The use of epidemiological measures to estimate the impact of primary prevention interventions on CHD, stroke and cancer outcomes: Experiences from Herefordshire, UK

DOI

10.1016/j.jegh.2012.07.002How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Population Impact Measures; Population Attributable Risk; Epidemiological measures; Evidence-based public health interventions

Abstract

Background: CHD, stroke and cancers are the major causes of mortality in the UK and are responsible for significant amounts of morbidity and healthcare costs. This study examines the proportion of CHD, stroke and cancer owing to specific risk factors in Herefordshire, UK. It estimates the population impact of a number of interventions being implemented to reduce these risk factors, through the NHS Health Check program and the Herefordshire Health Improvement Plan. The present study also aims to demonstrate the value of epidemiological measures in providing evidence-based public health information in policy-making to aid decision makers when prioritizing investments and optimal use of resources.

Methods: The epidemiological measures–‘Population Attributable Risk’ and ‘Population Impact Measures’–were used to assess the impact of interventions to reduce the burden of CHD, stroke and cancer.

Results: Implementation of the NHS Health Check program will prevent 63 CHD events, 90 MI events and 125 stroke events, and one lung cancer over a period of 5 years. Reducing specific risk factors by 5% annually through the Health Improvement Plan will prevent 65 CHD events, 25 MI events, 140 stroke events, four lung cancer, one breast cancer and four colorectal cancer cases in Herefordshire if targets are met over a period of 5 years.

Conclusion: Physical inactivity and obesity are the major causes of CHD and stroke events (incidence and mortality) in Herefordshire. Their impact is greater than the combined effect of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension.

Epidemiological measures used in this study proved to be excellent tools in providing evidence-based public health information. Their use is strongly recommended to support prioritization of primary prevention interventions.

Copyright

© 2012 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Open Access

Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ahmed M. Syed
AU  - Alison Talbot-Smith
AU  - Isla Gemmell
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/09/12
TI  - The use of epidemiological measures to estimate the impact of primary prevention interventions on CHD, stroke and cancer outcomes: Experiences from Herefordshire, UK
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 111
EP  - 124
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2012.07.002
DO  - 10.1016/j.jegh.2012.07.002
ID  - Syed2012
ER  -