Objective: To explore British African-Caribbean (AfC) nutrient intake by migration status (place of birth), diet (traditional Caribbean or more European) and age and relate this ecologically to coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Inner-city Manchester, UK. Subjects: Two hundred and fifty-five adults of AfC origin aged 25-79 years, randomly sampled from population registers. Results: Caribbean-born people (mean age 56, and mean time in Britain 30 years) had significantly lower per cent energy from total and saturated fat than younger Britishborn AfC people (mean age 29 years) (31.3% vs. 35%, difference in total fat 3.7%, 95%CI 2-5%; in saturated fat 10.9% vs. 12.6%, difference 1.7%, 95%CI 1-2.5%). The Caribbean-born group also ate more fruit (þ84 g day, 95%CI 36-132 g day) and green vegetables (þ26 g day ). Men following a traditional diet (у 5 days week ) similarly had a lower per cent energy from fat, at 30.4%, than less traditional eaters, at 33.1% (difference 2.7%, 95%CI 0.7-4.8%). African-Caribbean women, at relatively greater CHD risk than AfC men, had higher body mass indices (BMIs) than AfC men. Compared with national data, AfC subjects consumed some 7% and 5% less energy from total fat and saturated fat, respectively, with over 9% more from carbohydrate. However, there was marked convergence towards the national average in the youngest AfC groups aged 25-34 years, whatever their place of birth. Conclusions: Caribbean birthplace has an independent effect on total fat intake and percentage of energy from fat. Together with higher fruit and vegetable intake, these results are consistent with the dietary fat/antioxidant/CHD hypothesis. Keywords African-CaribbeanNutrient intake Coronary risk Migration Age Place of birth Food frequency questionnaire Differing disease rates between migrant, original and local populations have supplied vital clues to aetiology but studies combined with comparative nutritional data are few [1][2][3] . For example, recent reports on CHD in the United States contrasted the lower CHD rates in AfCorigin migrants with the higher rates in AfricanAmericans although nutrient intake data were not available 4 . This pattern has also long been noted between AfC migrants to Britain and the national white European-origin population [5][6][7] . Thus, CHD mortality in Caribbean-born men has remained persistently 50% lower than the high national rates in British-born men, both 20 years ago and in the most recent data for 1988-92 7,8 , while that for AfC women has similarly been some 67-75% of national rates. However, CHD mortality in Jamaica was still less than half that of Caribbean-born people in the UK for these periods 9 again indicating that risk factors for CHD may have been acquired recently.The AfC community in Britain has primarily developed from the young people who migrated from the English-speaking West Indies in the 1950s and 1960s, and from their descendants now born in Britain 10. Similar migration occurred to the United States...

BackgroundThe Salford Integrated Care Programme (SICP) was a large-scale transformation project to improve care for older people with long-term conditions and social care needs. We report an evaluation of the ability of the SICP to deliver an enhanced experience of care, improved quality of life, reduced costs of care and improved cost-effectiveness.ObjectivesTo explore the process of implementation of the SICP and the impact on patient outcomes and costs.DesignQualitative methods (interviews and observations) to explore implementation, a cohort multiple randomised controlled trial to assess patient outcomes through quasi-experiments and a formal trial, and an analysis of routine data sets and appropriate comparators using non-randomised methodologies.SettingSalford in the north-west of England.ParticipantsOlder people aged ≥ 65 years, carers, and health and social care professionals.InterventionsA large-scale integrated care project with three core mechanisms of integration (community assets, multidisciplinary groups and an ‘integrated contact centre’).Main outcome measuresPatient self-management, care experience and quality of life, and health-care utilisation and costs.Data sourcesProfessional and patient interviews, patient self-report measures, and routine quantitative data on service utilisation.ResultsThe SICP and subsequent developments have been sustained by strong partnerships between organisations. The SICP achieved ‘functional integration’ through the pooling of health and social care budgets, the development of the Alliance Agreement between four organisations and the development of the shared care record. ‘Service-level’ integration was slow and engagement with general practice was a challenge. We saw only minor changes in patient experience measures over the period of the evaluation (both improvements and reductions), with some increase in the use of community assets and care plans. Compared with other sites, the difference in the rates of admissions showed an increase in emergency admissions. Patient experience of health coaching was largely positive, although the effects of health coaching on activation and depression were not statistically significant. Economic analyses suggested that coaching was likely to be cost-effective, generating improvements in quality of life [mean incremental quality-adjusted life-year gain of 0.019, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.006 to 0.043] at increased cost (mean incremental total cost increase of £150.58, 95% CI –£470.611 to £711.776).LimitationsThe Comprehensive Longitudinal Assessment of Salford Integrated Care study represents a single site evaluation, with consequent limits on external validity. Patient response rates to the cohort survey were < 40%.ConclusionsThe SICP has been implemented in a way that is consistent with the original vision. However, there has been more rapid success in establishing new integrated structures (such as a formal integrated care organisation), rather than in delivering mechanisms of integration at sufficient scale to have a large impact on patient outcomes.Future workFurther research could focus on each of the mechanisms of integration. The multidisciplinary groups may require improved targeting of patients or disease subgroups to demonstrate effectiveness. Development of a proven model of health coaching that can be implemented at scale is required, especially one that would provide cost savings for commissioners or providers. Similarly, further exploration is required to assess the longer-term benefits of community assets and whether or not health impacts translate to reductions in care use.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN12286422.FundingThis project was funded by the NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full inHealth Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 6, No. 31. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Background: The prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing in West Africa, the Caribbean and its migrants to Britain. This trend may be due to the transition in the habitual diet, with increasing (saturated) fat and decreasing fruit and vegetable intakes, both within and between countries. Objective: We have tested this hypothesis by comparing habitual diet in four Africanorigin populations with a similar genetic background at different stages in this transition. Design: The study populations included subjects from rural Cameroon n 743Y urban Cameroon n 1042Y Jamaica n 857 and African±Caribbeans in Manchester, UK n 243Y all aged 25±74 years. Habitual diet was assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire, specifically developed for each country separately. Results: Total energy intake was greatest in rural Cameroon and lowest in Manchester for all age/sex groups. A tendency towards the same pattern was seen for carbohydrates, protein and total fat intake. Saturated and polyunsaturated fat intake and alcohol intake were highest in rural Cameroon, and lowest in Jamaica, with the intakes in the UK lower than those in urban Cameroon. The percentage of energy from total fat was higher in rural and urban Cameroon than in Jamaica and the UK for all age/sex groups. The opposite was seen for percentage of energy from carbohydrate intake, the intake being highest in Jamaica and lowest in rural Cameroon. The percentage of energy from protein increased gradually from rural Cameroon to the UK. Conclusions: These results do not support our hypothesis that carbohydrate intake increased, while (saturated) fat intake decreased, from rural Cameroon to the UK.

We are writing to highlight the potential for a post-viral syndrome to manifest following COVID-19 infection as previously reported following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) infection, also a coronavirus. After the acute SARS episode some patients, many of whom were healthcare workers went on to develop a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) -like illness which nearly 20 months on prevented them returning to work. We propose that once an acute COVID-19 infection has been overcome, a subgroup of remitted patients are likely to experience long-term adverse effects resembling CFS/ME symptomatology such as persistent fatigue, diffuse myalgia, depressive symptoms, and non-restorative sleep. In a contracted future economy, managing likely Post COVID-19 syndrome cases, in addition to existing CFS/ME cases will put additional burden on our already hard pressed healthcare system. We suggest that priority is given to exploration of pragmatic relatively low cost techniques to treat post-viral fatigue, to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for those affected by the longer term sequelae of COVID-19.

BackgroundBipolar disorder (BD) costs £5.2B annually, largely as a result of incomplete recovery after inadequate treatment.ObjectivesA programme of linked studies to reduce relapse and suicide in BD.DesignThere were five workstreams (WSs): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) of group psychoeducation (PEd) versus group peer support (PS) in the maintenance of BD (WS1); development and feasibility RCTs of integrated psychological therapy for anxiety in bipolar disorder (AIBD) and integrated for problematic alcohol use in BD (WS2 and WS3); survey and qualitative investigations of suicide and self-harm in BD (WS4); and survey and qualitative investigation of service users’ (SUs) and psychiatrists’ experience of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), with reference to advance planning (WS5).SettingParticipants were from England; recruitment into RCTs was limited to certain sites [East Midlands and North West (WS1); North West (WS2 and WS3)].ParticipantsAged ≥ 18 years. In WS1–3, participants had their diagnosis of BD confirmed by the Structural Clinical Interview for theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.InterventionsIn WS1, group PEd/PS; in WS3 and WS4, individual psychological therapy for comorbid anxiety and alcohol use, respectively.Main outcome measuresIn WS1, time to relapse of bipolar episode; in WS2 and WS3, feasibility and acceptability of interventions; in WS4, prevalence and determinants of suicide and self-harm; and in WS5, professional training and support of advance planning in MCA, and SU awareness and implementation.ResultsGroup PEd and PS could be routinely delivered in the NHS. The estimated median time to first bipolar relapse was 67.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 37.3 to 90.9] weeks in PEd, compared with 48.0 (95% CI 30.6 to 65.9) weeks in PS. The adjusted hazard ratio was 0.83 (95% CI 0.62 to 1.11; likelihood ratio testp = 0.217). The interaction between the number of previous bipolar episodes (1–7 and 8–19, relative to 20+) and treatment arm was significant (χ2 = 6.80, degrees of freedom = 2;p = 0.034): PEd with one to seven episodes showed the greatest delay in time to episode. A primary economic analysis indicates that PEd is not cost-effective compared with PS. A sensitivity analysis suggests potential cost-effectiveness if decision-makers accept a cost of £37,500 per quality-adjusted life-year. AIBD and motivational interviewing (MI) cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) trials were feasible and acceptable in achieving recruitment and retention targets (AIBD:n = 72, 72% retention to follow-up; MI-CBT:n = 44, 75% retention) and in-depth qualitative interviews. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes for either trial overall. The factors associated with risk of suicide and self-harm (longer duration of illness, large number of periods of inpatient care, and problems establishing diagnosis) could inform improved clinical care and specific interventions. Qualitative interviews suggested that suicide risk had been underestimated, that care needs to be more collaborative and that people need fast access to good-quality care. Despite SUs supporting advance planning and psychiatrists being trained in MCA, the use of MCA planning provisions was low, with confusion over informal and legally binding plans.LimitationsInferences for routine clinical practice from WS1 were limited by the absence of a ‘treatment as usual’ group.ConclusionThe programme has contributed significantly to understanding how to improve outcomes in BD. Group PEd is being implemented in the NHS influenced by SU support.Future workFuture work is needed to evaluate optimal approaches to psychological treatment of comorbidity in BD. In addition, work in improved risk detection in relation to suicide and self-harm in clinical services and improved training in MCA are indicated.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN62761948, ISRCTN84288072 and ISRCTN14774583.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full inProgramme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 6, No. 6. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.