Risk of myocardial infarction and stroke following microbiologically confirmed urinary tract infection: a self-controlled case series study using linked electronic health data.

Objectives: The inflammatory response from acute infection may trigger cardiovascular events. We aimed to estimate associations between microbiologically confirmed urinary tract infections (UTIs) and first acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke.

Design: We used a self-controlled case series, with risk periods 1-7, 8-14, 15-28 and 29-90 days after UTI.

Characteristics of Women, Intrapartum Interventions, and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Among Users of Intrapartum Water Immersion: The UK POOL Cohort Study.

Background: The POOL study explored intrapartum water immersion and associated maternal and neonatal outcomes at 26 UK sites 2015-2022.

Methods: Retrospective and prospective data captured in electronic maternity and neonatal UK National Health Service (NHS) information systems. Analysis-(a) proportions of women using and factors associated with water immersion during labour or birth; (b) outcomes among "low-risk" women who used water immersion during labour or birth; (c) management and outcomes of the third stage of labour following waterbirth.

Findings from a cluster randomised feasibility study of a school-based physical activity role model intervention (CHARMING) for 9-10-year-old girls.

Background: Girls' physical activity levels decline to a greater extent than boys as they enter adolescence. Role model interventions offer a potential solution to combat this public health issue. This study reports findings of a feasibility study of the CHARMING (CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls) programme, a 6-week after-school primary school-based, community linked, role-model intervention.

Adapting historical clinical genetic test records for anonymised data linkage: obstacles and opportunities.

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) heterozygotes (also known as 'carriers') are people who have one mutated copy of the gene. Research into the health risks of CF carriers has been limited by a lack of large cohorts tested for CF carrier status, but routine clinical testing identifies CF carriers in the population. Such test records additionally contain large amounts of clinical information, making them a valuable research resource to not only identify CF carriers in the population but also to provide additional data not found elsewhere.

Comparison of antibiotic provision associated with acute sore throat symptom management in community pharmacies in Wales and England: a natural policy experiment.

Background: Acute sore throat is managed in community pharmacies in England and Wales under different clinical pathways: Acute Sore Throat Pharmacy First (ASTPF) and Sore Throat Test and Treat (STTT), respectively. ASTPF launched in 2024 and allows antibiotic supply with FeverPAIN scores 4 and 5. STTT launched in 2018 and allows antibiotic supply with FeverPAIN ≥2 or Centor ≥3, if point-of-care testing confirms presence of group A Streptococcus (GAS).

Participants' Roles in Bullying Among 7-11 Year Olds: Results from a UK-Wide Randomized Control Trial of the KiVa School-Based Program.

This paper describes the social architecture model of school-based bullying behavior. The model proposes that the behavior of all students affects rates of bullying. Alongside self-reported victims and bullies, the model identified four bystander roles: assistant, reinforcer, outsider, and defender.

Clinical outcomes following acute sore throat assessment at community pharmacy versus general practice: a retrospective, longitudinal, data linkage study.

Background: To date, no research has compared longer-term outcomes (antibiotic provision; re-consultations; hospital admissions for quinsy; cost-effectiveness) following presentation with acute sore throat at general practice (GP) versus newer, pharmacy-led services.

Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of sore throat consultations between 1 November 2018 and 28 February 2020 either with the Wales pharmacy-led sore throat test and treat (STTT) service or with a healthcare professional at GP. Individual-level pharmacy consultation data from the national Choose Pharmacy IT application were securely uploaded to the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank and linked to routinely collected, anonymized, population-scale, individual-level, anonymized health and administrative data.

Association of volatile substance, nitrous oxide and alkyl nitrate use with mental health in UK adolescents.

Background: 'Inhalants' have been associated with poorer mental health in adolescence, but little is known of associations with specific types of inhalants.

Aims: We aimed to investigate associations of using volatile substances, nitrous oxide and alkyl nitrates with mental health problems in adolescence.

Method: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 13- to 14-year-old adolescents across England and Wales collected between September 2019 and March 2020.

Recurrent urinary tract infections and prophylactic antibiotic use in women: a cross-sectional study in primary care.

Background: Despite the considerable morbidity caused by recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), and the wider personal and public health implications from frequent antibiotic use, few studies adequately describe the prevalence and characteristics of women with rUTIs or those who use prophylactic antibiotics.

Aim: To describe the prevalence, characteristics, and urine profiles of women with rUTIs with and without prophylactic antibiotic use in Welsh primary care.

Design And Setting: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in Welsh general practice using the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank.

Association between cannabis potency and mental health in adolescence.

Introduction: In legal and illegal markets, high-potency cannabis (>10 % delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) is increasingly available. In adult samples higher-potency cannabis has been associated with mental health disorder but no studies have considered associations in adolescence.

Methods: A population-wide study compared no, low and high potency cannabis using adolescents (aged 13-14 years) self-reported symptoms of probable depression, anxiety, and auditory hallucinations.

Assessing children who are acutely ill in general practice using the National PEWS and LqSOFA clinical scores: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Clinical tools are needed in general practice to help identify children who are seriously ill. The Liverpool quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (LqSOFA) was validated in an emergency department and performed well. The National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) has been introduced in hospitals throughout England with hopes for implementation in general practice.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes among spontaneous vaginal births occurring in or out of water following intrapartum water immersion: The POOL cohort study.

Objective: Warm water immersion during labour provides women with analgesia and comfort. This cohort study aimed to establish among women using intrapartum water immersion analgesia, without antenatal or intrapartum risk factors, whether waterbirth is as safe for them and their babies as leaving the water before birth.

Design: Cohort study with non-inferiority design.

Long-term consequences of urinary tract infection in childhood: an electronic population-based cohort study in Welsh primary and secondary care.

Background: Childhood urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause renal scarring, and possibly hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Previous studies have focused on selected populations, with severe illness or underlying risk factors. The risk for most children with UTI is unclear.

Impact of antitumour necrosis factor therapy on surgery in inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study.

Objective: It is unclear whether widespread use of biologics is reducing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) surgical resection rates. We designed a population-based study evaluating the impact of early antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) on surgical resection rates up to 5 years from diagnosis.

Design: We evaluated all patients with IBD diagnosed in Cardiff, Wales 2005-2016.

Getting our ducks in a row: The need for data utility comparisons of healthcare systems data for clinical trials.

Background: Better use of healthcare systems data, collected as part of interactions between patients and the healthcare system, could transform planning and conduct of randomised controlled trials. Multiple challenges to widespread use include whether healthcare systems data captures sufficiently well the data traditionally captured on case report forms. "Data Utility Comparison Studies" (DUCkS) assess the utility of healthcare systems data for RCTs by comparison to data collected by the trial.

The practicalities of adapting UK maternity clinical information systems for observational research: Experiences of the POOL study.

Background: Using routinely collected clinical data for observational research is an increasingly important method for data collection, especially when rare outcomes are being explored. The POOL study was commissioned to evaluate the safety of waterbirth in the UK using routine maternity and neonatal clinical data. This paper describes the design, rationale, set-up and pilot for this data linkage study using bespoke methods.

Satisfaction with remote consultations in primary care during COVID-19: a population survey of UK adults.

Background: Mode of access to primary care changed during the COVID-19 pandemic; remote consultations became more widespread. With remote consultations likely to continue in UK primary care, it is important to understand people's perceptions of remote consultations and identify potential resulting inequalities.

Aim: To assess satisfaction with remote GP consultations in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify demographic variation in satisfaction levels.

Adverse respiratory outcomes among patients with resolved asthma: matched retrospective cohort study.

Background: Patients with asthma may have symptom remission leading to a primary care code of resolved asthma. Little is known about subsequent rates of exacerbations and respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

Aim: To assess the risk of adverse respiratory outcomes for people with resolved asthma compared with those with active asthma and without asthma.

Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Evaluation Study: the THESEUS prospective cohort study.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by recurrent inflammatory lesions and skin tunnels in flexural sites such as the axilla. Deroofing of skin tunnels and laser treatment are standard hidradenitis suppurativa interventions in some countries but not yet introduced in the United Kingdom.

Objective: To understand current hidradenitis suppurativa management pathways and what influences treatment choices to inform the design of future randomised controlled trials.

A pharmacy-led sore throat test and treat (STTT) service: antigen testing and antibiotic supply rates during the period of heightened public awareness of Group A Streptococcus infections.

Background: Community pharmacies in Wales delivered an NHS-funded sore throat test and treat (STTT) service during the period of increased invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) incidents in winter 2022-23. Service users were screened using FeverPAIN/CENTOR scores, offered GAS rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) if appropriate, and antibiotics if indicated.

Objectives: To evaluate the service's response to a substantial rise in sore throat presentations during a period of heightened public anxiety.

Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Evaluation Study (THESEUS): a prospective cohort study.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, painful disease affecting flexures and other skin regions, producing nodules, abscesses and skin tunnels. Laser treatment targeting hair follicles and deroofing of skin tunnels are standard HS interventions in some countries but are rarely offered in the UK.

Objectives: To describe current UK HS management pathways and influencing factors to inform the design of future randomized controlled trials (RCTs).