Health E-News is a weekly update on policy and guidelines from organisations including NICE and individual Royal Medical Colleges, and news and views on health related subjects and research from trusted sources such as The King’s Fund, Cochrane, The Health Foundation, the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care.
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COVID-19 related news
Further evidence for benefits of corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment
Findings in papers published this week in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), have reinforced evidence that outcomes for patients severely affected by COVID-19 can be significantly improved by corticosteroids. The first of the papers examines the effect of hydrocortisone on mortality and organ support, finding more rapid recovery and better survival rates in treatment with the steroid. The second paper looked at mortality over a 28-day period after the start of treatment with corticosteroids, estimating a 20 percent reduction in risk of death.
Government announce funding of increased testing capacity
The government has announced funding for increasing the current capacity for existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing, with the aim of enabling large-scale repeat population testing. In addition, funds will go to expanding pilot trials of new testing techniques and technology, including a rapid test that could provide results in as little as 20 minutes.
New findings add to picture of COVID-19 risks in pregnancy
A systematic review published in the BMJ offers further detail to the known risk factors, clinical manifestations, and outcomes in pregnant and recently pregnant women with COVID-19. The key findings of the review are: that increasing maternal age, existing co-morbidities or high BMI are risk factors for severe COVID-19 in pregnancy; that women with the virus are more likely to experience preterm birth; and pregnant women are less likely to manifest symptoms of fever and myalgia than non-pregnant women with COVID-19.
Nuffield Trust briefing on impact of COVID-19 on use of technology in NHS
A briefing from the Nuffield Trust explores how the pandemic has pushed the adoption of technology in the delivery of NHS services and notes the increased usage of digital health services by patients. The report examines what has enabled these changes, considers possible risks of the move to remote service delivery alongside the positive outcomes, and calls for the balancing of change with evidence of its benefit. Finally, the funding, infrastructure and workforce requirements of sustaining any lasting technological adoptions is highlighted.
Other news
RCPCH statement on paediatrician role in supporting mental health
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published a statement on the role of paediatricians in supporting the mental health of children and young people. Noting the increasing incidence of mental health issues among children and young people, the heightened risks for those in vulnerable groups, and the anticipated increase in support needs resulting from COVID-19, the statement makes a series of recommendations relating to training for paediatricians, and also for service developments.
NICE guidance
Diagnostics guidance
DG41 Implantable cardiac monitors to detect atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke
Medtech innovation briefing
MIB225 Helge for detecting haemolysis
Medical technologies guidance
MTG50 Axonics sacral neuromodulation system for treating refractory overactive bladder
NICE guideline
NG159 COVID-19 rapid guideline: critical care in adults Updated
Technology appraisal
TA645 Avelumab with axitinib for untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma
TA646 Glasdegib with chemotherapy for untreated acute myeloid leukaemia (terminated appraisal)
TA647 Eculizumab for treating relapsing neuromyelitis optica (terminated appraisal)
NIHR alerts
Male prisoners develop unhealthy hearts at younger ages than people on the outside
Psychiatric drugs given to children and adolescents have been ranked in order of safety
Anti-inflammatory drugs do not lift depression in bipolar disorder
Statistics
- Potential Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms reported through NHS Pathways and 111 online
- Healthy pregnancy indicators
- Unexplained deaths in infancy, England and Wales: 2018
- Abortion statistics for England and Wales: 2019
- P. aeruginosa bacteraemia: monthly data by location of onset
- E. coli bacteraemia: monthly data by location of onset
- MSSA bacteraemia: monthly data by location of onset
- C. difficile infection: monthly data by prior trust exposure
- MRSA bacteraemia: monthly data by location of onset
- Klebsiella species bacteraemia: monthly data by location of onset
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables
- Health Inequalities Dashboard: September 2020 data update
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