2024
Impact of COVID-19 on recorded blood pressure screening and hypertension management in England: an analysis of monthly changes in the quality and outcomes framework indicators in OpenSAFELY
Wiedemann M, Speed V, Cunningham C, Higgins R, Curtis H, Andrews C, Fisher L, Hopcroft L, Rentsch C, Mahalingasivam V, Tomlinson L, Morton C, Samuel M, Green A, Wood C, Brown A, Massey J, Walters C, Smith R, Inglesby P, Evans D, Maude S, Dillingham I, Walker A, Morley J, Mehrkar A, Bacon S, Bates C, Cockburn J, Parry J, Hester F, McManus R, Goldacre B, MacKenna B. Impact of COVID-19 on recorded blood pressure screening and hypertension management in England: an analysis of monthly changes in the quality and outcomes framework indicators in OpenSAFELY. Open Heart 2024, 11: e002732. PMID: 39214534, DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2024-002732.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBlood pressure screeningPressure screeningPercentage of patientsHypertension prevalenceHypertension managementPopulation-based cohort studyRecord of hypertensionCardiovascular disease managementClinical subgroupsQOF indicatorsScreening ratesPrimary careGeneral practiceHome statusNHS patientsOlder peopleBlood pressure measurementsCare schemesCohort studyDisease managementImpact of COVID-19COVID-19Framework indicatorsNational qualityNHSIncident dementia risk among patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin versus alternative oral glucose-lowering therapy: an observational cohort study using UK primary healthcare records
Doran W, Tunnicliffe L, Muzambi R, Rentsch C, Bhaskaran K, Smeeth L, Brayne C, Williams D, Chaturvedi N, Eastwood S, Dunachie S, Mathur R, Warren-Gash C. Incident dementia risk among patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin versus alternative oral glucose-lowering therapy: an observational cohort study using UK primary healthcare records. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care 2024, 12: e003548. PMID: 38272537, PMCID: PMC10823924, DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2023-003548.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRisk of dementiaMild cognitive impairmentOral glucose-lowering therapyDementia riskObservational cohort studyAs-treated analysisGlucose-lowering therapyRisk of incident all-cause dementiaUK adultsCompare risk of dementiaIncident all-cause dementiaType 2 diabetesClinical Practice Research DatalinkActive comparator new user designCohort studyAll-cause dementiaPrimary healthcare recordsIncident dementia riskAssociated with lower riskPotential exposure misclassificationCox proportional hazards regressionMetformin useRisk of confoundingProportional hazards regressionIncident dementiaHerpes Zoster and Risk of Incident Parkinson's Disease in US Veterans: A Matched Cohort Study
Tunnicliffe L, Weil R, Breuer J, Rodriguez‐Barradas M, Smeeth L, Rentsch C, Warren‐Gash C. Herpes Zoster and Risk of Incident Parkinson's Disease in US Veterans: A Matched Cohort Study. Movement Disorders 2024, 39: 438-444. PMID: 38226430, PMCID: PMC10922272, DOI: 10.1002/mds.29701.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUS Department of Veterans AffairsCohort studyRisk of incident PDDepartment of Veterans AffairsCox proportional hazards regressionIncident Parkinson's diseaseAssociated with increased riskHistory of HZMatched cohort studyProportional hazards regressionRisk of PDHerpes zosterIncident PDRisk of incident Parkinson's diseaseVeterans AffairsIncident HZUS veteransPD overallHazards regressionPD riskParkinson's diseaseIncreased riskMatched individualsUS DepartmentAssociated with Parkinson's disease
2023
Excess mortality in US Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: an individual-level cohort study
Weinberger D, Bhaskaran K, Korves C, Lucas B, Columbo J, Vashi A, Davies L, Justice A, Rentsch C. Excess mortality in US Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: an individual-level cohort study. International Journal Of Epidemiology 2023, 52: 1725-1734. PMID: 37802889, PMCID: PMC10749763, DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad136.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExcess mortality ratesExcess mortalityComorbidity burdenHazard ratioCohort studyMortality rateVeterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) IndexIndividual-level cohort studyVeterans AffairsCOVID-19 pandemicLarge integrated healthcare systemExcess mortality patternsHigher comorbidity burdenLower comorbidity burdenMost frail patientsCharlson Comorbidity IndexObservational cohort studyClinical risk groupsIntegrated healthcare systemLeast frailComorbidity indexFrail patientsPre-pandemic periodMedian ageUS veteransPrognostic Factors of COVID‐19: An Umbrella Review Endorsed by the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology
Sarri G, Liu W, Zabotka L, Freitag A, Claire R, Wangge G, Elvidge J, Dawoud D, Bennett D, Wen X, Li X, Rentsch C, Uddin J, Ali M, Gokhale M, Déruaz‐Luyet A, Moga D, Guo J, Zullo A, Patorno E, Lin K. Prognostic Factors of COVID‐19: An Umbrella Review Endorsed by the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2023, 114: 604-613. PMID: 37342987, DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2977.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrognostic factorsUmbrella reviewHigh riskIntensive care unit admissionShort-term adverse outcomesCOVID-19AMSTAR-2 toolSystematic literature reviewCare unit admissionRisk of hospitalizationKey prognostic factorsHigh-risk groupCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemicCOVID-19 outcomesDisease 2019 pandemicComparative effectiveness researchInternational SocietyCOVID-19 disparitiesUnit admissionLong COVIDMale sexAdverse outcomesOptimal careFemale sexHeart diseaseExcess Mortality Among Patients in the Veterans Affairs Health System Compared With the Overall US Population During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Weinberger D, Rose L, Rentsch C, Asch S, Columbo J, King J, Korves C, Lucas B, Taub C, Young-Xu Y, Vashi A, Davies L, Justice A. Excess Mortality Among Patients in the Veterans Affairs Health System Compared With the Overall US Population During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6: e2312140. PMID: 37155169, PMCID: PMC10167568, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.12140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGeneral US populationVA health care systemHealth care systemComprehensive medical careOverall US populationRate of deathVA populationUS populationDeath rateCohort studyExcess mortalityCare systemCOVID-19 pandemicMedical careVeterans Affairs Health Care SystemVeterans Affairs Health SystemHealth systemVA health systemFirst yearVA health careStandardized mortality rateAdult age groupsVA enrolleesMAIN OUTCOMEGeneral population
2022
Sustained virological response after treatment with direct antiviral agents in individuals with HIV and hepatitis C co‐infection
Lodi S, Klein M, Rauch A, Epstein R, Wittkop L, Logan R, Rentsch C, Justice A, Touloumi G, Berenguer J, Jarrin I, Egger M, Puoti M, Monforte A, Gill J, Ceron D, van Sighem A, Linas B, van der Valk M, Hernán M, Collaboration H. Sustained virological response after treatment with direct antiviral agents in individuals with HIV and hepatitis C co‐infection. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2022, 25: e26048. PMID: 36562643, PMCID: PMC9784654, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26048.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSustained virological responseHCV RNA testingDAA treatmentSVR ratesVirological responseProbability of SVRHepatitis C virus (HCV) cureRoutine HCV RNA testingActing antiviral (DAA) treatmentDAA treatment initiationCD4 cell countDirect antiviral agentsPresence of cirrhosisHCV RNA testEnd of treatmentClinical strataDAA recipientsHIV-HCVSVR assessmentSVR statusHIV acquisitionClinical characteristicsAntiviral treatmentTreatment initiationHCV genotypesSpironolactone as a potential new pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: convergent evidence from rodent and human studies
Farokhnia M, Rentsch CT, Chuong V, McGinn MA, Elvig SK, Douglass EA, Gonzalez LA, Sanfilippo JE, Marchette RCN, Tunstall BJ, Fiellin DA, Koob GF, Justice AC, Leggio L, Vendruscolo LF. Spironolactone as a potential new pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: convergent evidence from rodent and human studies. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 4642-4652. PMID: 36123420, PMCID: PMC10231646, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01736-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-ConsumptionEffect of spironolactoneAlcohol consumptionSpironolactone doseNovel pharmacotherapiesUse disordersHuman studiesLarge integrated healthcare systemHeavy episodic alcohol consumptionAlcohol-induced ataxiaMineralocorticoid receptor antagonistsSelf-reported alcohol consumptionBlood alcohol levelsEpisodic alcohol consumptionIntegrated healthcare systemPharmacoepidemiologic cohort studyPotential new pharmacotherapiesCohort studyAlcohol drinkingReceptor antagonistFemale miceFemale ratsNew pharmacotherapiesRat modelAre infections associated with cognitive decline and neuroimaging outcomes? A historical cohort study using data from the UK Biobank study linked to electronic health records
Muzambi R, Bhaskaran K, Rentsch C, Smeeth L, Brayne C, Garfield V, Williams D, Chaturvedi N, Warren-Gash C. Are infections associated with cognitive decline and neuroimaging outcomes? A historical cohort study using data from the UK Biobank study linked to electronic health records. Translational Psychiatry 2022, 12: 385. PMID: 36109502, PMCID: PMC9478085, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02145-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCognitive declineWhite matter hyperintensity volumeSecondary care recordsAssociation of infectionHistory of infectionPotential structural correlatesEvidence of associationCommon infectionsDementia riskHyperintensity volumeInfection diagnosisCare recordsCognitive impairmentLinear mixed effects modelsCognitive functionVolunteer cohortInfectionMixed effects modelsStructural correlatesUK BiobankLinear regression modelsAssociationEffects modelRegression modelsVisual memoryPotentially inappropriate medication use by level of polypharmacy among US Veterans 49–64 and 65–70 years old
Guillot J, Rentsch CT, Gordon KS, Justice AC, Bezin J. Potentially inappropriate medication use by level of polypharmacy among US Veterans 49–64 and 65–70 years old. Pharmacoepidemiology And Drug Safety 2022, 31: 1056-1074. PMID: 35780391, PMCID: PMC9464694, DOI: 10.1002/pds.5506.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLevel of polypharmacyRace/ethnicityPIM prevalencePrevalence of PIMsInappropriate medication useElectronic health recordsCommon PIMsPharmacy fillsPROMPT criteriaInappropriate medicationsOlder patientsMedication usePsychotropic medicationsRefill recordsPolypharmacyPatientsVeterans AffairsMedicationsPrevalenceHealth recordsFiscal year 2016AgeMeaningful differencesSexTarget ageLong COVID burden and risk factors in 10 UK longitudinal studies and electronic health records
Thompson EJ, Williams DM, Walker AJ, Mitchell RE, Niedzwiedz CL, Yang TC, Huggins CF, Kwong ASF, Silverwood RJ, Di Gessa G, Bowyer RCE, Northstone K, Hou B, Green MJ, Dodgeon B, Doores KJ, Duncan EL, Williams FMK, Steptoe A, Porteous D, McEachan R, Tomlinson L, Goldacre B, Patalay P, Ploubidis G, Katikireddi S, Tilling K, Rentsch C, Timpson N, Chaturvedi N, Steves C. Long COVID burden and risk factors in 10 UK longitudinal studies and electronic health records. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 3528. PMID: 35764621, PMCID: PMC9240035, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30836-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong COVIDRisk factorsCardio-metabolic parametersOverweight/obesityElectronic healthcare recordsCOVID-19Community-based individualsSelf-reported COVID-19Electronic health recordsLongitudinal study sampleProlonged symptomsCOVID-19 casesFemale sexDiagnostic codesWhite ethnicityUK longitudinal studyMental healthHealth recordsStudy sampleEHR dataLongitudinal studySymptomsHealthcare recordsSpring 2021BurdenAssociations of modern initial antiretroviral drug regimens with all-cause mortality in adults with HIV in Europe and North America: a cohort study
Trickey A, Zhang L, Gill MJ, Bonnet F, Burkholder G, Castagna A, Cavassini M, Cichon P, Crane H, Domingo P, Grabar S, Guest J, Obel N, Psichogiou M, Rava M, Reiss P, Rentsch CT, Riera M, Schuettfort G, Silverberg MJ, Smith C, Stecher M, Sterling TR, Ingle SM, Sabin CA, Sterne JAC. Associations of modern initial antiretroviral drug regimens with all-cause mortality in adults with HIV in Europe and North America: a cohort study. The Lancet HIV 2022, 9: e404-e413. PMID: 35659335, PMCID: PMC9647005, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(22)00046-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntegrase strand inhibitorsCause mortalityCohort studyThird drugAntiretroviral drugsMortality rateAntiretroviral Therapy Cohort CollaborationFirst-line ART regimensUK Collaborative HIV CohortART-naive peopleCollaborative HIV CohortAntiretroviral therapy regimensUK Medical Research CouncilMedical Research CouncilCohort CollaborationEfavirenz regimensVirological benefitVirological failureVirological suppressionART regimensHIV cohortHazard ratioRoutine careTherapy regimensUS National InstitutesOverall and cause-specific hospitalisation and death after COVID-19 hospitalisation in England: A cohort study using linked primary care, secondary care, and death registration data in the OpenSAFELY platform
Bhaskaran K, Rentsch CT, Hickman G, Hulme WJ, Schultze A, Curtis HJ, Wing K, Warren-Gash C, Tomlinson L, Bates CJ, Mathur R, MacKenna B, Mahalingasivam V, Wong A, Walker AJ, Morton CE, Grint D, Mehrkar A, Eggo RM, Inglesby P, Douglas IJ, McDonald HI, Cockburn J, Williamson EJ, Evans D, Parry J, Hester F, Harper S, Evans SJ, Bacon S, Smeeth L, Goldacre B. Overall and cause-specific hospitalisation and death after COVID-19 hospitalisation in England: A cohort study using linked primary care, secondary care, and death registration data in the OpenSAFELY platform. PLOS Medicine 2022, 19: e1003871. PMID: 35077449, PMCID: PMC8789178, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003871.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 patientsCOVID-19 hospitalisationGeneral population controlsCOVID-19 groupCOVID-19 survivorsHospital admissionHigh riskInfluenza hospitalisationsCause mortalityCohort studyInfluenza patientsPrimary careGeneral populationInitial infectionAcute coronavirus disease 2019Lower respiratory tract infectionsSevere COVID-19 outcomesLong-term adverse outcomesCOVID-19 hospital admissionsSpecific causesPopulation controlsCause-specific hospitalisationRespiratory tract infectionsCause-specific outcomesPotential risk factorsGeographic and temporal variation in racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 positivity between February 2020 and August 2021 in the United States
Ferguson JM, Justice AC, Osborne TF, Magid HSA, Purnell AL, Rentsch CT. Geographic and temporal variation in racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 positivity between February 2020 and August 2021 in the United States. Scientific Reports 2022, 12: 273. PMID: 34997001, PMCID: PMC8741774, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03967-5.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Dexamethasone in hospitalised COVID-19 patients not on intensive respiratory support
Crothers K, DeFaccio R, Tate J, Alba PR, Goetz MB, Jones B, King JT, Marconi V, Ohl ME, Rentsch CT, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Shahrir S, Justice AC, Akgün KM, Group F. Dexamethasone in hospitalised COVID-19 patients not on intensive respiratory support. European Respiratory Journal 2021, 60: 2102532. PMID: 34824060, PMCID: PMC8841623, DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02532-2021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntensive respiratory supportHospitalised COVID-19 patientsCOVID-19 patientsNasal cannulaEarly dexamethasoneRespiratory supportSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Low-flow nasal cannulaAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patientsRespiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Cox proportional hazards modelUS Veterans Affairs hospitalsSyndrome coronavirus 2Veterans Affairs hospitalProportional hazards modelCOVID-19Prior corticosteroidsCause mortalityMortality benefitTotal patientsCoronavirus 2Unexposed groupReal-world findingsEarly initiationOpenSAFELY: impact of national guidance on switching anticoagulant therapy during COVID-19 pandemic
Collaborative T, Curtis HJ, MacKenna B, Walker AJ, Croker R, Mehrkar A, Morton C, Bacon S, Hickman G, Inglesby P, Bates C, Evans D, Ward T, Cockburn J, Davy S, Bhaskaran K, Schultze A, Rentsch CT, Williamson E, Hulme W, Tomlinson L, Mathur R, Drysdale H, Eggo RM, Wong AY, Forbes H, Parry J, Hester F, Harper S, Douglas I, Smeeth L, Goldacre B. OpenSAFELY: impact of national guidance on switching anticoagulant therapy during COVID-19 pandemic. Open Heart 2021, 8: e001784. PMID: 34785588, PMCID: PMC8595296, DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2021-001784.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedAnticoagulantsBlood CoagulationBlood Coagulation TestsCOVID-19Drug MonitoringDrug PrescriptionsDrug SubstitutionDrug UtilizationEnglandFactor Xa InhibitorsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient SafetyPractice Guidelines as TopicPractice Patterns, Physicians'Primary Health CareRetrospective StudiesRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsState MedicineWarfarinConceptsWarfarin patientsNational Health ServiceCOVID-19 pandemicNational guidanceCare home residencyINR test resultsRenal function testsFrequent blood testingSafety alertsRoutine clinical dataAtrial fibrillation diagnosisElevated INRMedication changesOral anticoagulantsAnticoagulant therapyCohort studyAppropriate patientsINR testsFunction testsBlood testingPrimary careClinical dataDOACPatientsWarfarinHIV care using differentiated service delivery during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a nationwide cohort study in the US Department of Veterans Affairs
McGinnis KA, Skanderson M, Justice AC, Akgün KM, Tate JP, King JT, Rentsch CT, Marconi VC, Hsieh E, Ruser C, Kidwai‐Khan F, Yousefzadeh R, Erdos J, Park LS. HIV care using differentiated service delivery during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a nationwide cohort study in the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2021, 24: e25810. PMID: 34713585, PMCID: PMC8554215, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25810.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans AffairsClinic visitsCohort studyVL testARV coverageCOVID-19 pandemicVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHIV healthcare deliveryNationwide cohort studyAging Cohort StudyViral load testsDifferentiated service deliveryHealthcare deliveryHIV careMost patientsPharmacy recordsVL testingCalendar periodHealthcare encountersOverall healthARVVirtual healthcareVirtual visitsVisitsService deliveryPolypharmacy-associated risk of hospitalisation among people ageing with and without HIV: an observational study
Justice AC, Gordon KS, Romero J, Edelman EJ, Garcia BJ, Jones P, Khoo S, Re V, Rentsch CT, Tate JP, Tseng A, Womack J, Jacobson D. Polypharmacy-associated risk of hospitalisation among people ageing with and without HIV: an observational study. The Lancet Healthy Longevity 2021, 2: e639-e650. PMID: 34870254, PMCID: PMC8639138, DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(21)00206-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Aging Cohort StudyMedication countDrug-drug interactionsAntiretroviral therapyObservational studyPhysiological frailtyVeterans Affairs Health Services ResearchMore drug-drug interactionsRisk of hospitalisationRisk of admissionAging Cohort StudyHIV-1 RNANon-ART medicationsAdverse health outcomesNational InstituteHealth services researchAdditional medicationObserved medicationActive medicationCause mortalityMore medicationsCohort studyPrescription fillsHIV statusPrescription medicationsProtease inhibitor-based direct-acting antivirals are associated with increased risk of aminotransferase elevations but not hepatic dysfunction or decompensation
Torgersen J, Newcomb CW, Carbonari DM, Rentsch CT, Park LS, Mezochow A, Mehta RL, Buchwalder L, Tate JP, Bräu N, Bhattacharya D, Lim JK, Taddei TH, Justice AC, Lo Re V. Protease inhibitor-based direct-acting antivirals are associated with increased risk of aminotransferase elevations but not hepatic dysfunction or decompensation. Journal Of Hepatology 2021, 75: 1312-1322. PMID: 34333102, PMCID: PMC8604762, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.07.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSevere hepatic dysfunctionBaseline FIB-4Acute liver injuryHepatic dysfunctionInhibitor-based treatmentHepatic decompensationFIB-4Liver injuryHigh riskDAA therapyHazard ratioAdvanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosisRisk of ALIProtease inhibitor-based regimensProtease inhibitor-based treatmentLiver fibrosis/cirrhosisInhibitor-based regimensHepatitis C infectionSevere liver dysfunctionFibrosis/cirrhosisInhibitor-based therapyAminotransferase elevationChronic HCVALT elevationC infectionRisks of covid-19 hospital admission and death for people with learning disability: population based cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform
Williamson EJ, McDonald HI, Bhaskaran K, Walker AJ, Bacon S, Davy S, Schultze A, Tomlinson L, Bates C, Ramsay M, Curtis HJ, Forbes H, Wing K, Minassian C, Tazare J, Morton CE, Nightingale E, Mehrkar A, Evans D, Inglesby P, MacKenna B, Cockburn J, Rentsch CT, Mathur R, Wong AYS, Eggo RM, Hulme W, Croker R, Parry J, Hester F, Harper S, Douglas IJ, Evans SJW, Smeeth L, Goldacre B, Kuper H. Risks of covid-19 hospital admission and death for people with learning disability: population based cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform. The BMJ 2021, 374: n1592. PMID: 34261639, PMCID: PMC8278652, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n1592.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCovid-19 related hospital admissionRelated hospital admissionsNon-COVID deathsHospital admissionOpenSAFELY platformDown syndromeCohort studyHazard ratioCerebral palsyDisability registersGeneral practiceCOVID-19COVID-19 hospital admissionsMain exposure groupsCOVID-19 vaccinationHospital admission dataPatient-level dataLow event ratesNon-COVID causesCOVID-19 testingTargeted preventive measuresWave 2Wave 1Electronic health recordsProfound learning disabilities