Clinical decision support systems in the care of hospitalised patients with diabetes

This thesis explored the role of health informatics (decision support systems) in caring for hospitalised patients with diabetes through a systematic review and by analysing data from University Hospital Birmingham, UK. Findings from the thesis: 1) highlight the potential role of computerised physician order entry system in improving guideline based anti-diabetic medication prescription in particular insulin prescription, and their effectiveness in contributing to better glycaemic control; 2) quantify the occurrence of missed discharge diagnostic codes for diabetes using electronic prescription data and suggests 60% of this could be potentially reduced using an algorithm that could be introduced as part of the information system; 3) found that hypoglycaemia and foot disease in hospitalised diabetes patients were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates and longer length of stay; 4) quantify the hypoglycaemia rates in non-diabetic patients and proposes one method of establishing a surveillance system to identify non diabetic hypoglycaemic patients; and 5) introduces a prediction model that may be useful to identify patients with diabetes at risk of poor clinical outcomes during their hospital stay

Trends in the prevalence and pharmacological management of migraine during pregnancy in the UK, 2000–2018

Background: Migraine is common in women of reproductive age. This study aimed to (1) describe the prevalence of migraine in pregnant women in the UK, (2) identify drugs commonly prescribed for migraine during pregnancy and (3) identify characteristics associated with being prescribed medication for migraine during pregnancy. Methods: The Clinical Practice Research Datalink pregnancy register, a database of pregnancy episodes identified in anonymised primary care health records, was used. Crude and age-standardised prevalence of migraine during pregnancy and the proportion of women with migraine prescribed drugs used for migraine management were calculated for each year between 2000 and 2018. Logistic regression was used to describe the relationship between patient characteristics and being prescribed migraine medication during pregnancy. Results: 1 377 053 pregnancies were included, of which 187 328 were in women with a history of migraine. The age-adjusted prevalence increased from 11.4% in 2000 to 17.2% in 2018. There was an increase in the rates of prescription for numerous medications for the management of migraine. Older women (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.41 (1.20 to 1.66)), women of black (aOR 1.40 (1.32 to 1.48)) and South Asian ethnicity (aOR 1.48 (1.38 to 1.59)), those living in the most deprived areas (aOR 1.60 (1.54 to 1.66)), women who were obese (aOR 1.39 (1.35 to 1.43)), smokers (aOR 1.15 (1.12 to 1.18)) and those with comorbid conditions were more likely to receive a prescription during pregnancy. Conclusions: Rates of recorded migraine have increased over the past two decades as well as rates of prescribing in women with migraine. Higher prescribing rates are seen in certain groups, which has the potential to exacerbate health inequalities

Clinically meaningful and lasting HbA1c improvement rarely occurs after 5 years of type 1 diabetes: an argument for early, targeted and aggressive intervention following diagnosis.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our objectives were to explore whether the phenomenon of HbA1c 'tracking' occurs in individuals with type 1 diabetes, how long after diagnosis does tracking take to stabilise, and whether there is an effect of sex and age at diagnosis on tracking. METHODS: A total of 4525 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes between 1 January 1995 and 1 May 2015 were identified from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database. Mixed models were applied to assess the variability of HbA1c levels over time with random effects on general practices (primary care units) and individuals within practices. RESULTS: 4525 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes were identified in THIN over the study period. The greatest difference in mean HbA1c measurement (-7.0 [95% CI -8.0, -6.1] mmol/mol [0.6%]) was seen when comparing measurements made immediately after diagnosis (0-1 year since diagnosis) with those at 10 or more years (the reference category). The mean difference in HbA1c for the successive periods compared with 10 or more years after diagnosis declined and was no longer statistically significant after 5 years. In the stratified analysis using sex and age group there was considerable heterogeneity with adult onset type 1 diabetes appearing to track earlier and at a lower mean HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In individuals with type 1 diabetes, glycaemic control measured by HbA1c settles onto a long-term 'track' and this occurs on average by 5 years following diagnosis. Age at diagnosis modifies both the rate at which individuals settle into their track and the absolute HbA1c tracking level for the next 10 years

How migraine and its associated treatment impact on pregnancy outcomes:Umbrella Review with Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Migraine is common in reproductive aged women. Understanding the impact of migraine and associated treatments on pregnancy outcomes remains very important. An umbrella review of systematic reviews, with or without meta-analyses, examined the link between migraine and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: We systematically searched Medline, Embase and Cochrane to 27th October 2022. Quality appraisal was carried out using the AMSTAR2 tool. An established framework was used to determine whether included reviews were eligible for update. Results: Four studies met review criteria. Migraine was reported to be associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of pre-eclampsia, low birth weight and peripartum mental illness (pooled OR 3.54 (2.24-5.59)). Triptan-exposed women had increased odds of miscarriage compared to women without migraine (pooled OR 3.54 (2.24-5.59)). In updated meta-analyses, migraine was associated with an increased odds of pre-eclampsia and preterm birth (pooled OR 2.05 (1.47-2.84) and 1.26 (1.21-1.32) respectively).Conclusion: Migraine is associated with increased odds of pre-eclampsia, peripartum mental illness and preterm birth. Further investigation of the relationship between migraine and placental abruption, low birth weight and small for gestational age is warranted, as well as the relationship between migraine, triptans and miscarriage risk.Systematic Review Registration: Prospero CRD4202235763