Contribution of infection to mortality in people with type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study using electronic records.

Background: While people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more susceptible to infections, studies potentially underestimate the true burden of infection-related mortality since they rely on clinical coding systems primarily structured by body system, and by only focusing on underlying cause. This study examined cause-specific mortality in people with T2D compared to the general population during 2015-2019, focusing on infections.

Methods: 509,403 people aged 41-90 years with T2D alive on 1/1/2015 in Clinical Practice Research Datalink were matched to 976,431 without diabetes on age, sex, and ethnicity.

Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientist's validation of a framework for competency and certification.

Background: Valvular heart disease (VHD) represents a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, necessitating specialised care through multidisciplinary valve clinics. However, there is a lack of a standardised training and certification framework for clinical scientists and specialist physiologists (CSSPs) working within specialist valve clinics (SVCs). This study aimed to design, implement and validate a competency framework dedicated to training and certifying valve CSSPs to enhance patient outcomes and establish standardised care.

Perceptions of Criticality and Frequency of Tasks by the Public Health Workforce, 2022.

Introduction: Since the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been significant interest in the public health workforce and its development. Substantial emphasis has been placed on the competencies needed for the development of the workforce. As important as this work on competencies is to a competent public health workforce, the certification of public health professionals and the maintenance of their skills and knowledge is of equal importance.

Implementation challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in primary care: Perspectives of general practitioners in London UK.

Introduction: Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly in primary care settings, raises crucial questions about practical challenges and opportunities. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs) on the impact of AI in primary care.

Methods: A convenience sampling method was employed, involving a hybrid workshop with 12 GPs and 4 GP registrars.

Tuberculosis and increased incidence of cardiovascular disease: Cohort study using US and UK health records.

Background: Limited evidence suggests elevated risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) disease, though studies have not adjusted for pre-existing CVD risk. We carried out a cohort study using two separate datasets, estimating CVD incidence in people with TB versus those without.

Methods: Using data from the United States (Veterans Health Administration) and the United Kingdom (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) for 2000-2020 we matched adults with incident TB disease and no CVD history 2-years before TB diagnosis (US n=2,121; UK n=15,820) with up to 10 people without TB on the basis of age, sex, race/ethnicity and healthcare practice.