Objectives Arterial stiffness as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) improves the prediction of first-ever and recurring stroke and of stroke outcomes when measured in the days after stroke. Here, we investigated the longitudinal dynamics of PWV in the days after acute ischaemic stroke. Design Monocentric, prospective cohort study nested within a clinical trial registry with repeated measurement assessment of PWV. Setting Comprehensive middle European stroke centre. Participants 20 men and women that suffered stroke from November 2022 through August 2023. Primary and secondary outcome measures Change in carotid-femoral PWV was investigated by recording PWV four times between 1.2 and 9.9 days after stroke using a Vicorder device. Haemodynamic and patient-, stroke- and care-related variables were investigated as potential modifiers of PWV trajectories. Results Twenty patients aged 61.3±16.9 years (14 males) were included. There was a daily decline in PWV of −0.19 m/s (95% CI: −0.29 to

Objective To report on the findings from a national survey of UK intensive care units (ICUs) exploring nurse staffing models currently in use and changes since COVID-19. Design A survey was designed and distributed using a web-based platform to senior unit leads via Intensive care national audit & research centre contacts. Participants Senior nurses representing the 331 National Health Service adult ICUs across the UK (across 231 hospitals/155 trusts), including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Outcome measures A 15-item survey. Results A total of 196 survey responses representing 300 units, majority general and single units, resulting in a 90.6% unit-level response rate. ICU unit characteristics included the average number of total, level 3 and level 2 critical care beds of 26.36 (SD=21.48), 15.67 (SD=15.33) and 10.96 (SD=8.86), respectively. Most units reported nurse to patient ratios compliant with national guidelines and service specifications. Post-COVID-19 changes to ICU nurs

Objective This study aims to explore the profile of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of postoperative osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) patients through a longitudinal investigation, especially in the early postoperative phase, discern the effect of mental resilience and social support on postoperative HRQoL and further explore the mechanisms by which mental resilience exerts influences on HRQoL. Design This longitudinal observational study was conducted to examine the HRQoL of OVCF patients during the early postoperative period. Data collection occurred at three distinct time points: baseline assessment on postoperative day 1 (T1), followed by subsequent evaluations at 1 month (T2) and 3 months (T3) postsurgery. Setting Zhoupu Hospital, in Shanghai, China. Participants A total of 155 postoperative OVCF patients completed the baseline survey, with 150 and 140 participants completing the follow-up at T2 and T3. Outcome measures Primary end-point variables were HRQ

Objective This study aimed to explore the use, experiences and perceptions of diet in psoriasis management among adults with lived experience in the UK. Design Qualitative. Data were analysed thematically using a reflexive thematic approach. Setting Online discussions with adults living with psoriasis in the UK. Participants Nine adults (two men, seven women) ≥18 years of age, living in the UK, English speaking, with a diagnosis of psoriasis of any severity. Results Four key themes were generated: (1) impact of diet, (2) dietary modification, (3) dietary information and (4) dietary support. Overall, the majority (n=8) perceived that diet had an impact on their psoriasis. Most participants (n=7) reported trying restrictive diets including dairy free, gluten free and ‘cleanses’ to help manage their psoriasis with limited success. A perceived lack of dietary support resulted in participants relying on social media and online forums for dietary information. Participants reported a high cog

Objectives Clinicians and patients have been found to attribute musculoskeletal (MSK) pain to normal age-related changes seen on imaging, which can negatively impact patient outcomes and increase healthcare costs. While some studies have tested interventions to improve how MSK imaging findings are communicated, their impact has been limited. Applying a behavioural science framework has the potential to identify the rationale and target of these interventions to inform future intervention design—an analysis that has not yet been conducted. This study aims to identify the Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs), the behavioural targets and the theoretical basis of interventions seeking to affect the communication of MSK imaging. Design Scoping review using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour (COM-B) model. Data sources Searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED and PsycINFO from inception to 9 February 2024. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies We included studies that ha

Objectives Huge advances in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment mean an increasing number of patients now achieve disease remission. However, long-term treatments can carry side effects and associated financial costs. In addition, some patients still experience painful and debilitating disease flares, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. High rates of flare and a lack of effective prediction tools can limit attempts at treatment withdrawal. The BIOlogical Factors that Limit sustAined Remission in rhEumatoid arthritis (BIO-FLARE) experimental medicine study was designed to study flare and remission immunobiology. Here, we present the clinical outcomes and predictors of drug-free remission and flare, and develop a prediction model to estimate flare risk. Design, setting and participants BIO-FLARE was a multicentre, prospective, single-arm, open-label experimental medicine study conducted across seven National Health Service Trusts in the UK. Participants had established RA in c

Objective Falling is common among older adults in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and potential inappropriate psychotropic medicines (PIPMs) use may increase the risk of falling. This study aimed to determine the impact of PIPMs on falls using longitudinal observational data. Methods A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted using routinely collected electronic health data from 23 RACFs in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The study included 3064 permanent residents aged ≥65 (2020–2021). PIPMs were identified using updated Beers criteria 2023. We considered three fall outcome groups: all falls, injurious falls and falls requiring hospitalisation. The falls incidence rates (IRs) were calculated for overall residents in RACFs as well as for central nervous system (CNS)-PIPM users and non-users. We applied a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model to assess the association between falls and CNS-PIPMs. Results A total of 40% (n=1224) of long-term care resi

Objective Our study explored the association between depressive symptoms and non-fatal cardiovascular disease, as well as other significant risk factors for non-fatal cardiovascular disease, in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension in China. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Data were sourced from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database over a 9-year period (2011–2020). Participants Middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension aged 45 and above in China. Outcome measures Non-fatal cardiovascular disease was ascertained based on self-reported, physician-diagnosed heart disease. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10. Results A total of 1755 participants were enrolled in the prospective cohort study. The incidence of non-fatal cardiovascular diseases among patients with hypertension was 5 per 1000 person-months. There was a positive linear correlation between depressive sympto

Objectives To establish a methodology to categorise urgent suspected cancer (USC) referrals in England and use these categories to understand individual patient referral patterns by demographic characteristics, financial year and referral pathway. Design Cross-sectional population-based cohort study. Setting From Cancer Waiting Times data, linked to demographic information held by the National Disease Registration Service, referral-level data on all USC referrals in England between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2018. Participants After restricting records to those with an English postcode at referral and with complete demographic information, 9 524 435 referrals were identified for 7 542 592 patients. Primary and secondary outcome measures USC referrals were categorised into first and subsequent USC referrals, based primarily on intervals between referral dates. Our primary outcome was to describe the distribution of referral categories by financial year, suspected cancer referral type and