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108 results found
Patel R, Naqvi S, Griffiths C, et al., 2020, Systemic adverse effects from inhaled corticosteroid use in asthma: a systematic review, BMJ Open Respiratory Research, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2052-4439
Background Oral corticosteroid use increases the risk of systemic adverse effects including osteoporosis, bone fractures, diabetes, ocular disorders and respiratory infections. We sought to understand if inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use in asthma is also associated with increased risk of systemic effects.Methods MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched to identify studies that were designed to investigate ICS-related systemic adverse effects in people with asthma. Studies were grouped by outcome: bone mineral density (BMD), respiratory infection (pneumonia or mycobacterial infection), diabetes and ocular disorder (glaucoma or cataracts). Study information was extracted using the PICO checklist. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (randomised controlled trials) and Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions-I tool (observational studies). A narrative synthesis was carried out due to the low number of studies reporting each outcome.Results Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, 2 trials and 11 observational studies. Study numbers by outcome were: six BMD, six respiratory infections (four pneumonia, one tuberculosis (TB), one non-TB mycobacteria), one ocular disorder (cataracts) and no diabetes. BMD studies found conflicting results (three found loss of BMD and three found no loss), but were limited by study size, short follow-up and lack of generalisability. Studies addressing infection risk generally found positive associations but suffered from a lack of power, misclassification and selection bias. The one study which assessed ocular disorders found an increased risk of cataracts. Most studies were not able to fully adjust for known confounders, including oral corticosteroids.Conclusion There is a paucity of studies assessing systemic adverse effects associated with ICS use in asthma. Those studies that have been carried out present conflicting findings and are limited by multiple biases and residual confounding. Furth
Bloom C, Ramsey H, Alter M, et al., 2020, Qualitative study of practices and challenges of stepping down asthma medication in primary care across the UK, Journal of Asthma and Allergy, Vol: 13, Pages: 429-437, ISSN: 1178-6965
Background: Guidelines recommend that asthma treatment should be stepped down to the minimally effective dose that achieves symptom control to prevent medication side effects and reduce unnecessary costs. Little is known about the practice of stepping down and the challenges in primary care, where most asthma patients are managed.Objective: To explore views, experiences, barriers and ideas, of doctors, nurses and pharmacists working in primary care, related to step down of asthma medication.Methods: Primary care practitioners from across the UK participated in a survey and/or semi-structured interview. Questions explored four main areas: how asthma medication is reviewed, views on asthma guidelines, perceived barriers faced by healthcare workers and facilitators of stepping down. Qualitative content analysis enabled data coding of interview transcripts to identify major themes.Results: A total of 274 participants responded to the survey, 29 participated in an interview (12 doctors, 9 nurses, and 8 pharmacists), working in GP practices from across the UK. Nearly half of the survey participants infrequently step down asthma medication (doctors=42.7%, nurses=46.3%). Four major themes related to barriers to stepping down were (i) lack of awareness of the need to step down, (ii) inertia to step down, driven by low confidence in ability, fear of consequences, and concern for who is responsible for stepping down, (iii) self-efficacy of ability to step down, influenced by lack of clear, applied guidance and limited training, and (iv) feasibility of step down, driven by a lack of systematic acceptance of stepping down and time. Strategies proposed to reduce overtreatment included education and training, improved gathering of evidence and guidance, and integrating step down into routine asthma care.Conclusion: Failure to implement this guideline recommendation into everyday asthma management is influenced by several contributing factors. Future directions should include addre
Bloom CI, Cabrera C, Arnetorp S, et al., 2020, Asthma-related health outcomes associated with short-acting beta(2)-agonist inhaler use: an observational UK study as part of the SABINA global program, Advances in Therapy, Vol: 37, Pages: 4190-4208, ISSN: 0741-238X
IntroductionPatients with asthma typically increase short-acting β2-agonists (SABA) use with worsening symptoms. Excessive SABA use may lead to a higher risk of adverse outcomes. We evaluated, in a large population cohort, an association between SABA inhaler use and asthma exacerbations and healthcare utilization.MethodsAs part of the SABINA (SABA use IN Asthma) global program, we conducted a retrospective longitudinal observational study (SABINA I) using UK primary care electronic healthcare records (Clinical Practice Research Datalink; 2007–2017) from asthma patients aged ≥ 12 years. SABA inhaler use was classified as ‘high use ’ 3 canisters/year versus ‘low use’, 0–2 canisters/year. Taking into consideration all their asthma prescriptions, patients were categorized into a treatment step according to 2016 British Thoracic Society (BTS) asthma management guidelines. Multivariable regression assessed the association of SABA inhaler use by BTS treatment steps (grouped as BTS steps 1/2 and 3–5), separately, and with outcomes of exacerbations or asthma-related healthcare utilization (primary care and hospital outpatient consultations); only patients with linked hospital data were included in this analysis.ResultsOf the 574,913 patients included, 218,365 (38%) had high SABA inhaler use. Overall, 336,412 patients had linked hospital data. High SABA inhaler use was significantly associated with an increased risk of exacerbations [adjusted hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI): BTS steps 1/2 = 1.20, 1.16–1.24; BTS steps 3–5 = 1.24, 1.20–1.28], asthma-related primary care consultations [adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR), 95% CI: BTS steps 1/2 = 1.24, 1.23–1.26; BTS steps 3–5 = 1.13, 1.11–1.15), and asthma-related hospital outpatient consultations (adjusted IRR, 95% CI: BTS steps 1/2 = 1.19, 1.12&ndas
Kumar K, Groom K, Owles H, et al., 2020, Linking advice line queries to education during the COVID-19 pandemic: learning together, PCRS Respiratory Conference
Bloom C, de Preux L, Sheikh A, et al., 2020, Health and cost impact of stepping down asthma medication for UK patients, 2001–2017: a population-based observational study, PLoS Medicine, Vol: 17, ISSN: 1549-1277
BackgroundGuidelines recommend stepping down asthma treatment to the minimum effective dose to achieve symptom control, prevent adverse side effects, and reduce costs. Limited data exist on asthma prescription patterns in a real-world setting. We aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of doses prescribed to a UK general asthma population and assess whether stepping down medication increased exacerbations or reliever use, as well as its impact on costs.Methods and findingsWe used nationwide UK primary care medical records, 2001–2017, to identify 508,459 adult asthma patients managed with preventer medication. Prescriptions of higher-level medication: medium/high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) or ICSs + add-on medication (long-acting β2-agonist [LABA], leukotriene receptor antagonist [LTRA], theophylline, or long-acting muscarinic antagonist [LAMA]) steadily increased over time (2001 = 49.8%, 2017 = 68.3%). Of those prescribed their first preventer, one-third were prescribed a higher-level medication, of whom half had no reliever prescription or exacerbation in the year prior. Of patients first prescribed ICSs + 1 add-on, 70.4% remained on the same medication during a mean follow-up of 6.6 years. Of those prescribed medium/high-dose ICSs as their first preventer, 13.0% already had documented diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, or osteopenia/osteoporosis. A cohort of 125,341 patients were drawn to assess the impact of stepping down medication: mean age 50.4 years, 39.4% males, 39,881 stepped down. Exposed patients were stepped down by dropping their LABAs or another add-on or by halving their ICS dose (halving their mean-daily dose or their inhaler dose). The primary and secondary outcomes were, respectively, exacerbations and an increase in reliever prescriptions. Multivariable regression was used to assess outcomes and determine the prognostic factors for initiating stepdown. There was no increased exacerbation risk for each possible medication stepdown (ad
Bloom C, Douglas I, Usmani OS, et al., 2020, Inhaled corticosteroid treatment regimens and health outcomes in a UK COPD population study [Corrigendum], The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Vol: 15, Pages: 869-869, ISSN: 1176-9106
Sundaram V, Rothnie K, Bloom C, et al., 2020, Impact of comorbidities on peak troponin levels and mortality in acute myocardial infarction, Heart, Vol: 106, Pages: 677-685, ISSN: 1355-6037
OBJECTIVES: To characterise peak cardiac troponin levels, in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to their comorbid condition and determine the influence of peak cardiac troponin (cTn) levels on mortality. METHODS: We included patients with the first admission for AMI in the UK. We used linear regression to estimate the association between eight common comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, previous angina, peripheral arterial disease, previous myocardial infarction (MI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), cerebrovascular disease, chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) and peak cTn. Peak cTn levels were adjusted for age, sex, smoking status and comorbidities. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were employed to investigate the association between peak cTn and 180-day mortality for each comorbidity. RESULTS: 330 367 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction were identified. Adjusted peak cTn levels were significantly higher in patients with CKD (adjusted % difference in peak cTnT for CKD=42%, 95% CI 13.1 to 78.4) and significantly lower for patients with COPD, previous angina, previous MI and CHF when compared with patients without the respective comorbidities (reference group) (cTnI; COPD=-21.7%, 95% CI -29.1 to -13.4; previous angina=-24.2%, 95% CI -29.6 to -8.3; previous MI=-13.5%, 95% CI -20.6 to -5.9; CHF=-28%, 95% CI -37.2 to -17.6). Risk of 180-day mortality in most of the comorbidities did not change substantially after adjusting for peak cTn. In general, cTnI had a stronger association with mortality than cTnT. CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide analysis of patients presenting with AMI, comorbidities substantially influenced systemic concentrations of peak cTn. Comorbid illness is a significant predictor of mortality regardless of peak cTn levels and should be taken into consideration while interpr
Axson E, Sundaram V, Bloom C, et al., 2020, Temporal trends in the incidence of heart failure among patients with COPD and its association with mortality, Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Vol: 17, Pages: 939-948, ISSN: 1546-3222
Rationale: Heart failure (HF) is a common comorbidity in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) population, but previous research has shown under recognition. Objectives: To determine the incidence of HF in a prevalent COPD cohort. To determine the association of incident HF with short- and long-term mortality of patients with COPD. Methods: Crude incidence of HF in the HF-naïve primary care COPD population was calculated for each year from 2006-2016 using UK data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Patients with COPD were identified using a validated code list and were required to be over 35 years old at COPD diagnosis, have a history of smoking, and have documented airflow obstruction. Office of National Statistics provided mortality data for England. Adjusted mortality rate ratios (aMRR) from Poisson regression were calculated for patients with COPD and incident HF (COPD-iHF) in 2006, 2011, and 2015 and compared temporally with patients with COPD and without incident HF (COPD-no HF) in those years. Regression was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, severity of airflow limitation, smoking status, history of cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Results: We identified 95,987 HF-naïve patients with COPD. Crude incidence of HF was steady from 2006-2016 (1.18 per 100 person-years (95%CI: 1.09, 1.27)). Patients with COPD-iHF experienced greater than threefold increase in one-year mortality and twofold increase in five-year and 10-year mortality compared with patients with COPD-no HF, with no change based on year of HF diagnosis. Mortality of patients with COPD-iHF did not improve over time, comparing incident HF in 2011 (1-year aMRR 1.26, 95%CI: 0.83, 1.90; 5-year aMRR 1.26, 95%CI: 0.98, 1.61) and 2015 (1-year aMRR 1.63, 95%CI: 0.98, 2.70) with incident HF in 2006. Conclusions: The incidence of HF in the UK COPD population was stable in the last decade. Survival of patients with COPD and incident HF has not improved over time in England. Be
Bloom CI, Douglas I, Usmani OS, et al., 2020, Inhaled corticosteroid treatment regimens and health outcomes in a UK COPD population study, The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Vol: 15, Pages: 701-710, ISSN: 1176-9106
Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are a prevailing treatment option for COPD patients but recent guidelines have relegated their use predominantly to patients with frequent exacerbations. Yet large numbers of patients worldwide are currently treated with ICS-containing regimens. We wished to determine in routine clinical practice how common ICS withdrawal is and the differences in health outcomes between patients managed on ICS-containing and non-ICS containing regimens.Patients and Methods: COPD patients were identified from the UK primary care electronic healthcare records, between 2014 and 2018. Patients were grouped into three treatment regimens: long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), LABA and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), and triple therapy (LABA, LAMA and ICS). Annual incidence of ICS withdrawal was measured. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify patient factors associated with withdrawal. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to assess the association of exacerbations and hospitalised pneumonia between the ICS-containing regimens (LABA-ICS and triple therapy) and patients prescribed LABA-LAMA.Results: Of 117,046 patients, around three-quarters were prescribed ICS-containing inhalers but ICS withdrawal occurred annually in only approximately 2– 3% of patients. Exacerbations in the past year, but not a past history of pneumonia, were associated with ICS withdrawal. A total of 31,034 patients using three treatment regimens (LABA-ICS, LABA-LAMA or triple therapy) were assessed for their relative risk of exacerbations and pneumonia; the exacerbation risk was slightly lower in LABA-ICS users but the same in triple therapy users, as compared to LABA-LAMA users (LABA-ICS adjusted IRR=0.82 (95% CI 0.73– 0.93), triple adjusted IRR=0.99 (95% CI 0.88– 1.11)). There was no difference in the pneumonia risk (LABA-ICS adjusted IRR=0.96 (95% CI 0.71– 1.31), triple adjusted IRR=1.16 (
Axson E, Ragutheeswaran K, Sundaram V, et al., 2020, Hospitalisation and mortality in patients with comorbid COPD and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Respiratory Research, Vol: 21, Pages: 1-13, ISSN: 1465-9921
BackgroundDiscrepancy exists amongst studies investigating the effect of comorbid heart failure (HF) on the morbidity and mortality of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.MethodsMEDLINE and Embase were searched using a pre-specified search strategy for studies comparing hospitalisation, rehospitalisation, and mortality of COPD patients with and without HF. Studies must have reported crude and/or adjusted rate ratios, risk ratios, odds ratios (OR), or hazard ratios (HR).ResultsTwenty-eight publications, reporting 55 effect estimates, were identified that compared COPD patients with HF with those without HF. One study reported on all-cause hospitalisation (1 rate ratio). Two studies reported on COPD-related hospitalisation (1 rate ratio, 2 OR). One study reported on COPD- or cardiovascular-related hospitalisation (4 HR). One study reported on 90-day all-cause rehospitalisation (1 risk ratio). One study reported on 3-year all-cause rehospitalisation (2 HR). Four studies reported on 30-day COPD-related rehospitalisation (1 risk ratio; 5 OR). Two studies reported on 1-year COPD-related rehospitalisation (1 risk ratio; 1 HR). One study reported on 3-year COPD-related rehospitalisation (2 HR). Eighteen studies reported on all-cause mortality (1 risk ratio; 4 OR; 24 HR). Five studies reported on all-cause inpatient mortality (1 risk ratio; 4 OR). Meta-analyses of hospitalisation and rehospitalisation were not possible due to insufficient data for all individual effect measures. Meta-analysis of studies requiring spirometry for the diagnosis of COPD found that risk of all-cause mortality was 1.61 (pooled HR; 95%CI: 1.38, 1.83) higher in patients with HF than in those without HF.ConclusionsIn this systematic review, we investigated the effect of HF comorbidity on hospitalisation and mortality of COPD patients. There is substantial evidence that HF comorbidity increases COPD-related rehospitalisation and all-cause mortality of COPD patients. The effect of HF
Axson EL, Sundaram V, Bloom CI, et al., 2020, The Effect of Unrecognised and Confirmed Heart Failure on Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, ISSN: 1073-449X
Sundaram V, Bloom C, Zakeri R, et al., 2019, Temporal trends in the incidence, treatment patterns, and outcomes of coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease in the United Kingdom, 2006-2015, European Heart Journal, Vol: 41, Pages: 1636-1649, ISSN: 0195-668X
AimsMost reports estimating national incidence rates of coronary (CAD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have focused on stable outpatients or acute or elective hospital admissions, but not on the overall burden of disease. In this study, we report the changing trends in the population-level incidence of CAD and PAD, respectively from 2006 to 2015, statin utilization for secondary prevention and survival outcomes using multiple nationally representative data sources from the UK (primary care encounters, hospital admissions, and procedure-level data).Methods and resultsA nationally representative study of linked primary and secondary care electronic health records of 4.6 million individuals from the UK. We calculated crude and standardized annual incidence rates separately for CAD and PAD. Statin use for secondary prevention, trends in annual major vascular event rates, and mortality between 2006 and 2015, were estimated for CAD and PAD, respectively. We identified 160 376 and 70 753 patients with incident CAD and PAD, respectively. The age- and sex-standardized incidence of CAD was similar in 2006 (443 per 100 000 person-years) and 2015 [436 per 100 000 person-years; adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96–1.00]. In contrast, there was a 15% decline in the standardized incidence of PAD (236 per 100 000 person-years in 2006 to 202 per 100 000 person-years in 2015; adjusted IRR 0.85, 95% CI 0.82–0.88). The proportion of incident CAD and PAD patients prescribed long-term statins, was only 66% and 55%, respectively and was less common amongst women, patients aged >70 years, with heart failure, chronic lung disease, or depression. Cardiovascular mortality declined by 43% for incident CAD (adjusted IRR 0.57, 95% CI 0.50–0.64) between 2006 and 2015 but did not decline for incident PAD (adjusted IRR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70–1.00).Conclusion and relevanceIn the UK, the standardized incidence of CAD appears stable bu
Sundaram V, Rothnie K, Bloom C, et al., 2019, The impact of co-morbidities on peak troponin levels and mortality in acute myocardial infarction: A population based, nationwide study, Heart, ISSN: 1355-6037
Objectives: To characterize peak cardiac troponin levels, in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to their comorbid condition and determine the influence of peak troponin (cTn) levels on mortality. Methods: We included patients with the first admission for AMI in the United Kingdom. We used linear regression to estimate the association between eight common co-morbidities {diabetes mellitus(DM), previous angina, peripheral arterial disease(PAD), previous myocardial infarction(MI), chronic kidney disease(CKD), cerebrovascular disease(CVD), chronic heart failure(CHF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)} and peak cTn. Peak cTn levels were adjusted for age, sex, smoking status and co-morbidities. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were employed to investigate the association between peak cTn and 180-day mortality for each co-morbidity. Results: 330,367 patients with AMI were identified. Adjusted peak cTn levels were significantly higher in patients with CKD[adjusted % difference in peak cTnT for CKD=42%, 95%CI 13.1 to 78.4] and significantly lower for patients with COPD, previous angina, previous MI and CHF when compared to patients without the respective co-morbidities (reference group) [cTnI;COPD=-21.7%,95%CI -29.1 to -13.4;previous angina=-24.2%, 95%CI -29.6 to -8.3;previous MI=-13.5%, 95%CI -20.6 to -5.9;CHF=-28% 95%CI -37.2 to -17.6]. Risk of 180-day mortality in most of the co-morbidities did not change substantially after adjusting for peak cTn. In general, cTnI had a stronger association with mortality than cTnT.Conclusions: In this nationwide analyses of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction, co-morbidities substantially influenced systemic concentrations of peak cTn. Comorbid illness is a significant predictor of mortality regardless of peak cTn levels and should be taken into consideration while interpreting cTn both as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.
Axson EL, Sundaram V, Bloom CI, et al., 2019, EFFECT OF INCIDENT HEART FAILURE ON SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MORTALITY OF COPD PATIENTS, Winter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: A1-A2, ISSN: 0040-6376
Naqvi S, Patel R, Bhullar K, et al., 2019, THE EFFECT OF ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PLANS AND ANNUAL ASTHMA REVIEWS ON EXACERBATIONS, Winter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: A25-A26, ISSN: 0040-6376
Bloom C, douglas I, Olney J, et al., 2019, Cost saving of switching to equivalent inhalers and its effect on health outcomes, Thorax, Vol: 74, Pages: 1078-1086, ISSN: 1468-3296
BackgroundSwitching inhalers to cheaper equivalent products is often advocated as a necessary cost saving measure, yet the impact on patient’s health and healthcare utilisation has not been measured.MethodsWe identified asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients from UK primary care electronic healthcare records between 2000 and 2016. A self-controlled case series was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR); comparing outcome rates during the risk period, 3-months after the exposure (financially-motivated switch), and control periods (pre-switch, and post-risk period). Four outcomes were assessed: disease exacerbation, GP consultation, non-specific respiratory events and adverse-medication events. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was calculated to assess adherence. 2017 NHS indicative prices were used to estimate cost differences per equivalent dose.ResultsWe identified a cohort of 569,901 asthma and 171,231 COPD regular inhaler users, 2% and 6% had been switched, respectively. Inhaler switches between a brand-to-generic inhaler, and all other switches (brand-to-brand, generic-to-generic, generic-to-brand), were associated with reduced exacerbations (brand-to-generic: IRR=0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.88; all other: IRR=0.79, 95% CI 0.71-0.88). Gender, age, therapeutic class, inhaler device, and inhaler-technique checks did not significantly modify this association (p<0.05). The rate of consultations, respiratory-events and adverse-medication events did not change significantly (consultations: IRR=1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.01; respiratory-events: IRR=0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.97; adverse-medication-events: IRR=1.05, 95% CI 0.96-1.15). Adherence significantly increased post-switch (median MPR: pre-switch=54%, post-switch=62%; p<0.001). Switching patients, in the cohort of regular inhaler users, to the cheapest equivalent inhaler, could have saved around £6 million annually. ConclusionSwitching to an equivalent inhaler in patients with asthma
Bloom C, walker S, Quint J, 2019, Inadequate specialist care referrals for high risk asthma patients in the UK: an adult population-based cohort 2006-2017, Journal of Asthma, Vol: 58, Pages: 19-25, ISSN: 0021-9134
Objective: To improve asthma morbidity and mortality in the UK, national asthma guidelines recommend referral to specialist care for the following high risk groups, after a hospital admission for asthma, ≥3 courses of oral corticosteroids (OCS) in 12-months, an incident high-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) prescription or addition of a fourth asthma drug to a patient’s maintenance regimen. We sought to assess the prevalence and temporal change of referrals to identify unmet needs.Methods: We used UK electronic healthcare records, 2006-2017, to identify high risk asthma patients managed within primary care. Referrals to respiratory clinics in secondary care were measured, within 3 months before or 6 months after, an incident ICS, third OCS in a year, or fourth asthma drug; or 12 months after a hospital admission for asthma. A nested case-control and conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with receiving a referral.Results: 246,116 asthma patients were eligible. There was a slight increase in secondary care referrals from 2014 onwards but the percentage remained low with <20% in each high risk group referred for specialist care. The factors in the past year that were most strongly associated with receiving a referral were a hospital admission or A&E visit for asthma, ≥3 OCS courses, ≥2 add-on drugs, or high-dose ICS prescription.Conclusion: The majority of high risk asthma patients were not referred for specialist care, as recommended by national guidelines. Compared to other risk factors, those admitted to hospital were most likely to receive a referral.
Bloom C, Quint J, Cabrera C, 2019, SABA and ICS use among mild asthma patients in UK primary care, International Congress of the European-Respiratory-Society (ERS), Publisher: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD, ISSN: 0903-1936
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Bloom C, Walker S, Quint J, 2019, Under-referral of high risk asthma patients to specialist care in England, International Congress of the European-Respiratory-Society (ERS), Publisher: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD, ISSN: 0903-1936
Bloom C, Quint J, 2019, How common is stepping-down asthma treatment in England?, International Congress of the European-Respiratory-Society (ERS), Publisher: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD, ISSN: 0903-1936
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Gayle A, Axson E, Bloom C, et al., 2019, Changing causes of death for patients with chronic respiratory disease in England, 2005-2015, Thorax, Vol: 74, Pages: 483-491, ISSN: 1468-3296
Background Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are common, are increasing in prevalence, and cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, we have limited knowledge on causes of death of patients with CRD in the general population.Objective We evaluated mortality rates and causes of death over time in patients with CRD.Methods We used linked primary care and mortality data to determine mortality rates and the most common causes of death in people with CRD (including asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD and interstitial lung diseases (ILD)) during 2005–2015 in England.Results We identified 558 888 patients with CRD (451 830 asthma, 137 709 COPD, 19 374 bronchiectasis, 10 745 ILD). The age-standardised mortality rate of patients with CRD was 1607 per 100 000 persons (asthma=856, COPD=1503, ILD=2609, bronchiectasis=1463). CRD mortality was overall 54% higher than the general population. A third of patients with CRD died from respiratory-related causes. Respiratory-related mortality was constant, while cardiovascular-related mortality decreased significantly over time. COPD accounted for the majority of respiratory-related deaths (66% overall) in all patient groups except ILD.Conclusions Patients with CRD continue to experience substantial morbidity and mortality due to respiratory diseases. Disease-modifying intervention strategies are needed to improve outcomes for patients with CRD.
Gayle AV, Axson EL, Bloom CI, et al., 2019, Changing causes of death for patients with chronic respiratory disease in England, 2005-2015, Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: 483-491, ISSN: 0040-6376
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Bloom C, Ricciardi F, Smeeth L, et al., 2019, Predicting COPD one year mortality using prognostic predictors routinely measured in primary care, BMC Medicine, Vol: 17, ISSN: 1741-7015
BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality. Patients with advanced disease often have a poor quality of life, such that guidelines recommend providing palliative care in their last year of life. Uptake and use of palliative care in advanced COPD is low; difficulty in predicting 1-year mortality is thought to be a major contributing factor.MethodsWe identified two primary care COPD cohorts using UK electronic healthcare records (Clinical Practice Research Datalink). The first cohort was randomised equally into training and test sets. An external dataset was drawn from a second cohort. A risk model to predict mortality within 12 months was derived from the training set using backwards elimination Cox regression. The model was given the acronym BARC based on putative prognostic factors including body mass index and blood results (B), age (A), respiratory variables (airflow obstruction, exacerbations, smoking) (R) and comorbidities (C). The BARC index predictive performance was validated in the test set and external dataset by assessing calibration and discrimination. The observed and expected probabilities of death were assessed for increasing quartiles of mortality risk (very low risk, low risk, moderate risk, high risk). The BARC index was compared to the established index scores body mass index, obstructive, dyspnoea and exacerbations (BODEx), dyspnoea, obstruction, smoking and exacerbations (DOSE) and age, dyspnoea and obstruction (ADO).ResultsFifty-four thousand nine hundred ninety patients were eligible from the first cohort and 4931 from the second cohort. Eighteen variables were included in the BARC, including age, airflow obstruction, body mass index, smoking, exacerbations and comorbidities. The risk model had acceptable predictive performance (test set: C-index = 0.79, 95% CI 0.78–0.81, D-statistic = 1.87, 95% CI 1.77–1.96, calibration slope = 0.95, 95% CI
Bloom C, Saglani S, Feary J, et al., 2019, Changing prevalence of current asthma and inhaled corticosteroid treatment in the UK: population based cohort 2006 to 2016, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 53, Pages: 1-8, ISSN: 0903-1936
BACKGROUND:Asthma is the most common respiratory disorder in the UK, yet we have incomplete knowledge on the prevalence of current disease, treatment and exacerbations.METHODS:We used UK electronic healthcare records, 2006 to 2016, to estimate the prevalence of current asthma by year, gender and age (<5, 5-11, 12-17, 18-24, 25-54 and ≥55 years), and the proportion prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and additional asthma-therapy, treated for exacerbations and other asthma care markers. RESULTS:Overall current asthma prevalence was 6.5% in 2016 (7.2% in 2006). Prevalence fell in those under 45 years. The lowest prevalence and largest absolute decrease was in children under 5-years. In 2016, 80% of current asthma patients were managed on ICS, (65% in 2006); this increase occurred in all ages, primarily due to an increase in low-dose ICS. During this time there was an increase in all age-groups in the proportion prescribed additional asthma-therapy, treated for an exacerbation within primary care, given an annual asthma review or management plan. Hospitalised exacerbations showed minimal change over time.CONCLUSION:Asthma remains highly prevalent and a significant healthcare burden. In those with a diagnosis, there was an increase in ICS prescriptions and treatment of exacerbations across all age-groups. This may reflect a trend towards more aggressive asthma management within primary care. An apparent decline in prevalence was observed in those aged under 45 years, particularly in children under 5 years.
Dunning J, Blankley S, Hoang LT, et al., 2019, Author Correction: Progression of whole-blood transcriptional signatures from interferon-induced to neutrophil-associated patterns in severe influenza., Nature Immunology, Vol: 20, Pages: 373-373, ISSN: 1529-2908
In the version of this article initially published, a source of funding was not included in the Acknowledgements section. That section should include the following: P.J.M.O. was supported by EU FP7 PREPARE project 602525. The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF version of the article.
Bloom C, Elkin S, Quint JK, 2019, Changes in COPD inhaler prescriptions in the United Kingdom, 2000 to 2016, International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Vol: 14, Pages: 279-287, ISSN: 1176-9106
Background: Over the past two decades, there have been significant changes in the pharmacological management of COPD, due to an explosion of inhaler trials, and timely updation of national and international guidelines. We sought to describe temporal changes in prescribing practices in the United Kingdom, and some of the factors that may have influenced them.Patients and methods: COPD patients were identified from UK primary care nationally representative electronic healthcare records (Clinical Practice Research Datalink), between 2000 and 2016. Prescription data were described by the three maintenance inhaled medication classes used, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), long-acting beta agonist (LABA), long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), and their combinations, dual LABA-ICS, dual LAMA-LABA, or triple therapy LABA-ICS-LAMA. Differing patient characteristics across the six different therapy regimens were measured in 2016.Results: COPD patients were identified: 187,588 prevalent and incident inhaler users and 169,511 incident inhaler users. Since 2002, LAMA showed increasing popularity, while ICS alone exhibited an inverse trend. Triple therapy prescriptions rapidly increased as the first-line therapy until 2014 when LAMA-LABA prescriptions started to increase. By 2014, 41% of all COPD patients were maintained on triple therapy, and 13% were maintained on LAMA only. Characterizing the patients in 2016 revealed that those on triple therapy were more likely to have more severe disease, yet, over a third of patients on triple therapy had only mild disease.Conclusion: UK prescribing practices were not in keeping with national guidelines but did appear to align with evidence from major drug trials and updated international guidelines. There has been a huge upsurge in triple therapy but incident data show this trend is beginning to reverse for initial management.
Nissen F, douglas I, mullerova H, et al., 2019, Clinical profile of predefined asthma phenotypes in a large cohort of UK primary care patients (Clinical Practice Research Datalink), Journal of Asthma and Allergy, Vol: 12, Pages: 7-19, ISSN: 1178-6965
Background: Distinct asthma phenotypes have previously been suggested, including benign asthma, atopic asthma and obese non-eosinophilic asthma. This study aims to establish if these phenotypes can be identified using data recorded in primary care clinical records and reports on patient characteristics and exacerbation frequency.Methods: A population-based cohort study identified 193,999 asthma patients in UK primary care from 2007 to 2017. We used linked primary and secondary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics. Patients were classified into predefined phenotypes or included in an asthma “not otherwise specified” (NOS) group. We used negative binomial regression to calculate the exacerbation rates and adjusted rate ratios. Rate ratios were further stratified by asthma treatment step.Results: In our cohort, 3.9% of patients were categorized as benign asthma, 28.6% atopic asthma and 4.8% obese non-eosinophilic asthma. About 62.7% of patients were asthma NOS, including asthma NOS without treatment (10.4%), only on short-acting beta agonist (6.1%) and on maintenance treatment (46.2%). Crude severe exacerbation rates per 1,000 person-years were lowest for benign asthma (106.8 [95% CI: 101.2–112.3]) and highest for obese non-eosinophilic asthma (469.0 [451.7–486.2]). Incidence rate ratios for all phenotype groups decreased when stratified by treatment step but remained raised compared to benign asthma.Conclusion: Established phenotypes can be identified in a general asthma population, although many patients did not fit into the specific phenotypes which we studied. Phenotyping patients and knowledge of asthma treatment step could help anticipate clinical course and therefore could aid clinical management but is only possible in a minority of primary care patients based on current phenotypes and electronic health records (EHRs).
Axson E, Bual N, Bloom C, et al., 2019, Risk factors and secondary care utilisation in a primary care population with nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in the UK, European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Vol: 38, Pages: 117-124, ISSN: 0934-9723
Prior research has identified risk factors associated with developing non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease (NTMD); we identified risk factors and secondary care utilisation of NTMD patients in the UK. This was a matched case-control study using electronic healthcare records from Clinical Practice Research Datalink from 2006 to 2016. NTMD was defined using prescription data and Read codes, based on international guidelines. Risk factors for NTMD were investigated using conditional logistic regression within a representative general population. All-cause secondary care utilisation (combined inpatient, outpatient, emergency visits) was investigated for participants with linked Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), using incidence rate ratio (IRR) from 2007 to 2015. We identified 1225 individuals with NTMD. A subset of individuals (426 patients) were eligible for linkage with HES. In the adjusted model, risk factors most strongly associated with an increased likelihood of NTMD included previous tuberculosis (OR 69.0; 47.7–99.8); bronchiectasis (OR 23.3; 12.4–43.9); lung cancer (OR 14.9; 3.98–55.7); oral corticosteroids (OCS; OR 7.28; 4.94–10.7); immunosuppressive (excluding corticosteroids) medication (OR 3.05; 1.15–8.10); being underweight (odds ratio (OR) 2.92; 95% CI 1.95, 4.36); and rheumatoid arthritis (OR 2.12; 1.05–4.27). NTMD patients had significantly higher rates of all-cause secondary care utilisation than non-NTMD patients (IRR 5.80; 5.14–6.46). Using a representative adult population, we identified prior TB, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, immunosuppressive medication, and OCS as the risk factors associated with the highest odds of developing NTMD in the UK. Patients with NTMD experienced nearly six times more all-cause secondary care events following their NTMD diagnosis than patients without NTMD.
Bloom CI, Palmer T, Feary J, et al., 2018, Exacerbation patterns in adults with asthma in England: A population based study, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 199, Pages: 446-453, ISSN: 1073-449X
Rationale Asthma is heterogeneous and knowledge on exacerbation patterns is lacking. Previous studies have had a relatively short follow-up or focused on severe disease. Objectives Describe exacerbation patterns over a prolonged follow-up in a population including patients of all disease severity. Methods We used electronic healthcare records to identify asthma patients aged 18-55 years and their exacerbations, 2007-2015. A cohort with ≥7-years of data was used to describe exacerbation patterns by asthma severity defined by medication use. Effect estimates for risk factors were calculated for sporadic (single year of exacerbations) and recurrent (>1 year) exacerbation patterns, using logistic regression. In a nested case-control design, the association between a history of exacerbations, spanning 5-years, and a future exacerbation was examined. Measurements and Main Results 51,462 patients were eligible for the 7-year cohort; 64% had no exacerbations. Of those who exacerbated, 51% did so only once; exacerbation frequency increased with disease severity. Only 370 patients (0.7%) were characterised by a frequent-exacerbator phenotype (yearly exacerbations), of whom 58% had mild/moderate asthma. Exacerbation risk factors were not uniquely associated with a particular exacerbation pattern. A past exacerbation increased the risk of a future exacerbation more than all other factors, although this effect dissipated over 5-years. Conclusions During 7-years of follow-up, exacerbations occur in around one-third of patients. Of those who exacerbate, half do not do so again; the timing of future exacerbations is largely unpredictable. Just 2% exhibit a frequent-exacerbator phenotype. Past exacerbation patterns are the most informative risk factor for predicting future exacerbations.
Bloom CI, Ricciardi F, Smeeth L, et al., 2018, PREDICTING ONE-YEAR MORTALITY IN COPD USING PROGNOSTIC PREDICTORS ROUTINELY MEASURED IN PRIMARY CARE, Winter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: A166-A167, ISSN: 0040-6376
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