Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies Find out more

Primary Care Epidemiology

The Primary Care Epidemiology Group includes clinicians, statisticians, epidemiologists, and patient representatives. The group undertakes large scale research into:

  • The epidemiology of diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, thrombosis, osteoporosis, mental health, motor neurone disease and dementia).
  • Safety of commonly prescribed drugs (including antidepressants, antipsychotics, statins, anticoagulants, anticholinergics, NSAID pain killers, Cox-2 inhibitors, oral contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy, and drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes).
  • Group members are also involved with the development, validation and implementation of risk prediction tools in collaboration with Endeavour Predict CIC.

We make extensive use of a number of databases including QResearch. Set up in 2002 by Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox with EMIS Health (leading supplier of NHS Health Computer Systems), QResearch is the largest database of its kind worldwide, containing a wealth of longitudinal data from over 35 million people in over 1,500 UK practices using linked to secondary care data for hospital admissions, mortality and cancer registration.

Drug safety

Whilst clinical trials are undertaken during the development and testing phases for new and commonly used drugs, these trials tend to be in small numbers of selected participants for limited periods of time. Once a drug is licensed, it tends to be used in large numbers of unselected individuals over long periods of time. It is therefore important to have independent systematic research into the risk and benefits of new and commonly used drugs to identify and quantify both intended and unintended effects on patients. This is to help ensure that we can target the right medication towards the right patients. We use QResearch and other databases to undertake such studies which are of national and international importance.

Risk prediction

Much of clinical practice involves assessing the probability that a patient either has a particular disease or may develop it at some point in the future and also what the risks and benefits of various treatments or interventions are. Doctors need better information to inform discussions with patients and decisions to investigate, refer and treat individuals. Both doctors and patients need better information to ensure patients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of clinical decisions, so they can give consent. New approaches to risk estimation were needed to take account of the characteristics of the population to which the tool should be applied and which can be updated over time as the population changes and national guidelines for prevention evolve.

Our team

QResearch.jpg

QResearch is a large consolidated database derived from anonymised health records of over 35 million patients with data coming from approximately 1500 general practices. We host this database, and collaborate with others on health research projects that can improve our understanding of disease and improve patient care.

QResearch - find out more

Selected publications