Recent-onset atrial fibrillation: challenges and opportunities.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly diagnosed early, close to its first occurrence due to: (i) increased public awareness with self-screening; (ii) health care initiatives including population screening and opportunistic case finding; and (iii) increased use and surveillance of implantable cardiac devices. At its onset, AF is often low burden, and cardiovascular co-morbidities may be absent or at an early stage. Thus, the management of recent-onset AF has become an issue of growing importance.

Eradication of for prevention of aspirin-associated peptic ulcer bleeding in adults over 65 years: the HEAT RCT.

Background: Peptic ulcers in patients on aspirin are associated with infection. We investigated whether eradication would protect against aspirin-associated ulcer bleeding.

Methods: The Eradication Aspirin Trial was a randomised placebo-controlled trial (European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials 2011-003425-96), conducted in United Kingdom primary care using routinely collected clinical data.

Trends in mortality in people with heart failure and atrial fibrillation: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation and heart failure frequently coexist but the relative effect of atrial fibrillation on survival in people with heart failure, and vice versa, remains uncertain. We aimed to report contemporary estimates of mortality among people with atrial fibrillation and heart failure and analyse trends in mortality over time.

Methods: We did a retrospective cohort study of adults aged 45 years or older in England, using primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD dataset and linked secondary care data (Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics datasets), for a total follow-up period from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2018.

Diagnostic accuracy evaluation of a point-of-care antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza in UK primary care (RAPTOR-C19).

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Roche SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A/B Rapid Antigen Test at the point of care.

Design: Prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

Setting: 17 primary care practices in England.