Objectives To quantify contributions of health- and employment-related risk factors to high annual sickness absence (HASA) among a population-based cohort of older workers in England. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting 24 general practices geographically dispersed across England. Participants Men and women initially aged 50–64 years recruited as part of the Health and Employment After Fifty study. Primary and secondary outcome measures HASA, defined as a total of more than 20 days sickness absence over a 12-month interval. Results 4726 men and women were analysed, providing data on 15…
Introduction Curative-intent resection of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis (CRLM), combined with perioperative chemotherapy, is the standard of treatment for selected patients. However, accurately predicting which patients will benefit from this strategy remains challenging. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive biomarker for detecting minimal residual disease and predicting prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of ctDNA in patients with CRC undergoing surgery for CRLM. Methods and analysis CRC patients undergoing LIver…
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a contextually developed home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) programme on heart-related quality of life (QoL), cardiac health behaviours (CHB) and cardiac anxiety (CA) among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Lahore, Pakistan. Design Single-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT). Setting Cardiology department of a public tertiary-care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants 120 patients aged 18–65 years diagnosed with coronary artery disease who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention or medical management were…
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant disparities in vaccine uptake across sub-Saharan Africa, yet research exploring the regional and country-specific factors influencing these rates remains limited. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted regional and global public health interventions to improve vaccination uptake and strengthen pandemic preparedness. This study aims to fill a critical knowledge gap by assessing the factors influencing vaccination rates across sub-Saharan Africa at the operational, systemic and socio-political levels. Methods…
Objective Improving healthcare service user-reported quality of care is one of the three core objectives of the Malawian government’s health sector strategic plan. As such, a robust understanding of service user-reported quality is crucial to inform the development of patient-centred services. This study aimed to explore how service users in Malawi evaluate the quality of the healthcare they receive across services and facilities and to investigate the association between individual and health service characteristics and reported quality of care. Design A national multifacility cross-sectional…
Background Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease characterised by airway inflammation, reversible airflow obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness. Most patients with severe asthma (SA) remain uncontrolled despite the availability of multiple therapies, representing a significant global health burden. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cell-derived cytokine that plays a central role in asthma initiation via both allergic and non-allergic mechanisms as well as in the persistence of airway inflammation in patients with asthma, acting upstream in the inflammatory…
Objectives While smoking is a well-established risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases, its association with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are markers of haemorrhage-prone small vessel disease, but ICH can also occur without detectable CMBs. Therefore, we investigated the association between smoking and ICH according to CMB status. Design Single-centre retrospective case-control study. Setting A tertiary stroke centre in Osaka, Japan (2017–2021). Participants 487 patients with ICH as their first stroke (female sex 41.5%) and 322…
Objective Burns are a global public health concern, and migrant workers face a disproportionately high risk for occupational burns. We traced their trajectory from injury occurrence through treatment to return to work, to identify key public health issues along this pathway. Design, setting and participants This qualitative study involved repeated semi-structured interviews with seven migrant workers in South Korea who had experienced occupational burns. Participants had diverse nationalities, occupations and legal statuses. Interpreters were employed when needed. Thematic analysis was used to…
Introduction Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults in Japan. Prolonged hospitalisation accelerates functional decline, promotes the progression of frailty and increases the need for long-term care. An early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics helps achieve clinical outcomes comparable to those of continued intravenous therapy while shortening hospital stays. For older adults with frailty, avoiding unnecessary hospitalisation may help prevent further deterioration of functional status. Demonstrating non-inferiority of oral…
Objective To determine the prevalence and associated factors of ophthalmic self-medication (OSM) and explore the lived experiences of adult patients with ophthalmic problems attending the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia. Design An institution-based mixed-methods study comprising a cross-sectional quantitative component and a phenomenological qualitative component. Setting This study was conducted at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest…
Purpose To understand the challenges faced by family members or friends providing informal care and support to patients with low-vision glaucoma seeking treatment at the Presbyterian Hospital, Agogo in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Methods The study employed a qualitative design using semi-structured in-depth interviews to explore the lived experiences of informal caregivers of patients with low vision due to glaucoma. Participants were purposively selected at the hospital during patients’ review visits, as they accompanied them for care. Data were collected through audio-recorded interviews in…
Introduction In the past five decades, Afghanistan has experienced one of the world’s largest and most protracted displacement crises. Stressors experienced during the pre-migration, transit and post-resettlement stages of asylum-seeking and refugee journeys can trigger or exacerbate adverse mental health outcomes. More than 750 000 Afghan refugees and asylum seekers reside in high-income countries (HICs), yet no recent review has synthesised evidence on their mental health status, barriers and enablers to well-being and accessing mental healthcare, and interventions and strategies to improve…
Introduction Cancer recurrence is a pivotal outcome after treatment with curative intent for colon cancer patients, as it is related to worse survival, the subsequent need for further treatment and the associated use of healthcare resources. However, at present there is no consensus regarding the definition of locoregional recurrence of colon cancer. This contributes to variability in reporting outcomes and clinical management, limiting comparability across registries and clinical studies. This study aims to establish a consensus definition of locoregional recurrence using the Delphi method…
Introduction Rehabilitation is recognised as a cornerstone of recovery in the stroke care pathway, and the intensity of therapy is closely related to functional recovery. However, longitudinal studies investigating differences in short- and long-term outcomes between ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes remain scarce. In particular, it is not yet clear whether atrial fibrillation-related stroke (AFRS) entails specific rehabilitation needs or leads to different functional outcomes compared with non-AFRS. Identifying aetiology-specific recovery patterns may support the development of predictive…
Introduction Prehabilitation is a promising preoperative intervention to improve patient recovery after surgery. Virtually delivered, home-based programmes represent the most efficient model for prehabilitation delivery. However, virtually delivered prehabilitation interventions remain understudied. This manuscript describes the protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a virtually monitored, home-based prehabilitation intervention. Methods and analysis We will conduct a pilot RCT comparing the standard of care to a virtually monitored home-based prehabilitation programme in…
Introduction In Great Britain, an estimated 4% of road deaths occur among children under 16 years-old. Previous research has often focused on individual-level risk factors, with less attention to the broader social, environmental and system-level determinants shaping child road safety. Emerging systematic reviews highlight the need for integrated approaches that consider inequalities, built environment characteristics and transport systems in understanding child injury risk. The establishment of the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) in 2019 provides a unique opportunity to…
Introduction Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a condition that arises due to prolonged exposure of the endometrium to unopposed oestrogen, resulting in abnormal proliferation of endometrial tissue. Atypical hyperplasia, a subtype of EH, is considered a precursor lesion for endometrial cancer (EC). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a recognised risk factor for the development of EH and EC due to chronic anovulation and prolonged oestrogen exposure without progesterone opposition. Despite this increased risk, current clinical guidelines do not recommend routine screening for EH or EC among…
Introduction The heart and lungs are closely linked anatomically and physiologically, sharing the thoracic cavity and jointly ensuring oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide. With the introduction of positive pressure ventilation, significant changes in cardiopulmonary dynamics were noted. Guyton described these mechanisms of reduced venous return and cardiac output via elevated right atrial pressure. Mechanical ventilation, particularly positive pressure ventilation, is widely used in paediatric critical care, yet data on its clinical effects on children’s circulation remain limited. Many…
Introduction Effective compression haemostasis is essential after transradial coronary procedures. However, evidence directly comparing different haemostatic materials remains limited. This study aims to compare and rank the efficacy and safety of different haemostatic materials used as adjuncts to compression after transradial coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention, and to explore whether compression modality modifies their relative effects. Methods and analysis We will systematically search nine databases (Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China…
Objectives This study aimed to develop and internally validate a neonatal mortality risk prediction model for low birthweight (LBW) neonates in public hospitals of North-West Ethiopia. Design An institution-based prospective follow-up study. Setting The study was conducted in seven hospitals, comprising three general hospitals and four primary hospitals, between 14 February and 31 October 2025. The general hospitals, Injibara, Finote Selam and Pawi, provide level II neonatal intensive care services, whereas the primary hospitals, Dangila, Chagni, Jawi and Gimja Bet, provide level I newborn…
Introduction External aortic compression is used to reduce excessive blood loss in childbirth. However, it has never been evaluated for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. This study aims to investigate whether routine external aortic compression, in patients undergoing elective caesarean delivery, is an effective and acceptable preventive method to reduce severe postpartum haemorrhage. Methods and analysis This multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label trial aims to enrol 2246 patients across 10 maternity hospitals in Sweden. Patients with a live single or multiple pregnancy after…
Vistagen’s social anxiety disorder drug candidate has flunked another phase 3 trial. But, with a post hoc subpopulation analysis linking fasedienol to a nominally statistically significant improvement, the biotech plans to talk to the FDA about a path to approval built around a single future phase 3 study and confirmatory evidence from its broader PALISADE program.
In the Original Investigation titled “Thiazides and Risk of Hyponatremia by Age and Sex,” published April 2, 2026, the values in the y-axes in Figures 1 and 2 were incorrect. Instead of cumulative incidences being expressed as proportions (unitless values from 0 to 1), they should be expressed as percentages. This article has been corrected.