ObjectiveThe epidemic of obesity is contributing to the increasing prevalence of people at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), negating the medical advances in reducing CVD mortality. We compared the clinical and cost-effectiveness of an intensive lifestyle intervention consisting of enhanced motivational interviewing in reducing weight and increasing physical activity for patients at high risk of CVD.MethodsA three-arm, single-blind, parallel-group randomised controlled trial was conducted in consenting primary care centres in south London. We recruited patients aged 40–74 years with a QRisk2 score ≥20.0%, which indicates the probability of having a CVD event in the next 10 years. The intervention was enhanced motivational interviewing which included additional behaviour change techniques and was delivered by health trainers in 10 sessions over 1 year, in either group (n=697) or individual (n=523) format. The third arm received usual care (UC; n=522). The primary outcomes were physical activity (mean steps/day) and weight (kg). Secondary outcomes were changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and CVD risk score. We estimated the relative cost-effectiveness of each intervention.ResultsAt 24 months, the group and individual interventions were not more effective than UC in increasing physical activity (mean difference=70.05 steps, 95% CI −288.00 to 147.90 and mean difference=7.24 steps, 95% CI −224.01 to 238.50, respectively), reducing weight (mean difference=−0.03 kg, 95% CI −0.49 to 0.44 and mean difference=−0.42 kg, 95% CI −0.93 to 0.09, respectively) or improving any secondary outcomes. The group and individual interventions were not cost-effective at conventional thresholds.ConclusionsEnhancing motivational interviewing with additional behaviour change techniques was not effective in reducing weight or increasing physical activity in those at high CVD risk.

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It is important to identify alexithymic patients with psoriasis in clinical practice as they experience a higher disease burden and have a lower ability to express their feelings.

A retrospective review of 114 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of bladder presenting in Glasgow between 1964 and 1978 is described with emphasis on treatment and survival. Ninety-seven patients (92.4%) were found to have invasive tumours (T2-T4) at diagnosis. Metastatic disease was confirmed in only 10 patients (8.8%). Only 23.8% of patients were alive one year after diagnosis, the overall 5-year survival rate being 1.9%. The 5-year survival rates for patients with T2 and T3 disease following radical radiotherapy were 16.7 and 4.8% respectively. No conclusions concerning the role of total cystectomy could be drawn from this series because of the small number of patients undergoing the operation, but a review of the literature suggests this may be the treatment of choice.