Ethnic differences in multimorbidity after accounting for social-economic factors, findings from The Health Survey for England.

BACKGROUND: Social-economic factors and health behaviours may be driving variation in ethnic health inequalities in multimorbidity including among distinct ethnic groups. METHODS: Using the cross-sectional nationally representative Health Surveys for England 2011-18 (N = 54 438, aged 16+), we performed multivariable logistic regression on the odds of having general multimorbidity (≥2 longstanding conditions) by ethnicity [British White (reference group), White Irish, Other White, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, African, Caribbean, White mixed, Other Mixed], adjusting for age, sex, education, area deprivation, obesity, smoking status and survey year. This was repeated for cardiovascular multimorbidity (N = 37 148, aged 40+: having ≥2 of the following: self-reported diabetes, hypertension, heart attack or stroke) and multiple cardiometabolic risk biomarkers (HbA1c ≥6.5%, raised blood pressure, total cholesterol ≥5mmol/L). RESULTS: Twenty percent of adults had general multimorbidity. In fully adjusted models, compared with the White British majority, Other White [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-0.74], Chinese (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.36-0.93) and African adults (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.42-0.69), had lower odds of general multimorbidity. Among adults aged 40+, Pakistani (OR = 1.27, 95% CI 0.97-1.66; P = 0.080) and Bangladeshi (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.16-2.65) had increased odds, and African adults had decreased odds (OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.47-0.83) of general multimorbidity. Risk of cardiovascular multimorbidity was higher among Indian (OR = 3.31, 95% CI 2.56-4.28), Pakistani (OR = 3.48, 95% CI 2.52-4.80), Bangladeshi (OR = 3.67, 95% CI 1.98-6.78), African (OR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.05-2.47), Caribbean (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.59-2.99) and White mixed (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.14-3.44) adults. Indian adults were also at risk of having multiple cardiometabolic risk biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Ethnic inequalities in multimorbidity are independent of social-economic factors. Ethnic minority groups are particularly at risk of cardiovascular multimorbidity, which may be exacerbated by poorer management of cardiometabolic risk requiring further investigation.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in behavioural non-communicable disease risk factors: analysis of repeated cross-sectional health surveys in England between 2003 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that those in lower socioeconomic positions (SEPs) generally have higher levels of behavioural non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors. However, there are limited studies examining recent trends in inequalities. This study examined trends in socioeconomic inequalities in NCD behavioural risk factors and their co-occurrence in England from 2003-19. METHODS: This time-trend analysis of repeated cross-sectional data from the Health Survey for England examined the relative index of inequalities (RII) and slope index of inequalities (SII) in four NCD behavioural risk factors: smoking; drinking above recommended limits; insufficient fruit and vegetables consumption; and physical inactivity. FINDINGS: Prevalence of risk factors has reduced over time, however, this has not been consistent across SEPs. Absolute and relative inequalities increased for physical inactivity; relative inequalities also increased for smoking; for insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption, the trends in inequalities depended on SEPs measure. Those in lower SEPs experienced persistent socioeconomic inequalities and clustering of behavioural risk factors. In contrast, those in higher SEPs had higher prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption; this inequality widened over the study period. INTERPRETATION: Inequalities in smoking and physical inactivity are persisting or widening. The pattern of higher drinking in higher SEPs obscure the fact that the greatest burden of alcohol-related harm falls on lower SEPs. Policy attention is required to tackle increasing inequalities in smoking prevalence, low fruit and vegetable consumption and physical inactivity, and to reduce alcohol harm.

National Health Examination Surveys: an essential piece of the health planning puzzle.

National health examination surveys (HESs) have been developed to provide important information that cannot be obtained from other sources. A HES combines information obtained by asking participants questions with biophysical measurements taken by trained field staff. They are observational studies with the highest external validity and make specific contributions to both population (public health) and individual health. Few countries have a track record of a regular wide-ranging HES, but these are the basis of many reports and scientific papers. Despite this, little evidence about HES usefulness and impact or the factors that influence HES effectiveness have been disseminated. This paper presents examples of HES contributions to society in both Europe and the Americas. We sought information by emailing a wide list of people involved in running or using national HESs across Europe and the Americas. We asked for examples of where examination data from their HES had been used in national or regional policymaking. We found multiple examples of HES data being used for agenda-setting, including by highlighting nutritional needs and identifying underdiagnosis and poor management of certain conditions. We also found many ways in which HES have been used to monitor the impact of policies and define population norms. HES data have also been used in policy formation and implementation. HES data are influential and powerful. There is need for global support, financing and networking to transfer capacities and innovation in both fieldwork and laboratory technology.

Does the use of prediction equations to correct self-reported height and weight improve obesity prevalence estimates? A pooled cross-sectional analysis of Health Survey for England data.

OBJECTIVE: Adults typically overestimate height and underestimate weight compared with directly measured values, and such misreporting varies by sociodemographic and health-related factors. Using self-reported and interviewer-measured height and weight, collected from the same participants, we aimed to develop a set of prediction equations to correct bias in self-reported height and weight and assess whether this adjustment improved the accuracy of obesity prevalence estimates relative to those based only on self-report. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 38 940 participants aged 16+ (Health Survey for England 2011-2016) with non-missing self-reported and interviewer-measured height and weight. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparisons between self-reported, interviewer-measured (gold standard) and corrected (based on prediction equations) body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) including (1) difference between means and obesity prevalence and (2) measures of agreement for BMI classification. RESULTS: On average, men overestimated height more than women (1.6 cm and 1.0 cm, respectively; p<0.001), while women underestimated weight more than men (2.1 kg and 1.5 kg, respectively; p<0.001). Underestimation of BMI was slightly larger for women than for men (1.1 kg/m2 and 1.0 kg/m2, respectively; p<0.001). Obesity prevalence based on BMI from self-report was 6.8 and 6.0 percentage points (pp) lower than that estimated using measured BMI for men and women, respectively. Corrected BMI (based on models containing all significant predictors of misreporting of height and weight) lowered underestimation of obesity to 0.8pp in both sexes and improved the sensitivity of obesity over self-reported BMI by 15.0pp for men and 12.2pp for women. Results based on simpler models using age alone as a predictor of misreporting were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with self-reported data, applying prediction equations improved the accuracy of obesity prevalence estimates and increased sensitivity of being classified as obese. Including additional sociodemographic variables did not improve obesity classification enough to justify the added complexity of including them in prediction equations.

Sex differences in the secular change in waist circumference relative to body mass index in the Americas and England from 1997 to 2020.

Objective: To quantify changes over time in waist circumference (WC) relative to body mass index (BMI) by sex in the Americas (United States of America, Mexico, Chile, Peru) and England. Methods: Data from adults aged 25-64 years between 1997 and 2020 was analysed; US data was stratified by racial-ethnic groups. Sex-specific BMI and WC means, and obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence, were compared between the first and last surveys. Using data from all survey years, secular changes across the BMI and WC distributions were estimated applying quantile regression models. BMI was added as a predictor of WC to estimate secular changes in WC relative to BMI. Interaction terms were included in all models to evaluate differences by sex. Results: BMI and WC (except Peru) showed larger secular increases at the upper-tails of the distributions in both sexes. Increases at the 50th and 75th WC centiles relative to BMI were more pronounced in women than in men, with larger increases in US non-Hispanic whites and in England. In men, increases in WC independently of BMI were most evident in Mexico. Conclusions: Disease risk associated with visceral fat, is potentially underestimated by national surveillance efforts that quantify secular changes only in BMI.

Prevalence of and factors associated with herpes zoster in England: a cross-sectional analysis of the Health Survey for England.

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (commonly called shingles) is caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus, and results in substantial morbidity. While the risk of zoster increases significantly with age and immunosuppression, relatively little is known about other risk factors for zoster. Moreover, much evidence to date stems from electronic healthcare or administrative data. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore potential risk factors for herpes zoster using survey data from a nationally-representative sample of the general community-dwelling population in England. METHODS: Data were extracted from the 2015 Health Survey for England, an annual cross-sectional representative survey of households in England. The lifetime prevalence of self-reported herpes zoster was described by age, gender and other socio-demographic factors, health behaviours (physical activity levels, body mass index, smoking status and alcohol consumption) and clinical conditions, including; diabetes, respiratory, digestive and genito-urinary system and mental health disorders. Logistic regression models were then used to identify possible factors associated with shingles, and results were presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of shingles among the sample was 11.5% (12.6% among women, 10.3% among men), which increased with age. After adjusting for a range of covariates, increased age, female gender (odds ratio: 1.21; 95%CI: 1.03, 1.43), White ethnic backgrounds (odds ratio: 2.00; 95%CI: 1.40, 2.88), moderate physical activity 7 days per week (odds ratio: 1.29; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.66) and digestive disorders (odds ratio: 1.51; 95%CI: 1.13, 1.51) were each associated with increased odds of having had herpes zoster. CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, ethnicity and digestive disorders may be risk factors for herpes zoster among a nationally representative sample of adults in England. These potential risk factors and possible mechanisms should be further explored using longitudinal studies.

Perceptions of healthcare workers on road traffic injuries in Namibia: an untapped source of expertise.

BACKGROUND: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major problem worldwide. Namibia is one of the worst affected countries globally; however, there has been very little research on RTIs. When RTIs are discussed, the focus usually is on statistics, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are rarely asked to share their experiences and insights on the impact of RTIs on the healthcare system in which they work. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the experiences and opinions of HCWs concerning RTIs in Namibia. In our survey, we asked them to reflect on RTIs as a public health issue, and on how they view national road safety efforts. RESULTS: HCWs were knowledgeable about RTIs and the related burden of injury, and problems with road safety in Namibia, including the lack of a coordinated multi-sectoral approach. Despite this and being often very involved with care, HCWs are rarely or never consulted by the Namibian government or ministries that deal with road safety and related matters. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested these findings will contribute to discussions about how HCWs can contribute to addressing and improving the care provided to people injured in RTIs in Namibia and other low and middle income countries with similar contexts.Implications for rehabilitationRoad traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major global public health challenge with over 1.2 million deaths and a high burden of disability.Namibia is one of the worst affected countries globally.Despite being involved in a national programme specifically targeting victims of RTIs, healthcare workers (HCWs) in Namibia are rarely included in road safety programming and policy making.Our study shows HCWs were knowledgeable about RTIs and the related problems and their inclusion in policy making has potential benefits.

Access to rehabilitation services for road traffic injury patients in Namibia.

PURPOSE: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major public health issue worldwide. The importance of physical rehabilitation following RTI is well documented. However, globally there has been very little research on the accessibility of rehabilitation services following road injury. Namibia is one of the five African countries with a fuel tax levy fund (Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, MVAF), a system of case managers, medical care, and case management system for coordination of long-term care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the availability of physical rehabilitation services to RTI injured in Namibia, through interviews with RTI patients and health care workers. RESULTS: Unlike the few other studies done in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), most RTI injured individuals in Namibia report they are able to access some rehabilitation following injury. In large measure, this is due to the effective MVAF system which they felt ensures follow up care for many after having an RTI. However, we found that access to rehabilitation is skewed in favour of those living in Windhoek and other urban areas compared with those in non-urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: The MVAF model seems to enhance access to rehabilitation and is a model which could be replicated in other SSA countries and other low and middle income countries.Implications for rehabilitationRoad traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major global public health challenge with over 1.2 million people killed and a high burden of disability and Namibia is one of the worst affected countries globally.There is lack of knowledge on the availability to physical rehabilitation following road injury in Namibia.Our study shows the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) model seems to enhance access to rehabilitation and is a model which could be replicated in Sub-Saharan Africa and other low and middle income countries.

Projection of the health and economic impacts of Chronic kidney disease in the Chilean population.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a leading public health problem, with substantial burden and economic implications for healthcare systems, mainly due to renal replacement treatment (RRT) for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The aim of this study is to develop a multistate predictive model to estimate the future burden of CKD in Chile, given the high and rising RRT rates, population ageing, and prevalence of comorbidities contributing to CKD. METHODS: A dynamic stock and flow model was developed to simulate CKD progression in the Chilean population aged 40 years and older, up to the year 2041, adopting the perspective of the Chilean public healthcare system. The model included six states replicating progression of CKD, which was assumed in 1-year cycles and was categorised as slow, medium or fast progression, based on the underlying conditions. We simulated two different treatment scenarios. Only direct costs of treatment were included, and a 3% per year discount rate was applied after the first year. We calibrated the model based on international evidence; the exploration of uncertainty (95% credibility intervals) was undertaken with probabilistic sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: By the year 2041, there is an expected increase in cases of CKD stages 3a to ESKD, ceteris paribus, from 442,265 (95% UI 441,808-442,722) in 2021 to 735,513 (734,455-736,570) individuals. Direct costs of CKD stages 3a to ESKD would rise from 322.4M GBP (321.7-323.1) in 2021 to 1,038.6M GBP (1,035.5-1,041.8) in 2041. A reduction in the progression rates of the disease by the inclusion of SGLT2 inhibitors and pre-dialysis treatment would decrease the number of individuals worsening to stages 5 and ESKD, thus reducing the total costs of CKD by 214.6M GBP in 2041 to 824.0M GBP (822.7-825.3). CONCLUSIONS: This model can be a useful tool for healthcare planning, with development of preventive or treatment plans to reduce and delay the progression of the disease and thus the anticipated increase in the healthcare costs of CKD.

Feasibility study of hospital antimicrobial stewardship analytics using electronic health records.

BACKGROUND: Hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes are multidisciplinary initiatives to optimize antimicrobial use. Most hospitals depend on time-consuming manual audits to monitor clinicians' prescribing. But much of the information needed could be sourced from electronic health records (EHRs). OBJECTIVES: To develop an informatics methodology to analyse characteristics of hospital AMS practice using routine electronic prescribing and laboratory records. METHODS: Feasibility study using electronic prescribing, laboratory and clinical coding records from adult patients admitted to six specialities at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK (September 2017-August 2018). The study involved: (i) a review of AMS standards of care; (ii) their translation into concepts measurable from commonly available EHRs; and (iii) a pilot application in an EHR cohort study (n = 61679 admissions). RESULTS: We developed data modelling methods to characterize antimicrobial use (antimicrobial therapy episode linkage methods, therapy table, therapy changes). Prescriptions were linked into antimicrobial therapy episodes (mean 2.4 prescriptions/episode; mean length of therapy 5.8 days), enabling several actionable findings. For example, 22% of therapy episodes for low-severity community-acquired pneumonia were congruent with prescribing guidelines, with a tendency to use broader-spectrum antibiotics. Analysis of therapy changes revealed IV to oral therapy switching was delayed by an average 3.6 days (95% CI: 3.4-3.7). Microbial cultures were performed prior to treatment initiation in just 22% of antibacterial prescriptions. The proposed methods enabled fine-grained monitoring of AMS practice down to specialities, wards and individual clinical teams by case mix, enabling more meaningful peer comparison. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to use hospital EHRs to construct rapid, meaningful measures of prescribing quality with potential to support quality improvement interventions (audit/feedback to prescribers), engagement with front-line clinicians on optimizing prescribing, and AMS impact evaluation studies.

Trends in cardiovascular disease risk factors by BMI category among adults in England, 2003-2018.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate trends in cardiovascular disease risk factors by BMI category among adults in England (n = 115,860). METHODS: Risk factors included cigarette smoking, hypertension, total diabetes, and raised total cholesterol. Risk factor prevalence was computed in the following four 4-year time periods: 2003-2006; 2007-2010; 2011-2014; and 2015-2018. Change was computed as the difference between the first and last time periods, expressed in percentage points (PP). RESULTS: Hypertension remained at a stable level among men with normal weight but decreased among men with obesity (-4.1 PP; 95% CI: -7.1 to -1.0). Total diabetes remained at a stable level among adults with normal weight but increased among adults with obesity (men: 3.5 PP, 95% CI: 1.2 to 5.7; women: 3.6 PP, 95% CI: 1.8 to 5.4). Raised total cholesterol decreased in all BMI groups but fell more sharply among women with obesity (-21 PP; 95% CI: -25 to -17) versus their counterparts with normal weight (-16 PP; 95% CI: -18 to -14). CONCLUSIONS: Greater reductions in hypertension and raised total cholesterol among adults with overweight and obesity partially reflect improvements in screening, treatment, and control among those at highest cardiovascular risk. Higher levels of risk factor prevalence among adults with overweight and obesity, in parallel with rising diabetes, highlight the importance of national prevention efforts to combat the public health impact of excess adiposity.

Associations between indoor temperature, self-rated health and socioeconomic position in a cross-sectional study of adults in England.

OBJECTIVE: Excess winter deaths are a major public health concern in England and Wales, with an average of 20 000 deaths per year since 2010. Feeling cold at home during winter is associated with reporting poor general health; cold and damp homes have greater prevalence in lower socioeconomic groups. Overheating in the summer also has adverse health consequences. This study evaluates the association between indoor temperature and general health and the extent to which this is affected by socioeconomic and household factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: England. PARTICIPANTS: Secondary data of 74 736 individuals living in England that took part in the Health Survey for England (HSE) between 2003 and 2014. The HSE is an annual household survey which uses multilevel stratification to select a new, nationally representative sample each year. The study sample comprised adults who had a nurse visit; the analytical sample was adults who had observations for indoor temperature and self-rated health. RESULTS: Using both logistic and linear regression models to examine indoor temperature and health status, adjusting for socioeconomic and housing factors, the study found an association between poor health and higher indoor temperatures. Each one degree increase in indoor temperature was associated with a 1.4% (95% CI 0.5% to 2.3%) increase in the odds of poor health. After adjusting for income, education, employment type, household size and home ownership, the OR of poor health for each degree temperature rise increased by 19%, to a 1.7% (95% CI 0.7% to 2.6%) increase in odds of poor health with each degree temperature rise. CONCLUSION: People with worse self-reported health had higher indoor temperatures after adjusting for household factors. People with worse health may have chosen to maintain warmer environments or been advised to. However, other latent factors, such as housing type and energy performance could have an effect.

Road traffic injuries in Namibia: health services, public health and the motor vehicle accident fund.

Namibia is one of five countries in sub-Saharan Africa that has a fuel tax levy designed to support road injury victims. This study examines how the scheme operates from the perspective of seriously injured or permanently disabled beneficiaries. Using qualitative methods, we conducted semi-structured interviews with RTI survivors in Namibia, and healthcare workers involved in caring for them, in order to investigate the role played by the MVAF. While some wealthier drivers continue to buy private insurance, most Namibians now rely on the MVAF. The analysis show the MVAF is effectively helping to enhance access to rehabilitation and other health services for RTI survivors. There however exist some weaknesses in the system which can be addressed. It is hoped these findings will contribute to discussions about whether the current system is fit for purpose and could serve as a replicable model in other low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The retail food environment and its association with body mass index in Mexico.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Mexico has one of the highest rates of obesity and overweight worldwide, affecting 75% of the population. The country has experienced a dietary and food retail transition involving increased availability of high-calorie-dense foods and beverages. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the retail food environment and body mass index (BMI) in Mexico. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Geographical and food outlet data were obtained from official statistics; anthropometric measurements and socioeconomic characteristics of adult participants (N = 22,219) came from the nationally representative 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT). Densities (store count/census tract area (CTA)) of convenience stores, restaurants, fast-food restaurants, supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores were calculated. The association of retail food environment variables, sociodemographic data and BMI was tested using multilevel linear regression models. RESULTS: Convenience store density was high (mean (SD) = 50.0 (36.9)/CTA) compared with other food outlets in Mexico. A unit increase in density of convenience stores was associated with a 0.003 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.0006, 0.005, p = 0.011) increase in BMI, equivalent to 0.34 kg extra weight for an adult 1.60 m tall for every additional 10% store density increase (number of convenience stores per CTA (km2)). Metropolitan areas showed the highest density of food outlet concentration and the highest associations with BMI (ß = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.004-0.01, p < 0.001). A 10% store density increase in these areas would represent a 1 kg increase in weight for an adult 1.60 m tall. CONCLUSIONS: Convenience store density was associated with higher mean BMI in Mexican adults. An excessive convenience store availability, that offers unhealthy food options, coupled with low access to healthy food resources or stores retailing healthy food, including fruits and vegetables, may increase the risk of higher BMI. This is the first study to assess the association of the retail food environment and BMI at a national level in Mexico.

Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the USA: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Quantify income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in England and the USA by sex. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 4019 adolescents aged 11-15 years in England (Health Survey for England 2008, 2012, 2015) and 4312 aged 12-17 years in the US (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three aspects of MVPA: (1) doing any, (2) average min/day (MVPA: including those who did none) and (3) average min/day conditional on participation (MVPA active). Using hurdle models, inequalities were quantified using the absolute difference in marginal means (average marginal effects). RESULTS: In England, adolescents in high-income households were more likely than those in low-income households to have done any formal sports/exercise in the last 7 days (boys: 11%; 95% CI 4% to 17%; girls: 13%; 95% CI 6% to 20%); girls in high-income households did more than their low-income counterparts (MVPA: 6 min/day, 95% CI 2 to 9). Girls in low-income households spent more time in informal activities than girls in high-income households (MVPA: 21 min/day; 95% CI 10 to 33), while boys in low-income versus high-income households spent longer in active travel (MVPA: 21 min/week; 95% CI 8 to 34). In the USA, in a typical week, recreational activity was greater among high-income versus low-income households (boys: 15 min/day; 95% CI 6 to 24; girls: 19 min/day; 95% CI 12 to 27). In contrast, adolescents in low-income versus high-income households were more likely to travel actively (boys: 11%; 95% CI 3% to 19%; girls: 10%; 95% CI 3% to 17%) and do more. CONCLUSIONS: Policy actions and interventions are required to increase MVPA across all income groups in England and the USA. Differences in formal sports/exercise (England) and recreational (USA) activities suggest that additional efforts are required to reduce inequalities.

Incidence, healthcare-seeking behaviours, antibiotic use and natural history of common infection syndromes in England: results from the Bug Watch community cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Better information on the typical course and management of acute common infections in the community could inform antibiotic stewardship campaigns. We aimed to investigate the incidence, management, and natural history of a range of infection syndromes (respiratory, gastrointestinal, mouth/dental, skin/soft tissue, urinary tract, and eye). METHODS: Bug Watch was an online prospective community cohort study of the general population in England (2018-2019) with weekly symptom reporting for 6 months. We combined symptom reports into infection syndromes, calculated incidence rates, described the proportion leading to healthcare-seeking behaviours and antibiotic use, and estimated duration and severity. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 873 individuals with 23,111 person-weeks follow-up. The mean age was 54 years and 528 (60%) were female. We identified 1422 infection syndromes, comprising 40,590 symptom reports. The incidence of respiratory tract infection syndromes was two per person year; for all other categories it was less than one. 194/1422 (14%) syndromes led to GP (or dentist) consultation and 136/1422 (10%) to antibiotic use. Symptoms usually resolved within a week and the third day was the most severe. CONCLUSIONS: Most people reported managing their symptoms without medical consultation. Interventions encouraging safe self-management across a range of acute infection syndromes could decrease pressure on primary healthcare services and support targets for reducing antibiotic prescribing.

Taking the bus? Barriers and facilitators for adolescent use of public buses to school.

Transport to school can contribute significantly to adolescents' physical activity but in New Zealand - as in many other countries around the world - many adolescents are driven to school. Public transport offers an opportunity to integrate incidental active transport into school commutes. In this paper, we bring together multiple sources of data into a multi-method study to elucidate the barriers to and facilitators of public transport use by adolescents for school travel in Dunedin, New Zealand, a city with low rates of public transport use. The data include a public bus survey from Otago School Students Lifestyle Survey (OSSLS, 1391 adolescents); the Built Environment Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study parental survey (350 parents), focus groups (54 adolescents, 25 parents, 12 teachers) and semi-structured interviews (12 principals); interviews with three policy-makers from local/regional/national agencies; and analysis of 10 relevant local/regional/national strategies/transport plans. The findings show how distance to school, cost, parental trip chaining, built environment features, the weather, convenience, and safety perceptions are major barriers to using public transport to school. Moreover, current transport planning documents do not favour public health. A number of recommendations that could increase public transport use are made including: raising parking prices to discourage parents driving and trip-chaining; improving bus infrastructure and services; providing subsidies; and changing perceptions of public transport use and users. These actions, however, require collaboration between government authorities across the local, regional and national scale.

Exploring the views of planners and public health practitioners on integrating health evidence into spatial planning in England: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: This study explored barriers and facilitators to integrating health evidence into spatial planning at local authority levels and examined the awareness and use of the Public Health England 'Spatial Planning for Health' resource. METHODS: A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design utilized in-depth semi-structured interviews followed by an online survey of public health, planning and other built environment professionals in England. RESULTS: Views from 19 individuals and 162 survey responses revealed high awareness and use of the Spatial Planning for Health resource, although public health professionals reported greater awareness and use than other professionals. Key barriers to evidence implementation included differences in interpretation and the use of 'evidence' between public health and planning professionals, lack of practical evidence to apply locally and lack of resource and staff capacity in local authorities. Key facilitators included integrating health into the design of local plans, articulating wider benefits to multiple stakeholders and simplifying presenting evidence (regarding language and accessibility). CONCLUSION: The Spatial Planning for Health resource is a useful resource at local authority level. Further work is needed to maximize its use by built environment professionals. Public health teams need support, capacity and skills to ensure that local health and well-being priorities are integrated into local planning documents and decisions.

Sociodemographic and Built Environment Associates of Travel to School by Car among New Zealand Adolescents: Meta-Analysis.

Travelling to school by car diminishes opportunities for physical activity and contributes to traffic congestion and associated noise and air pollution. This meta-analysis examined sociodemographic characteristics and built environment associates of travelling to school by car compared to using active transport among New Zealand (NZ) adolescents. Four NZ studies (2163 adolescents) provided data on participants' mode of travel to school, individual and school sociodemographic characteristics, distance to school and home-neighbourhood built-environment features. A one-step meta-analysis using individual participant data was performed in SAS. A final multivariable model was developed using stepwise logistic regression. Overall, 60.6% of participants travelled to school by car. When compared with active transport, travelling to school by car was positively associated with distance to school. Participants residing in neighbourhoods with high intersection density and attending medium deprivation schools were less likely to travel to school by car compared with their counterparts. Distance to school, school level deprivation and low home neighbourhood intersection density are associated with higher likelihood of car travel to school compared with active transport among NZ adolescents. Comprehensive interventions focusing on both social and built environment factors are needed to reduce car travel to school.