-related factors and service characteristics on stroke mortality outcome at 7, 30 and 365 days post stroke, and time to death within 1 year.

Similarity of patient characteristics and outcomes in consecutive data collection on stroke admissions over one month compared to longer periods.

Background: The usefulness of time-limited consecutive data collection compared to continuous consecutive data collection in conditions which show seasonal variations is unclear. The objective of this study is to assess whether one month of admission data can be representative of data collected over two years in the same hospitals.

Methods: We compared the baseline characteristics and discharge outcomes of stroke patients admitted in the first month (October 2009) of the Anglia Stroke Clinical Network Evaluation Study (ASCNES) with the routinely collected data over 2 years between September 2008 and April 2011 from the same 8 hospital trusts in the Anglia Stroke & Heart Clinical Network (AS&HCN) as well as seasonal cohorts from the same period.

The at-risk registers in severe asthma (ARRISA) study: a cluster-randomised controlled trial examining effectiveness and costs in primary care.

Background: Patients at risk of severe exacerbations contribute disproportionally to asthma mortality, morbidity and costs. We evaluated the effectiveness and costs of using 'asthma risk registers' for these patients in primary care.

Methods: In a cluster-randomised trial, 29 primary care practices identified 911 at-risk asthma patients using British asthma guideline criteria (severe asthma plus adverse psychosocial characteristics).

Evaluation of stroke services in Anglia Stroke Clinical Network to examine the variation in acute services and stroke outcomes.

Background: Stroke is the third leading cause of death in developed countries and the leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. A series of national stroke audits in the UK highlighted the differences in stroke care between hospitals. The study aims to describe variation in outcomes following stroke and to identify the characteristics of services that are associated with better outcomes, after accounting for case mix differences and individual prognostic factors.

Statistics teaching in medical school: opinions of practising doctors.

Background: The General Medical Council expects UK medical graduates to gain some statistical knowledge during their undergraduate education; but provides no specific guidance as to amount, content or teaching method. Published work on statistics teaching for medical undergraduates has been dominated by medical statisticians, with little input from the doctors who will actually be using this knowledge and these skills after graduation. Furthermore, doctor's statistical training needs may have changed due to advances in information technology and the increasing importance of evidence-based medicine.

Health, wellbeing and nutritional status of older people living in UK care homes: an exploratory evaluation of changes in food and drink provision.

Background: Food and drink are important determinants of physical and social health in care home residents. This study explored whether a pragmatic methodology including routinely collected data was feasible in UK care homes, to describe the health, wellbeing and nutritional status of care home residents and assess effects of changed provision of food and drink at three care homes on residents' falls (primary outcome), anaemia, weight, dehydration, cognitive status, depression, lipids and satisfaction with food and drink provision.

Methods: We measured health, wellbeing and nutritional status of 120 of 213 residents of six care homes in Norfolk, UK.

Do doctors need statistics? Doctors' use of and attitudes to probability and statistics.

There is little published evidence on what doctors do in their work that requires probability and statistics, yet the General Medical Council (GMC) requires new doctors to have these skills. This study investigated doctors' use of and attitudes to probability and statistics with a view to informing undergraduate teaching.An email questionnaire was sent to 473 clinicians with an affiliation to the University of East Anglia's Medical School.

The impact of computerized prescribing on error rate in a department of Oncology/Hematology.

Aims: A comparison of prescribing errors detected for computerized and spreadsheet prescriptions in the Department of Hematology and Oncology of the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital.

Methods: A prospective audit of 1941 prescriptions for chemotherapy was made from January to September 2005. Each new cycle of chemotherapy ordered was monitored for prescribing errors, which were analyzed by method of prescription (computerized or spreadsheet), prescriber, type, and severity.

Blood levels of vitamin C, carotenoids and retinol are inversely associated with cataract in a North Indian population.

Purpose: To examine the association of blood antioxidants with cataract.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of people aged >or=50 years identified from a household enumeration of 11 randomly sampled villages in North India. Participants were interviewed for putative risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, biomass fuel use, sunlight exposure, and socioeconomic status) and underwent lens photography and blood sampling.

Prevalence of early and late age-related macular degeneration in a rural population in northern India: the INDEYE feasibility study.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a rural population in Northern India.

Methods: In a pilot feasibility study, 1443 people (median age, 60 years; 52% women), were identified from enumeration of the 50+ age group in 11 randomly sampled villages from a rural, periurban district of Haryana, Northern India. Of those identified, 87% attended an eye examination that included digital fundus photography.

Prevalence of lens opacities in North India: the INDEYE feasibility study.

Purpose: To obtain estimates of the prevalence of lens opacities in an Indian setting by using photographically acquired lens images.

Methods: In 11 randomly sampled villages from a rural district of Haryana, North India, 1443 people (median age 60 years), 52% women, were identified from enumeration of the > or =50-year age group; 87% attended an eye examination. Digital images of cortical and posterior subcapsular opacities and photographs of nuclear opacities were graded using the Lens Opacity Classification System (LOCS) II.

Weight, shape, and mortality risk in older persons: elevated waist-hip ratio, not high body mass index, is associated with a greater risk of death.

Background: Guidelines for optimal weight in older persons are limited by uncertainty about the ideal body mass index (BMI) or the usefulness of alternative anthropometric measures.

Objective: We investigated the association of BMI (in kg/m(2)), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) with mortality and cause-specific mortality.

Design: Subjects aged >/=75 y (n = 14 833) from 53 family practices in the United Kingdom underwent a health assessment that included measurement of BMI and waist and hip circumferences; they also were followed up for mortality.

Are older people dying of depression? Findings from the Medical Research Council trial of the assessment and management of older people in the community.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between symptoms of depression and mortality in older people.

Design: Prospective longitudinal study.

Setting: Fifty-three general practices in the United Kingdom.

Population-based multidimensional assessment of older people in UK general practice: a cluster-randomised factorial trial.

Background: The benefit of multidimensional assessment and management of older people remains controversial. Most trials have been too small to produce adequate evidence to inform policy. We aimed to measure the effects of different approaches to assessment and management of older people.

Local area deprivation and urban-rural differences in anxiety and depression among people older than 75 years in Britain.

Objectives: We sought to determine the association of depression and anxiety with "area deprivation" (neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation) and population density among people older than 75 years in Britain.

Methods: Postal codes were used to link census area information to individual data on depression and anxiety in 13349 people aged 75 years and older taking part in a trial of health screening.

Results: Living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas was associated with depression (OR=1.

Trends in influenza vaccination uptake among people aged over 74 years, 1997-2000: survey of 73 general practices in Britain.

Background: Influenza vaccination policy for elderly people in Britain has changed twice since 1997 to increase protection against influenza but there is no information available on how this has affected vaccine uptake, and socioeconomic variation therein, among people aged over 74 years.

Methods: Vaccination information for 1997-2000 was collected directly from general practices taking part in a MRC-funded Trial of the Assessment and Management of Older People in the Community. This was linked to information collected during assessments carried out as part of the Trial.