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Interrupting treatment of vulnerable people on immune-suppressing medicines doubles their antibody response to COVID-19 booster vaccination, NIHR
Interrupting the treatment of vulnerable people on long-term immune supressing medicines for two weeks after a COVID-19 booster vaccination can double their antibody response to the jab, new research finds. The VROOM trial will have implications for people on immune-supressing medicines, who are among the millions of clinically vulnerable patients advised to ' shield ' during the pandemic. The study, funded by an NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC) partnership, and led by researchers at the University of Nottingham, is now published in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - July 4, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Sex, age and existing health problems increase risk of long COVID, NIHR
Women, people aged 50-60, and people with poor pre-pandemic mental or physical health are more at risk of long COVID, according to research funded by the NIHR and UK Research and Innovation. Around two million people in the UK are affected by long COVID, experiencing symptoms for 12 weeks or more after they ' ve been infected. The new research looked at data from 10 UK long-term studies established before the pandemic, which have tracked participants over many years. Data from these studies were combined with 1.1 million anonymised electronic health records from English general practices. (Source: Current Awareness Ser...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - July 4, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

NIHR alert: How to improve discussions about osteoarthritis in primary care
Expert commentary is provided on review highlighting areas in which this group has different priorities and concerns to those providing their care, that concluded consultations could be improved if professionals actively listened to people more, and validated their concerns (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - June 27, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

COVID-19 vaccine study supports flexible intervals in mixed Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca schedules, NIHR
A standard two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine schedule showed a greater antibody increase when given at a 12-week interval, compared to a four-week interval. These are the latest findings from the University of Oxford-led Com-COV study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care research (NIHR), which has published a paper in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - June 9, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

NIHR Alert: Platform trial rules out treatments for COVID-19, NIHR
Expert commentary is provided for a trial which found adding doxycycline, azithromycin or colchicine to usual care provides no benefit to people in the community with COVID-19. These data are useful as preventing ineffective antibiotic use is critical to reduce drug resistance. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - June 6, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

COVID-19 vaccination associated with reduced risk of long COVID, NIHR
An NIHR-supported study of more than 28,000 people has shown that vaccination against COVID-19 is associated with a moderate reduction in the risk of experiencing long COVID. The study found that a first vaccine dose reduced the likelihood of long COVID symptoms by more than 12% in people who had tested positive for COVID-19 before vaccination. A second dose was associated with a further 9% reduction in the odds of long COVID. Some people who get COVID-19 experience symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone, a condition known as post-COVID-19 syndrome or ' long COVID ' . Preliminary research suggests ...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - June 1, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

New Director of Science, Research and Evidence will help lead NIHR
Dr Gail Marzetti appointed as Director of Science, Research and Evidence and will help lead the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - June 1, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

How can local authorities reduce obesity? Insights from NIHR research
This review draws on the breadth of NIHR research relevant to obesity, conversations with staff at local councils and at national organisations, as well as feedback from a group of practitioners, researchers and members of the public. Together they identify evidence-based actions that local authorities, working with their local partners, can take to reduce obesity in their communities. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - May 30, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Com-COV vaccine study to analyse 3rd dose booster options for 12 to 15 year-olds, NIHR
Researchers running the University of Oxford-led 2 External 0 0 0Com-COV programme false https://comcovstudy.org.uk/home false false%> have launched a new study of COVID-19 vaccine schedules in young people aged 12 to 15 – with a focus on assessing different options for a third dose booster vaccination. The Com-COV 3 study has been commissioned through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and aims to recruit 380 volunteers across nine NIHR-supported sites. All participants will have rece ived two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, at least three months before joining. Researchers will delive...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - May 27, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

NIHR alert: Many children and teenagers are reluctant to have a COVID-19 vaccine, NIHR Dissemination Centre
Commentaries provided on a study based on a UK schools survey (n=27,910; 9-18 years) which found young people were more likely to be undecided about the vaccine than to opt out. Better and more targeted information could help reassure them that the vaccine is safe and important. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - May 24, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

The right moisturiser for children with eczema is the one that they like to use, study finds
This study, the first in the world to directly compare different types of moisturisers, highlights the importance of patient education and choice when deciding which moisturisers to use for children with eczema. The results from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded study are published in The Lancet Child& Adolescent Health and British Journal of General Practice today [24 May]. (Source: University of Bristol news)
Source: University of Bristol news - May 23, 2022 Category: Universities & Medical Training Tags: Health, International, Research; Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Population Health Sciences; Press Release Source Type: news

Research into long COVID
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has outlined the wide range of research studies on understanding, diagnosing and treating long COVID. (Source: NHS Networks)
Source: NHS Networks - May 20, 2022 Category: UK Health Source Type: news

New long COVID research: National Institute for Health and Care Research, NHS Employers (published 17th May 2022)
In March 2022, the Office of National statistics found that 1.7 million people in the UK experienced self-reported long COVID. To address the high prevalence of the condition, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has launched new content to outline the range of research studies on understanding, diagnosing and treating long COVID. This research examines the causes of long COVID, investigating symptoms such as ' brain fog ' and breathlessness, and finding the most effective ways to treat and manage the condition. You can read more information on what the new research areas will cover the NIHR researchi...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - May 18, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

NIHR Alert: Smoking bans in prisons improve health and reduce medications
Commentaries provided on study (n=44,660 detained in 14 of 15 closed prisons in Scotland) which found banning smoking reduced medications for smoking-related diseases (9% decrease in dispensing), improved people ' s general health, and was accepted more readily than anticipated. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - May 13, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Researching long COVID: addressing a new global health challenge, NIHR
Long COVID is a new disease with many unanswered questions. This uncertainty creates huge challenges for patients and clinicians. To date, more than £ 50 million of government funding has been invested in long COVID research projects. The bulk of this ( £ 39.2 million) has been awarded to 19 projects commissioned through two specific calls. The calls were led by the NIHR, the first jointly with UKRI. Projects examine the underlying mechanisms of long COVID, investigate symptoms such as ' brain fog ' and breathlessness, and test possible treatments. They explore whether NHS services, such as long COVID clinics, meet peop...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - May 12, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news