CHOL001 and CHOL002 are no longer in the Quality and Outcomes Framework. From April 2024 they were replaced by CHOL003 and CHOL004, and for 2025/26 these two indicators became some of the highest-point earners in the entire QOF. Between them they now carry 82 points, more than any other clinical area in the framework. This […]
A Fresh Look at an Old Ally: Mirtazapine for Insomnia in the Older Adult (7.5mg superior than 15mg) https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf050 1. Why This Conversation Won’t Go Away Anyone running a geriatric clinic knows the nightly battle cry: “Doctor, I just can’t sleep.” Benzodiazepines and so-called “Z-drugs” remain common fixes, yet both families bring cognitive haze, falls, […]
Cholesterol constitutes a component within the clinical domains section of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). There exist two QOF indicators concerning Cholesterol: CHOL001 – This indicator encompasses patients listed in the QOF registers for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). It pertains to […]
A substantial cohort study suggests that for adults who cannot or do not prefer regular exercise, engaging in short bursts of vigorous activity, as simple as climbing a flight of stairs, may still significantly reduce their risk of cancer. The study, led by Dr. Emmanuel Stamatakis and his team from the University of Sydney in […]
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has called for an indepth inquiry into the EMIS Health PLC acquistion by United Health Group (UNH) Inc. The reasons cited are: The combined market share of UNH and EMIS in the supply of healthcare IT systems to GPs in the UK. The potential for the merger to lead […]
A common characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease and various forms of dementia is the build-up in the brain of clusters—known as aggregates—of misfolded proteins, such as huntingtin and tau. These aggregates lead to the degradation and eventual death of brain cells and the onset of symptoms. One method that our bodies use […]
Revitalizing Aging Blood System with Anti-Inflammatory Drug A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology has found that an anti-inflammatory drug used for rheumatoid arthritis may be able to reverse some of the effects of aging on the blood system in mice. The drug, called anakinra, has been shown to have rejuvenating effects on the […]
Challenges of Treating Chronic Pain Chronic pain is a complex and difficult condition to treat despite the progress in neuroscience research over the last two decades. A recent overview by Ferreira and colleagues has added to the growing body of evidence on the use of medicines for pain, highlighting the limitations of current medical treatments. […]
Introduction Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects the hemoglobin in red blood cells. It is caused by a single point mutation in the gene encoding β-globin (HBB), leading to the production of sickle hemoglobin and impaired red-cell function. Patients with sickle cell disease often have vaso-occlusive events, progressive vasculopathy, and chronic hemolytic […]
The social media platform TikTok has seen a surge in the popularity of videos related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The #ADHD channel on the platform now has 2.4 billion views and content related to the mental disorder has been shared by both individuals with no medical credentials and licensed […]