THIN Database User-group
The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database is a large UK primary care database. The user-group uses this database, containing data collected from over 450 general practitioners spread over the UK, for research into cardiovascular disease, mental health, pharmacoepidemiology and other fields of primary care research (see publications for more examples)
News & Events
Event: Presentations from User Group meeting now available online
The presentations by Dr Pia Hardelid, Prof
Nick Freemantle and Prof Ruth Gilbert on HES data our now available from our publications pages.
The UCL THIN team runs a monthly seminar at the Royal Free where new research using primary care data is presented. If you are interested in joining this group, you can sign up to our mailing list via JISCMAIL. You can find examples of previous meetings on our Events pages.
Research opportunity: PhD or post-doctoral fellowship available
We currently have a PhD or post-doctoral fellowship available on statistical/epidemiological modelling of large scale health care
databases (such as The Health Improvement Network – THIN). The fellowship is funded by the National School of Primary Care Research, and the deadline for applications is 12 April. We have several ongoing projects we would welcome applications on. More information can be found on our Research Opportunities page.
Publication: Glucocorticoids increase the risk of suicidal behaviour and neuropsychiatric disorders
Picture of prednisone tablets by Justin R
Glucocorticoids, a class of drugs prescribed for respiratory disorders such as asthma, COPD and lower respiratory tract infections, treble the risk of a range of mental disorders, including depression, mania and suicidal behaviour, a THIN team study has found. Patients and their families should be educated about these adverse events, and primary care physicians should be aware about the increase in risk to facilitate early monitoring.
The study used primary care data from THIN to assess 372,696 patients who were prescribed glucocorticoids between 1990 and 2008 in the UK. The patients were compared to a healthy control group, as well as a control group who had the same underlying disease (e.g. asthma).
The risk of depression was doubled in people being prescribed glucocorticoids, while the risk for mania or delirium, confusion or disorientation was four- to fivefold higher, and the risk for attempting or committing suicide was nearly sevenfold higher.
However, the background rate for especially suicidal behaviour is very low and only 19 patients in the study had a record of completed suicide. Although the increases in risk were statistically significant, the increases in absolute risk are small.
In the UK, about 1% of the adult population receives oral glucocorticoids at any given time. The authors of the study advise that these patients are monitored by their physician, their families and themselves so that cessation of the drug, or alteration of the dose can be considered for those who develop adverse events.
The study was conducted by Dr Laurence Fardet of the Faculty of Medicine of the University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris and Dr Irene Petersen and Prof Irwin Nazereth of the Department of Primary Care and Population Health, UCL, London. The paper can be found via our publications page.
The Royal Free Hospital - picture courtesy of Paolo Margari
Page last modified on 29 mar 12 10:23 by Linda Wijlaars
