An application of matching algorithms to generalize small-area estimates of chronic pain prevalence to neighbourhoods across England.

Background: Local decision-makers lack granular data on the prevalence of chronic pain in their populations. We applied matching methods to generalize estimates from one local survey in England to other neighborhoods across the country with a similar sociodemographic composition.

Methods: We used propensity score matching to match lower-layer super output areas (LSOA) across England with 230 surveyed LSOAs in North Staffordshire by age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, and rurality.

Cross national patterns in educational inequalities in functional limitations among middle aged and older adults at two time points.

Introduction: In recent decades, the global population has aged rapidly while socioeconomic inequalities in health have widened, with older adults who are most disadvantaged experiencing the poorest health. Functional limitations are key predictors of disability and quality of life and are therefore considered an important measure of how well individuals and populations are aging. We determine if educational inequalities in functioning have widened over time and across countries.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Frailty Distribution: A Cross-National Comparison of the United States and England.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine differences in socioeconomic gradients (i.e., education, income, and wealth) in frailty by gender in the United States and England.

Investigating the emergence of a zoonotic virus: phylogenetic analysis of European bat lyssavirus 1 in the UK.

European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1, ) is predominantly detected in serotine bats () and is responsible for the majority of bat rabies cases in mainland Europe. A passive bat rabies surveillance scheme detected the virus in a serotine bat in the UK for the first time in October 2018. As of May 2024, 34 cases have been reported, 20 of which involved contact with an animal and 5 reported human contact.

Life expectancy and geographic variation in mortality: an observational comparison study of six high-income Anglophone countries.

Objective: To compare life expectancy levels and within-country geographic variation in life expectancy across six high-income Anglophone countries between 1990 and 2018.

Design: Demographic analysis using aggregated mortality data.

Setting: Six high-income Anglophone countries (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand), by sex, including an analysis of subnational geographic inequality in mortality within each country.

Prognostic Factors and Models for Predicting Work Absence in Adults with Musculoskeletal Conditions Consulting a Healthcare Practitioner: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: It is difficult to predict which employees, in particular those with musculoskeletal pain, will return to work quickly without additional vocational advice and support, which employees will require this support and what levels of support are most appropriate. Consequently, there is no way of ensuring the right individuals are directed towards the right services to support their occupational health needs. The aim of this review will be to identify prognostic factors for duration of work absence in those already absent and examine the utility of prognostic models for work absence.

Chronic pain-mental health comorbidity and excess prevalence of health risk behaviours: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain and anxiety/depression are significant public health problems. We hypothesised that adults with both conditions constitute a group at especially high risk of future cardiovascular health outcomes.

Aim: To determine whether having comorbid chronic musculoskeletal pain and anxiety/depression is associated with the excess prevalence of selected known cardiovascular health risk behaviours.

Mpox Diagnosis, Behavioral Risk Modification, and Vaccination Uptake among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men, United Kingdom, 2022.

During the 2022 multicountry mpox outbreak, the United Kingdom identified cases beginning in May. UK cases increased in June, peaked in July, then rapidly declined after September 2022. Public health responses included community-supported messaging and targeted mpox vaccination among eligible gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).

Demographic, health, physical activity, and workplace factors are associated with lower healthy working life expectancy and life expectancy at age 50.

Although retirement ages are rising in the United Kingdom and other countries, the average number of years people in England can expect to spend both healthy and work from age 50 (Healthy Working Life Expectancy; HWLE) is less than the number of years to the State Pension age. This study aimed to estimate HWLE with the presence and absence of selected health, socio-demographic, physical activity, and workplace factors relevant to stakeholders focusing on improving work participation. Data from 11,540 adults in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were analysed using a continuous time 3-state multi-state model.

The clinical characteristics, managements, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in osteoarthritis patients; a cross-sectional analysis of 6.5 million patients.

Objectives: The prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and cardiovascular disease are increasing and both conditions share similar risk factors. We investigated the association between OA and receipt of invasive managements and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample, adjusted binary logistic regression determined the association between OA and each outcome variable.

Work Ability in the Year after Rehabilitation-Results from the RehabNytte Cohort.

Background: There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of rehabilitation on work ability. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with work ability 12 months following a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program in a cohort with different diagnoses.

Methods: Of 9108 potentially eligible participants for the RehabNytte research project, 3731 were eligible for the present study, and 2649 participants (mean age 48.

Persistent high prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among patients with osteoarthritis in the UK in 1992-2017.

Objectives: To compare the annual and period prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (MCVRFs) between populations with and without osteoarthritis (OA) in the UK over 25 years.

Methods: 215 190 patients aged 35 years and over from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD database who were newly diagnosed OA between 1992 and 2017, as well as 1:1 age-matched, sex-matched, practice-matched and index year-matched non-OA individuals, were incorporated. MCVRFs including smoking, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity and dyslipidaemia were defined by Read codes and clinical measurements.

Can gaze control steering?

When steering a trajectory, we direct our gaze to locations (1-3 s ahead) that we want to steer through. How and why are these active gaze patterns conducive to successful steering? While various sources of visual information have been identified that could support steering control, the role of stereotypical gaze patterns during steering remains unclear. Here, experimental and computational approaches are combined to investigate a possible direct connection between gaze and steering: Is there enough information in gaze direction that it could be used in isolation to steer through a series of waypoints? For this, we test steering models using waypoints supplied from human gaze data, as well as waypoints specified by optical features of the environment.

Where does it hurt? Small area estimates and inequality in the prevalence of chronic pain.

Background: Chronic pain affects up to half of UK adults, impacting quality of life and demand on local health services. Whilst local health planning is currently based on subnational prevalence estimates, associations between pain and sociodemographic characteristics suggest that inequalities in the prevalence of chronic and high-impact chronic pain between neighbourhoods within local authorities are likely. We aimed to derive lower super output area (LSOA) estimates of the prevalence of chronic and high-impact chronic pain.

Error accumulation when steering toward curves.

To steer a vehicle, humans must process incoming signals that provide information about their movement through the world. These signals are used to inform motor control responses that are appropriately timed and of the correct magnitude. However, the perceptual mechanisms determining how drivers process visual information remain unclear.

Inequality in housing transitions during cognitive decline.

Independent living can become challenging for people experiencing cognitive decline. With reduced functioning and greater care needs, many people with dementia (PWD) may need to move to another home with better safety features, move to live closer to or with relatives who can provide care, or enter a nursing home. Housing plays a key role in supporting quality of life for both PWD and their caregivers, so the ability to move when needed is crucial for their well-being.

Persistent inequalities in consultation incidence and prevalence of low back pain and osteoarthritis in England between 2004 and 2019.

Objective: We wanted to determine whether socioeconomic inequalities in primary care consultation rates for two major, disabling musculoskeletal conditions in England narrowed or widened between 2004 and 2019.

Methods: We analysed data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, a national general practice electronic health records database, linked to national deprivation ranking of each patient's registered residential postcode. For each year, we estimated the age- and sex-standardized consultation incidence and prevalence for low back pain and OA for the most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods through to the least deprived 10%.

2021 EULAR points to consider to support people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases to participate in healthy and sustainable paid work.

Aim: As part of its strategic objectives for 2023, EULAR aims to improve the work participation of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). One strategic initiative focused on the development of overarching points to consider (PtC) to support people with RMDs in healthy and sustainable paid work participation.

Methods: EULAR's standardised operating procedures were followed.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Second-Eye Cataract Surgery on Motor Function.

Cataract removal surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedure in developed countries. The financial and staff resource cost that first-eye cataract surgery incurs, leads to restricted access to second-eye cataract surgery (SES) in some areas, including the United Kingdom. These restrictions have been imposed despite a lack of knowledge about the impact of not performing SES on visuo-motor function.