The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Continuity of care (COC) is associated with improved health outcomes in patients with hypertension. Team-based COC allows more flexibility in service delivery but there is a lack of research on its effectiveness for patients with hypertension. ⋯ Team-based COC via a coordinated physician team was associated with reduced risks of CVD and all-cause mortality among patients with hypertension, especially for the patients with unsatisfactory blood pressure control. Early initiation of team-based COC may also achieve extra benefits.
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Chronic back and knee pain impairs health- related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient enablement can improve HRQoL. ⋯ Patient enablement moderated the impact of pain on HRQoL. A higher level of enablement can lessen impairment in HRQoL associated with chronic back and knee pain.
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The GARFIELD-AF tool is a novel risk tool that simultaneously assesses the risk of all-cause mortality, stroke or systemic embolism, and major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ The GARFIELD-AF models were superior to the CHA2DS2VASc score for discriminating stroke and death and superior to the HAS-BLED score for discriminating major bleeding. The models consistently underpredicted the level of risk, suggesting that a recalibration is needed to optimise its use in the UK population.
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As a result of new technologies, atrial fibrillation (AF) is more likely to be diagnosed in people aged <65 years. ⋯ People aged <65 years with AF are at higher risk of developing hypertension, heart failure, and diabetes than the general population, so may warrant regular review to identify new occurrence of such risk factors.