General Practice and Primary Care - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 40
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Excessive alcohol use and its association with risky sexual behaviour: a cross-sectional analysis of data from Victorian secondary school students
    Agius, P ; Taft, A ; Hemphill, S ; Toumbourou, J ; McMorris, B (WILEY, 2013-02)
    OBJECTIVE: Estimate the prevalence of sexual behaviour and alcohol use and examine the association between excessive alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour in late secondary students in Victoria, Australia. METHOD: The sample of Year 11 students from government and independent schools participating in the 2008 International Youth Development Study (n=450) was representative of the Victorian school population. Logistic regression analyses examined the associations between sexual behaviour, binge and compulsive drinking, adjusting for socio-demographic, school and family factors. RESULTS: Under half (44%) the students had experienced sex in the past year, half (50%) had engaged in binge drinking in the past two weeks and 26% reported compulsive drinking in the past year. Of those who reported sex in the past year (n=197), 34% had sex without a condom at the last sexual encounter and 28% later regretted sex due to alcohol. The likelihood of experiencing sex was increased by binge (OR=2.44, 95%CI 1.44-4.12) and compulsive drinking (OR=2.15, 95%CI 1.29-3.60). For those sexually active, binge drinking increased the risk of having three or more sexual partners (OR=3.37, 95%CI 1.11-10.26) and compulsive drinking increased the likelihood of regretted sex due to alcohol (OR=4.43, 95%CI 2.10-9.31). Excessive drinking was not associated with condom non-use. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Risky sex - multiple sexual partners and regretted sex due to alcohol - and excessive drinking are highly prevalent and co-associated among Victorian late secondary students.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and failure to monitor renal function with adverse outcomes in people with diabetes: a primary care cohort study
    McGovern, AP ; Rusholme, B ; Jones, S ; van Vlymen, JN ; Liyanage, H ; Gallagher, H ; Tomson, CRV ; Khunti, K ; Harris, K ; de Lusignan, S (BMC, 2013-09-18)
    BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. We investigate the relationship between CKD stage, proteinuria, hypertension and these adverse outcomes in the people with diabetes. We also study the outcomes of people who did not have monitoring of renal function. METHODS: A cohort of people with type 1 and 2 diabetes (N = 35,502) from the Quality Improvement in Chronic Kidney Disease (QICKD) cluster randomised trial was followed up over 2.5 years. A composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and end stage renal failure comprised the outcome measure. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to determine correlates with this outcome. Known cardiovascular and renal risk factors were adjusted for. RESULTS: Proteinuria and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were independently associated with adverse outcomes in people with diabetes. People with an eGFR < 60 ml/min, proteinuria, and hypertension have the greatest odds ratio (OR) of adverse outcome; 1.58 (95% CI 1.36-1.83). Renal function was not monitored in 4460 (12.6%) people. Unmonitored renal function was associated with adverse events; OR 1.35 (95% CI 1.13-1.63) in people with hypertension and OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.07-1.64) in those without. CONCLUSIONS: Proteinuria, eGFR < 60 ml/min, and failure to monitor renal function are associated with cardiovascular and renal events and mortality in people with diabetes.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Health-related quality of life associated with daytime and nocturnal hypoglycaemic events: a time trade-off survey in five countries
    Evans, M ; Khunti, K ; Mamdani, M ; Galbo-Jorgensen, CB ; Gundgaard, J ; Bogelund, M ; Harris, S (BMC, 2013-06-03)
    BACKGROUND: Hypoglycaemic events, particularly nocturnal, affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) via acute symptoms, altered behaviour and fear of future events. We examined the respective disutility associated with a single event of daytime, nocturnal, severe and non-severe hypoglycaemia. METHODS: Representative samples were taken from Canada, Germany, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom. Individuals completed an internet-based questionnaire designed to quantify the HRQoL associated with different diabetes- and/or hypoglycaemia-related health states. HRQoL was measured on a utility scale: 1 (perfect health) to 0 (death) using the time trade-off method. Three populations were studied: 8286 respondents from the general population; 551 people with type 1 diabetes; and 1603 with type 2 diabetes. Respondents traded life expectancy for improved health states and evaluated the health states of well-controlled diabetes and diabetes with non-severe/severe and daytime/nocturnal hypoglycaemic events. RESULTS: In the general population, non-severe nocturnal hypoglycaemic events were associated with a 0.007 disutility compared with 0.004 for non-severe daytime episodes, equivalent to a significant 63% increase in negative impact. Severe daytime and nocturnal events were associated with a 0.057 and a 0.062 disutility, respectively, which were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: This study applies an established health economic methodology to derive disutilities associated with hypoglycaemia stratified by onset time and severity using a large multinational population. It reveals substantial individual and cumulative detrimental effects of hypoglycaemic events - particularly nocturnal - on HRQoL, reinforcing the clinical imperative of avoiding hypoglycaemia.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Quality of Care of People With Type 2 Diabetes in Eight European Countries: Findings from the Guideline Adherence to Enhance Care (GUIDANCE) study
    Stone, MA ; Charpentier, G ; Doggen, K ; Kuss, O ; Lindblad, U ; Kellner, C ; Nolan, J ; Pazderska, A ; Rutten, G ; Trento, M ; Khunti, K (AMER DIABETES ASSOC, 2013-09)
    OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine levels of adherence in eight European countries to recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes and to investigate factors associated with key intermediate outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: GUIDANCE was a cross-sectional study including retrospective data extraction from the medical records of people with type 2 diabetes recruited, using a shared protocol, from primary and specialist care sites in the following eight European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The dataset for analysis comprised 7,597 cases. Proportions meeting process and outcome criteria were determined, including between-country variations. Logistic regression was used to investigate potential predictors of meeting targets for HbA1c, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol. RESULTS: In the total sample, adherence to process recommendations was high for some measures, for example, HbA1c recorded in past 12 months in 97.6% of cases. Target achievement for intermediate outcome measures was lower, with only 53.6% having HbA1c <7%. Considerable between-country variation was identified for both processes and outcomes. The following characteristics were associated with an increased likelihood of meeting targets for all three measures considered (HbA1c, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol): shorter diagnosis of diabetes; having one or more macrovascular complications; lower BMI; being prescribed lipid-lowering medication; and no current antihypertensive prescribing. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with earlier reports, we have suggested some encouraging positive trends in Europe in relation to meeting targets for the management of people with type 2 diabetes, but there is still scope for further improvement and greater between-country consistency.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Initiation of once daily insulin detemir is not associated with weight gain in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: results from an observational study
    Yale, J-F ; Damci, T ; Kaiser, M ; Karnieli, E ; Khunti, K ; Liebl, A ; Baeres, FMM ; Svendsen, AL ; Ross, SA (BMC, 2013-10-02)
    BACKGROUND: Obesity is common in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and is associated with increased risk of morbidity and all-cause mortality. This analysis describes weight changes associated with insulin detemir initiation in real-life clinical practice. METHODS: Study of Once-Daily Levemir (SOLVE) was a 24-week international observational study of once-daily insulin detemir as add-on therapy in patients with T2DM receiving oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs). RESULTS: 17,374 participants were included in the analysis: mean age 62 ± 12 years; weight 80.8 ± 17.6 kg; body mass index (BMI) 29.2 ± 5.3 kg/m2; diabetes duration 10 ± 7 years; HbA1c 8.9 ± 1.6%. HbA1c decreased by 1.3 ± 1.5% during the study, with insulin doses of 0.27 ± 0.17 IU/kg. Patients with higher BMI had higher pre-insulin HbA1c, and similar reductions in HbA1c with insulin therapy. Weight decreased from 80.8 ± 17.6 kg to 80.3 ± 17.0 kg (change of -0.6 [95% CI -0.65; -0.47] kg), with 35% of patients losing >1 kg. Patients with the highest pre-insulin BMI lost the greatest amount of weight: BMI < 25: +0.8 [95% CI: 0.6; 0.9] kg, 25 ≤ BMI < 30: -0.2 [95% CI: -0.3; -0.8] kg, 30 ≤ BMI < 35: -1.0 [95% CI: -1.1; -0.8] kg; BMI ≥ 35: -1.9 [95% CI: -2.2; -1.6] kg. Minor hypoglycaemia decreased with increasing BMI: 2.3 and 1.3 events per patient year for BMI <25 and  ≥ 35, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients with poorly controlled T2DM achieved significant reductions in HbA1c after initiation of once-daily insulin detemir therapy, without weight gain. The favourable impact of insulin detemir on weight may not apply to other insulin preparations. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00825643 and NCT00740519.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    South Asian individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes have lower plasma vitamin C levels than white Europeans
    Carter, P ; Gray, LJ ; Morris, DH ; Davies, MJ ; Khunti, K (CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS, 2013)
    Individuals of South Asian origin are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes; the relationship between this risk and diet remains to be investigated fully. Furthermore, fruit and vegetable intake remains low throughout the world and previous data suggest that intake is associated with risk of diabetes. The aim of this research study was to compare plasma vitamin C concentrations, measured as a biomarker for fruit and vegetable intake, in South Asian and white European individuals. Participants recruited as part of the Let's Prevent Diabetes Study provided samples for the quantification of plasma vitamin C. We compared vitamin C levels by ethnicity using multiple regression, both unadjusted and adjusted for confounders, including glycaemic status. Mean plasma vitamin C was significantly lower in the South Asian participants compared with white European participants (34.5 (sd 19·8) v. 39·9 (sd 22·1) µmol/l, respectively; P ≤ 0·0001). Significantly fewer South Asian individuals consumed five portions of fruit and vegetables per d, as determined by a plasma vitamin C concentration of ≥ 50 µmol/l (23·2 % (n 58) v. 31·4 % (n 558); P = 0·01). Vitamin C reflects habitual fruit and vegetable consumption; thus results suggest that South Asians have lower fruit and vegetable intake. However, it cannot be excluded that vitamin C is utilised differently. Dietary advice specifically targeting the South Asian population should be developed.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Biomarker Research in Glucose Disorders: Current Concepts and Clinical Applications
    Webb, DR ; Herbert, K ; Davies, MJ ; Khunti, K ; Sattar, N ; Stehouwer, CDA (HINDAWI LTD, 2013)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Adipocytokine Associations with Insulin Resistance in British South Asians
    Webb, DR ; Khunti, K ; Chatterjee, S ; Jarvis, J ; Davies, MJ (HINDAWI LTD, 2013)
    Aims. Adipocytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and may represent identifiable precursors of metabolic disease within high-risk groups. We investigated adiponectin, leptin, and TNF- α and assessed the contribution of these molecules to insulin resistance in south Asians. Hypothesis. South Asians have adverse adipocytokine profiles which associate with an HOMA-derived insulin resistance phenotype. Methods. We measured adipocytokine concentrations in south Asians with newly diagnosed impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a case-control study. 158 (48.5% males) volunteers aged 25-75 years with risk factors for diabetes but no known vascular or metabolic disease provided serum samples for ELISA and bioplex assays. Results. Total adiponectin concentration progressively decreased across the glucose spectrum in both sexes. A reciprocal trend in leptin concentration was observed only in south Asian men. Adiponectin but not leptin independently associated with HOMA-derived insulin resistance after logistic multivariate regression. Conclusion. Diasporic south Asian populations have an adverse adipocytokine profile which deteriorates further with glucose dysregulation. Insulin resistance is inversely associated with adiponectin independent of BMI and waist circumference in south Asians, implying that adipocytokine interplay contributes to the pathogenesis of metabolic disease in this group.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Joint Prevalence of Diabetes, Impaired Glucose Regulation, Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Chronic Kidney Disease in South Asians and White Europeans
    Khunti, K ; Morris, DH ; Weston, CL ; Gray, LJ ; Webb, DR ; Davies, MJ ; Herder, C (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2013-01-30)
    BACKGROUND: Multiple vascular risk factors may confer very high risk, but the degree of commonality between risk factors is unclear, particularly among ethnic minorities. Furthermore, it is unknown what impact this commonality will have on the UK-based NHS Health Check Programme; a vascular disease prevention programme that screens individuals aged 40-74 years. We estimated the joint prevalence of diabetes, impaired glucose regulation (IGR), high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among White Europeans and South Asians who would be eligible for the Programme. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were analysed for 3707 participants (23.6% South Asian) in a screening study set in Leicestershire, UK. Diabetes and IGR were screen-detected. CKD may have been diagnosed previously. IGR was defined as impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance, and high CVD risk as 10 year risk greater than 20%. RESULTS: Among males, South Asians had higher prevalence than White Europeans of diabetes (9.0% vs. 3.9%, respectively, p<0.001), IGR (12.5% vs. 9.2%, p = 0.06), and high CVD risk (39.1% vs. 33.1%, p = 0.03), but lower prevalence of CKD (1.5% vs. 4.6%, p<0.01). Among females, South Asians had higher prevalence than White Europeans of diabetes (7.4% vs. 3.3%, p<0.001), but lower prevalence of CKD (3.7% vs. 13.0%, p <0.001) and CVD risk (2.4% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.03), and a non-significant difference in IGR prevalence. At least one risk factor was diagnosed in 34% of participants, and all of them in 0.4%, suggesting that 723,589-734,589 more individuals each year will require monitoring following implementation of the Health Check Programme. CONCLUSIONS: The collective prevalence of risk factors for vascular disease in this population was high, but there was little overlap between the risk factors, and prevalence differed by ethnicity. This has implications for service delivery and resources, and should be considered when planning screening and intervention programmes.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Clinical Inertia in People With Type 2 Diabetes A retrospective cohort study of more than 80,000 people
    Khunti, K ; Wolden, ML ; Thorsted, BL ; Andersen, M ; Davies, MJ (AMER DIABETES ASSOC, 2013-11)
    OBJECTIVE: To determine time to treatment intensification in people with type 2 diabetes treated with one, two, or three oral antidiabetes drugs (OADs) and associated levels of glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study based on 81,573 people with type 2 diabetes in the U.K. Clinical Practice Research Datalink between January 2004 and December 2006, with follow-up until April 2011. RESULTS: In people with HbA1c ≥7.0, ≥7.5, or ≥8.0% (≥53, ≥58, or ≥64 mmol/mol), median time from above HbA1c cutoff to intensification with an additional OAD was 2.9, 1.9, or 1.6 years, respectively, for those taking one OAD and >7.2, >7.2, and >6.9 years for those taking two OADs. Median time to intensification with insulin was >7.1, >6.1, or 6.0 years for those taking one, two, or three OADs. Mean HbA1c at intensification with an OAD or insulin for people taking one, two, or three OADs was 8.7, 9.1, and 9.7%. In patients taking one, two, or three OADs, median time from treatment initiation to intensification with an OAD or insulin exceeded the maximum follow-up time of 7.2 years. The probability of patients with poor glycemic control taking one, two, or three OADs, intensifying at end of follow-up with an OAD, was 21.1-43.6% and with insulin 5.1-12.0%. CONCLUSIONS: There are delays in treatment intensification in people with type 2 diabetes despite suboptimal glycemic control. A substantial proportion of people remain in poor glycemic control for several years before intensification with OADs and insulin.