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New heart disease calculator could save lives by identifying high-risk patients missed by current tools
18 April 2024
Collaborative research, led from NDPCHS and published today in Nature Medicine, has developed a new tool called QR4 that more accurately predicts an individual's 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases, like heart disease and stroke, particularly identifying high-risk patients that current prediction tools miss.
New Oxford Study Shows Brief Sleep Therapy Delivered by Nurses Improves Insomnia
11 August 2023
Cardiovascular & metabolic Clinical trials Policy & health systems
Researchers from the University of Oxford have found that a brief form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia, delivered by nurses in GP surgeries, significantly improves sleep and quality of life compared to sleep hygiene alone.
Rapid weight loss found to be safe and helpful for people with liver disease, Oxford trial reveals
28 June 2023
Cardiovascular & metabolic Clinical trials Health behaviours
A clinical trial, led by a team at NDPCHS, has shown that a three-month rapid weight loss programme was not only safe but also effective in reducing the severity of a liver disease called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with liver fibrosis.
Food industry shows ‘stalled progress’ to reduce salt intakes, new Oxford-led analysis finds
20 October 2022
Cardiovascular & metabolic Policy & health systems
New research led from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences has shown that, overall, the average salt content of food products sold at supermarkets has not changed between 2015 and 2020. The results also showed that for certain products (ready meals, pizzas and soups) the volume of salt sold increased during this time.
Night-time blood pressure assessment is important in diagnosing hypertension and preventing cardiovascular disease, study reveals
22 September 2022
Cardiovascular & metabolic Health Services Research
Around 15% of people aged 40-75 may have a form of undiagnosed high blood pressure (hypertension) that occurs only at night-time. Because they do not know about this, and therefore are not being treated for it, they are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke, heart failure, and even death, suggests new research from the University of Oxford.
COVID-19 infection more likely than vaccines to cause rare cardiovascular complications
16 December 2021
COVID-19 Cardiovascular & metabolic QResearch
Led by the University of Oxford, a team of UK-based researchers have today reported results of the largest ever study to compare the risks of cardiovascular events, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac arrhythmia, between different vaccines and COVID-19 infection, and the first to investigate the association between cardiac events and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
Reduction in UK red and processed meat intake, but more needed to meet our climate targets
8 October 2021
Cardiovascular & metabolic Policy & health systems
Daily meat consumption in the UK has decreased by approximately 17.4g per person per day – just under a 17% reduction – in the last decade finds new research from the University of Oxford. Between 2008/09 and 2018/19 people in the UK reduced both the amount of red and processed meat they eat, while slightly increasing their white meat consumption. Yet, this reduction is significantly less than the 30% reduction the National Food Strategy has recently called for within the next ten years.
Benefit-to-harm balance of statins for healthy adults "generally favourable", suggests Oxford-led research
15 July 2021
Cardiovascular & metabolic DPhil
Statins are associated with a small increased risk of side effects in patients without a history of heart disease, but these effects are mild compared with the potential benefits of treatment in preventing major cardiovascular events, finds a study led by Oxford University researchers.
Foods associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death in middle-age identified
22 April 2021
Cardiovascular & metabolic Health behaviours
Two common dietary patterns identified in British adults, which include high intakes of chocolate and confectionary, may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death in middle-age, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Medicine by Oxford University researchers.
Risk of severe COVID-19 from asthma and other respiratory diseases may be only modestly increased, new analysis suggests
2 April 2021
COVID-19 Cardiovascular & metabolic Infection, Respiratory and Acute Care
People with asthma have only a modestly increased risk of developing severe Covid-19 and requiring admission to hospital from the illness, finds an analysis of 8.3 million electronic health care records in England led by University of Oxford researchers.
No link between blood pressure drugs and falls, finds study
10 February 2021
While treatment for high blood pressure is not associated with falls, there is some evidence to suggest patients who take blood pressure lowering medications may be more likely to faint or suffer kidney problems which lead to hospital admission, finds a study led by University of Oxford researchers.
Remote, online support for blood pressure management at home is effective and low-cost
20 January 2021
Cardiovascular & metabolic Digital health & innovation
At-home blood pressure monitoring using a web-based system offering personalised support and linked to a remote healthcare professional can result in better hypertension management than face-to-face consultations, finds a study led by University of Oxford, Bristol and Southampton researchers.
Difference in blood pressure between arms linked to greater death risk
4 January 2021
Robust evidence from a large international study confirms that a difference in blood pressure readings between arms is linked to greater risk of heart attack, stroke and death.
Gender differences in heart failure care need to be addressed
30 September 2020
Cardiovascular & metabolic Infection, Respiratory and Acute Care
Women tend to be diagnosed with heart failure five years older than men, but have a better prognosis, finds research published in the European Journal of Heart Failure.
Almost half of chronic kidney disease is unrecognised
11 February 2020
Cardiovascular & metabolic Clinical trials
More than 18 percent of over 60's have chronic kidney disease (CKD), around 44 percent of whom are undiagnosed without screening, finds a study led by Oxford University researchers.
Reducing the global burden of atrial fibrillation through prevention of weight gain
26 June 2019
Preventing weight gain could be an important strategy in reducing the global burden of atrial fibrillation, suggests a new study by researchers from the University of Oxford published in the journal, Heart. Nick Jones, study author, explains the findings.
Only “modest” improvement in heart failure survival rates since 2000
14 February 2019
Research led by Dr Clare Taylor and Professor Richard Hobbs finds that survival after a diagnosis of heart failure in the United Kingdom has shown only modest improvement in the 21st century and lags behind other serious conditions, such as cancer, in a large study published by The BMJ today.
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