Vascular disease meta analyses
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Many medical questions about the efficacy and safety of specific treatments cannot be addressed by looking at the results of a single randomized trial, and instead depend on combining the results of many trials that have studied that question. The combination of data from many trials is achieved through the use of meta-analysis. Such meta-analyses are typically done by combining the summary results from each trial in order to achieve an overall summary of the effects of a treatment. Our group specialises, however, in obtaining detailed and complete data from each individual participant included in each of the relevant trials, and then analysing the resulting dataset (which is generally very large) to obtain more comprehensive analyses of how treatment efficacy and safety varies in different clinical circumstances.
We are now using this method to study the effects of: statin therapy on various conditions (such as muscle pain) that have been linked to treatment (but where the link is unproven); alteplase (a ‘clot-busting’ drug) after stroke; low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke in apparently healthy people, and angiotensin-receptor blockers in Marfan Syndrome (a condition that causes the main artery leaving the heart to expand dangerously).
We are now using this method to study the effects of: statin therapy on various conditions (such as muscle pain) that have been linked to treatment (but where the link is unproven); alteplase (a ‘clot-busting’ drug) after stroke; low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke in apparently healthy people, and angiotensin-receptor blockers in Marfan Syndrome (a condition that causes the main artery leaving the heart to expand dangerously).
Technical Summary
The aim of this programme of meta-analyses is to determine in detail, for a wide range of individuals, the benefits and risks of several of the most important drugs used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. In each meta-analysis, after identifying randomized trials relevant to the particular question of interest, we set up a collaboration among the principal investigators and trial sponsors, and a secretariat in PHRU then coordinates the collection of individual participant data (IPD), data checking, analysis and publication. In each case, new trial evidence is incorporated as it is published, and new analyses are published as the data mature. This approach differs from most other meta-analyses of individual patient data in the subject area of cardiovascular disease, which are generally set up to answer a specific question and are not maintained long-term. Our approach allows us to maintain up-to-date summaries of present knowledge, to respond to requests for new analyses (eg, in response to safety concerns from regulatory authorities), and to influence the formulation of new trial proposals to address gaps or uncertainties in the evidence highlighted by our meta-analyses.
We generally limit our attention to topics for which IPD are likely to be available. Although this approach is very labour intensive, the advantages of achieving access to IPD are that they often provide a more accurate understanding of treatment effects and disease mechanisms. In particular, they allow assessment of the effects of a drug: (i) on particular outcomes (eg, distinguishing between atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic cardiac events, or vascular and non-vascular causes of death) defined similarly in each trial, where possible, or if not with a good understanding of how phenotyping of events differs between trials; (ii) on particular types of trial participants, and (iii) over time, which often allows the net effects of treatment to be understood in terms of benefits and hazards occurring on different timescales.
We are coordinating meta-analyses of randomized trials in 4 main areas: (1) the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ (CTT) Collaboration, which is undertaking an additional cycle of data collection in order to examine the effects of statin regimens on adverse events such as muscle pain, new-onset diabetes mellitus, haemorrhagic stroke, and other conditions that have been reported – in non-randomized studies – to be associated with statin therapy; (2) the Stroke Thrombolysis Trialists’ (STT) Collaboration, which is currently examining how the results of CT (or MR) scans taken prior to randomization to alteplase vs placebo (or open control) influence functional outcomes; (3) the Antithrombotic Treatment Trialists’ (ATT) Collaboration, which is conducting an updated meta-analysis of data from trials of aspirin vs placebo (or open control) for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease; and (4) the Marfan Treatment Trialists’ (MTT) Collaboration, which is examining the effects of angiotensin receptor blockers on aortic root size within 10 randomized trials.
We generally limit our attention to topics for which IPD are likely to be available. Although this approach is very labour intensive, the advantages of achieving access to IPD are that they often provide a more accurate understanding of treatment effects and disease mechanisms. In particular, they allow assessment of the effects of a drug: (i) on particular outcomes (eg, distinguishing between atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic cardiac events, or vascular and non-vascular causes of death) defined similarly in each trial, where possible, or if not with a good understanding of how phenotyping of events differs between trials; (ii) on particular types of trial participants, and (iii) over time, which often allows the net effects of treatment to be understood in terms of benefits and hazards occurring on different timescales.
We are coordinating meta-analyses of randomized trials in 4 main areas: (1) the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ (CTT) Collaboration, which is undertaking an additional cycle of data collection in order to examine the effects of statin regimens on adverse events such as muscle pain, new-onset diabetes mellitus, haemorrhagic stroke, and other conditions that have been reported – in non-randomized studies – to be associated with statin therapy; (2) the Stroke Thrombolysis Trialists’ (STT) Collaboration, which is currently examining how the results of CT (or MR) scans taken prior to randomization to alteplase vs placebo (or open control) influence functional outcomes; (3) the Antithrombotic Treatment Trialists’ (ATT) Collaboration, which is conducting an updated meta-analysis of data from trials of aspirin vs placebo (or open control) for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease; and (4) the Marfan Treatment Trialists’ (MTT) Collaboration, which is examining the effects of angiotensin receptor blockers on aortic root size within 10 randomized trials.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Colin Baigent (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Authors/Task Force Members
(2019)
2019 ESC/EAS guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias: Lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk.
in Atherosclerosis
Authors/Task Force Members
(2020)
Erratum to "2019 ESC/EAS guidelines for the management of dyslipidemias: Lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk" [Atherosclerosis 290 (2019) 140-205].
in Atherosclerosis
Baigent C
(2019)
Variability in aspirin efficacy: all in the genes?
in European heart journal
Bavishi C
(2023)
Statins increase muscle pain or weakness at 1 y, with an absolute excess of 11 events/1000 person-y.
in Annals of internal medicine
Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists' Collaboration
(2021)
Pharmacological blood pressure lowering for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease across different levels of blood pressure: an individual participant-level data meta-analysis.
in Lancet (London, England)
Byrne RA
(2023)
2022 Joint ESC/EACTS review of the 2018 guideline recommendations on the revascularization of left main coronary artery disease in patients at low surgical risk and anatomy suitable for PCI or CABG.
in European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration. Electronic Address: Ctt@ndph.ox.ac.uk
(2024)
Effects of statin therapy on diagnoses of new-onset diabetes and worsening glycaemia in large-scale randomised blinded statin trials: an individual participant data meta-analysis.
in The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology
Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration
(2022)
Effect of statin therapy on muscle symptoms: an individual participant data meta-analysis of large-scale, randomised, double-blind trials.
in Lancet (London, England)
Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration
(2019)
Efficacy and safety of statin therapy in older people: a meta-analysis of individual participant data from 28 randomised controlled trials.
in Lancet (London, England)
| Description | CTT muscle NICE |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | CTT muscle results |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Guideline Title | Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification. Clinical guideline [CG181] |
| Description | NICE 2023 revised lipid guidelines |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in clinical guidelines |
| URL | https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg181 |
| Description | VOG team support to RECOVERY Trial |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | VOG team provides ongoing expertise in doing systematic reviews to RECOVERY team, enabling publishing of RECOVERY research findings re acute treatments for Covid-19 in context. |
| Title | CTT methodology paper |
| Description | The methodology used by the CTT Collaboration to harmonise a vast amount of heterogeneous data from numerous different randomised controlled trials into a single analysable dataset was published in 2022: Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration. Harmonisation of large-scale, heterogeneous individual participant adverse event data from randomised trials of statin therapy. Clinical Trials 2022; 19:6. The abstract is as detailed below: Background: Meta-analyses of individual-level data from randomised trials are often required to detect clinically worthwhile effects. The Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration, which includes data from numerous large long-term statin trials, is conducting a review of the effects of statin therapy on all adverse events collected in those trials. This article describes the approaches used and challenges faced to systematically capture and categorise the data. Methods: Protocols, statistical analysis plans, case report forms, clinical study reports and datasets were obtained, reviewed and checked. Relevant baseline and follow-up data from each trial was then reorganised into standardised formats based upon the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium Study Data Tabulation Model. Adverse event data were organised and coded (automatically or, where necessary, manually) according to a common medical dictionary based upon the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. Results: Data from 23 double-blind statin trials and 5 open-label statin trials were provided, either through direct data transfer or through online access platforms. Together, these trials provided 845 datasets containing over 38 million records relating to 30,495 study variables and 181,973 randomised participants. Of the 46 Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium Study Data Tabulation Model domains that could potentially have been used to organise the data, the 13 most relevant to the project were identified and utilised, including 6 domains related to post-randomisation adverse events. Nearly 1.2 million adverse events were extracted and mapped to over 45,000 unique adverse event terms. Of these adverse events, 99% were coded to a Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities 'lower level term', with the remainder coded to a 'higher level term' or, very rarely, only a 'higher level group term'. Conclusion: In this meta-analysis of adverse event data from the large randomised trials of statins, approaches based on common standards for data organisation and classification have provided a resource capable of allowing reliable and rapid evaluation of any previously unknown benefits or hazards of statin therapy. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Through use of systems based upon the widely recognisable standards of CDISC SDTM and MedDRA, we converted highly heterogeneous legacy data from the large long-term statin trials into one of the richest individual-level datasets in the world, able to address a pressing public health issue. The dataset generated by this project will not only act as a tool to address current concerns regarding statin therapy, but will also act as a resource to test any future hypotheses that may emerge about any other effects of this drug class. The methodological approaches we developed could be easily modified for use in other settings to robustly explore the full effects of widely used interventions. |
| URL | https://www.cttcollaboration.org/news/large-review-of-statin-clinical-trial-data-could-soon-end-rema... |
| Title | Common coding dictionary based on the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). |
| Description | System created to map adverse event (AE) terms to a common dictionary based on the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) version 20.0 via an automated, self-learning, custom-built process. The advantage of using a hierarchical coding system (such as one based on MedDRA) is that even if the level of AE detail provided varies substantially between trials, the data will still be able to be mapped and collapsed into composite group event terms in a systematic way. This system has now been further augmented by being transferred to a web-based interface that we have called COMET. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Allows efficient coding of adverse event terms. |
| URL | https://www.meddra.org/ |
| Title | Use of CDISC SDTM to convert large heteorgeneous datasets into a common format for individual participant data meta-analysis. |
| Description | Converting trial IPD into a common domain-based format based upon the methodology used by the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium Study Data Tabulation Model (CDISC SDTM) |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Methods selected for delivery as plenary session at CDISC conference in 2020: https://www.cdisc.org/2020-cdisc-europe-interchange. |
| URL | https://www.cdisc.org/standards/foundational/sdtm |
| Title | Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration: use of CDISC SDTM and MedDRA |
| Description | Please also see information previously entered under section entitled "Research Tool and Methods" (given BHF guidance realise this sits better under this section hence further entry). The Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration includes large-scale (=1000 participants), long-term (=2 years scheduled treatment duration) unconfounded, randomized controlled trials of lipid intervention therapies. To date, reports from the CTT have focussed on the effects of statin therapy on major vascular events, cause-specific mortality and cancer. In particular, analyses have shown that reduction of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with a statin reduces the risk of major vascular events without any increase in the risk of nonvascular causes of death or of site-specific cancer in a wide range of people. Results from the CTT have led to significant changes in clinical practice, but in recent years concerns have been raised that statins may cause a range of other adverse effects (particularly muscle symptoms). To address these concerns, in 2016, the CTT Collaboration published a protocol to significantly extend the previous IPD dataset to provide a more complete understanding of the nature and magnitude of the effects of statins. In particular, all adverse events reported during each trial were requested, in addition to variables that might help in the interpretation of particular events (such as non-trial medications and laboratory results). CTT has utilised 2 main approaches to harmonise the complex, heterogeneous and extensive IPD received by the recent CTT adverse events protocol into a single analysable dataset. This includes converting all the data into a standard universally mapped format through use of systems based upon commonly used standards including the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium Study Data Tabulation Model (CDISC SDTM) and mapping of event terms to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Methods selected for delivery as plenary session at CDISC conference in 2020: https://www.cdisc.org/2020-cdisc-europe-interchange. Dr Christina Reith invited to become CDISC Board Member. |
| URL | https://www.cttcollaboration.org/safety-web-page/current-work |
| Description | CTT/Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium |
| Organisation | Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project lead (Dr Christina Reith) became CDISC Board Member in 2019. Sharing of our use of a tailored/streamlined approach to use of CDSIC SDTM to create a single analyzable format for IPD meta-analysis across multiple completed trials; such large-scale retrospective use not previously done to such an extent. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge and experience sharing |
| Impact | Methods presented at CDISC conference in Spring 2020: https://www.cdisc.org/2020-cdisc-europe-interchange. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Participation in UKCRC ICH E6 (R3) Annex 2 Consultation Working Group |
| Organisation | UKCRC Registered trials CTU network |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr Christina Reith gave input to this call asking for input on the draft ICH E6 (R3) Annex 2 to be submitted to the UK MHRA. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scientific input on impact of proposed wording and changes thought required. |
| Impact | Submission of UKCRC response to MHRA |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | World Health Organization Scientific Advice |
| Organisation | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Dr Christina Reith acts as scientific adviser to WHO in relation to clinical trials guidance/resolution WHA 75.8, associated guidance and workstreams. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-drafted WHO Best Practices for Clinical Trials; published in September 2024: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240097711. Involved in Clinical Trial Unit Maturity Framework Working Group. |
| Impact | Contributed to guidance issued for public consultation: https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/public-consultation-related-to-the-wha-75.8--strengthening-clinical-trials-to-provide-high-quality-evidence-on-health-interventions-and-to-improve-research-quality-and-coordination; now published; see: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240097711. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | World Health Organization Scientific Advice |
| Organisation | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Dr Christina Reith acts as scientific adviser to WHO in relation to clinical trials guidance/resolution WHA 75.8, associated guidance and workstreams. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-drafted WHO Best Practices for Clinical Trials; published in September 2024: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240097711. Involved in Clinical Trial Unit Maturity Framework Working Group. |
| Impact | Contributed to guidance issued for public consultation: https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/public-consultation-related-to-the-wha-75.8--strengthening-clinical-trials-to-provide-high-quality-evidence-on-health-interventions-and-to-improve-research-quality-and-coordination; now published; see: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240097711. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Announcement of CTT muscle results at ESC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A series of interviews undertaken by members of the CTT following the publication of the effectsof muscle pain from statins |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | BRC Open Day 30 May 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Open Day (organised by the Oxford BRC and Oxford Health BRC) Leiden Square, Westgate Centre. Members of the public able to visit interactive stands showcasing some of the research taking place in Oxford for the benefit of NHS patients. Members of CTT research team whom I line manage involved in 'DataLand' activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://oxfordhealthbrc.nihr.ac.uk/oh-event/joint-oxford-health-and-oxford-brc-open-day-2024-shaping... |
| Description | CTT diabetes presentation American Heart Association November 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Abstract presentation; Featured Science Session at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions on 07 November 2022: Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of New-Onset and Worsening Diabetes Mellitus in Large-Scale Randomized Double-Blind Trials of Statin Therapy: presented by Dr David Preiss on behalf of the CTT Collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | CTT statin results presented at a Hot Line session at European Society of Cardiology with associated press release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Professor Colin Baigent presented the CTT muscle results as late breaking research presented at a Hot Line session at the ESC Congress on 29 August 2022. This was associated with simultaneous publication of the results in The Lancet (Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration. Effect of statin therapy on muscle symptoms: an individual participant data meta-analysis of large-scale, randomised, double-blind trials. Lancet 2022; 400: 832-45) and a press release. The results received extensive media attention including being front page news for several newspapers. Full details available from the NDPH Communications Department. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Cardiovascular-protection-from-statins-... |
| Description | Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine Curriculum and Assessment Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Member of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine Curriculum and Assessment Working Group |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | IF Science Oxford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The group undertook public engagement activities at the IF Oxford Science Festival |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | IF-Oxford 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 15-16 October 2022 IF-Oxford (Ideas Festival), Science @ the Shops, Templars Square Shopping Centre, Oxford. Organising institution: IF Oxford which is produced by charity Oxfordshire Science Festival (Attended by VOG team members: Heather Halls and Lisa Holland). • Programme introduction: "Help me stay well. Your arteries are amazing. They carry blood loaded with oxygen around your body, but when they become narrowed or blocked, things can go seriously wrong. Find out how to keep your arteries clear and your blood flowing, to protect your heart and brain, with interactive games (Saturday and Sunday). Oxford Population Health, University of Oxford." • The aim of this activity was to provide a lay audience with information about statins, to enable them to understand the risks and benefits of these drugs, learn how to be critical about what they read, determine what is a strong study, and trust and understand the results about statin adverse effects. It was produced in conjunction with the publication of the CTT muscle paper. It was aimed largely at adults, who are more likely to be prescribed statins than children, and older children who will be learning about statins as part of the GCSE Combined Science and GCSE Biology curricula. • 4 activities: o a) 'Don't lose your balls': a team-based game where teams are given 3 possible answers to a question and then have to 'hedge their bets', dividing 10 tennis balls between buckets representing the answers they think are correct. Balls placed in the 'incorrect' buckets are lost, and the winner is the team with the most balls left at the end. o b) 'Make me healthy': the aim was to remove all the 'bad' cholesterol from a life-sized cardboard human body illustrated with major arteries and organs, by correctly answering age-appropriate questions about healthy living. o c) An interactive poster with flaps illustrating the progression from early-phase trials through to meta-analyses, to illustrate the power of large-scale trials and meta-analyses. This also revealed a message as the flaps were being opened, saying 'Statins Are Safe and Work', which could only be read when all the flaps had been opened. o d) Statin muscle video which was scrolling through on a table for less outgoing people to engage in. • An information leaflet was also produced for the public to take away and read at their leisure, and Sophia Wilkinson apparently wrote up an evaluation report for this activity which engaged ~165 people. Data Game activity: Lisa Holland and Heather Halls met with Hannah Freeman to pass on the Data game activity which she is now responsible for developing for teacher use. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Interview for US-based Doctor Radio re CTT work on statins and muscle results |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio interview for the US-based radio show Doctor Radio at their request to discuss the CTT research on statin therapy, in particular in relation to the effect of statins on muscle outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.siriusxm.com/channels/doctor-radio |
| Description | NDPH Participant Panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Updated the NDPH Public Advisory Panel (formerly Participany Panel) about the status and progress of meta analyses |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | NDPH Participant Panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | NDPH Participant Panel CTT overview; 2 hours; 2021-01-29 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH) school work experience session |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Members of CTT research team whom I line manage involved in NDPH school work experience sessions on 15 July 2024 comprising of: • An introduction to trials and meta-analyses. • A demonstration of a school assembly about population health research and the different roles of the people involved. • A demonstration of the 'DataLand' Lego primary/family activity to show how we encourage understanding of: o What is data? o Collecting data? o Showing data? o Combining data? • Supporting an interactive workshop to introduce patient and public involvement and engagement |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Nuffield Department of Population Health Public Advisory Panel Zoom meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | 22 July 2022 and 26 November 2022: Meetings with NDPH Public Advisory Panel (see https://www.ndph.ox.ac.uk/research/participant-panel) to discuss the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration findings in relation to muscle and diabetes outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Nuffield Department of Population Health Public Advisory Panel Zoom meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk given via Zoom on 29 January 2021 on work being done in the CTT project looking at all statin effects (benefical and adverse) to the NDPH Public Advisory Panel to (i) brief new members in the group; (ii) update them on project progress; and (iii) ask if they would be willing to give their input on how to best present the first batch of results meaningfully to a wide patient and public audience later this year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ndph.ox.ac.uk/research/participant-panel |
| Description | Oxford Ideas Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 15-16 October 2022 IF-Oxford (Ideas Festival), Science @ the Shops, Templars Square Shopping Centre, Oxford. Organising institution: IF Oxford which is produced by charity Oxfordshire Science Festival. • Programme introduction: "Help me stay well. Your arteries are amazing. They carry blood loaded with oxygen around your body, but when they become narrowed or blocked, things can go seriously wrong. Find out how to keep your arteries clear and your blood flowing, to protect your heart and brain, with interactive games (Saturday and Sunday). Oxford Population Health, University of Oxford." • The aim of this activity was to provide a lay audience with information about statins, to enable them to understand the risks and benefits of these drugs, learn how to be critical about what they read, determine what is a strong study, and trust and understand the results about statin adverse effects. It was produced in conjunction with the publication of the CTT muscle paper. It was aimed largely at adults, who are more likely to be prescribed statins than children, and older children who will be learning about statins as part of the GCSE Combined Science and GCSE Biology curricula. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.templarssquare.com/events/if-oxford-science-ideas-festival/ |
| Description | Oxford Open Doors 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Took part in the 2019 Oxford Open Doors public engagement event on Saturday 14 September |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Oxford Open Doors Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interactive game aimed at school children to explain what data is was presented in tandem with a talk on effects of statin therapy aimed at adults at this day. Oxford Open Doors is a city-wide event: https://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/content/oxford-open-doors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.ndph.ox.ac.uk/news/ndph-takes-part-in-open-doors |
| Description | Oxford Open Doors Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interactive game aimed at school children to explain what data is was presented in tandem with a talk on effects of statin therapy aimed at adults at this day. Oxford Open Doors is a city-wide event: https://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/content/oxford-open-doors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ndph.ox.ac.uk/events/oxford-open-doors-1/oxford-open-doors-2019-programme-for-the-bdi |
| Description | Oxford Science and Ideas Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interactive data games demonstrated to ~ 110 families |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://theoxfordtrust.co.uk/our-work/oxfordshire-science-festival/ |
| Description | SAGA article describing CTT work on statin therapy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | 2 medical researchers (David Preiss and Christina Reith) who work on the CTT project gave an interview to SAGA magazine re statin therapy, including benefits and risks. This appeared in print and on line in SAGA magazine: https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/health-wellbeing/treatments/medicines/statins. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/health-wellbeing/treatments/medicines/statins |
| Description | Science Week - Bladon Primary School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and engagement around planning experiments during Oxford Science Week |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Science Week - Freeland Primary School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Used data games to engage with primary school during Oxford Science Week |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Science Week 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The Science Week; several VOG Research Associates visited to Pegasus School, Blackbird Leys Oxford data game with nearly 150 children; opportunity to enhance the National Curriculum learning objective; 1 day; 2020-03-09 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Science Week: Bladon Primary School: Planning Experiments (Scientific Skills) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Participation by team member in local primary school Science Week |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Science Week: Freeland Primary School: Data Games |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Interactive data game presented to multiple primary school years. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Science Week: visit to Pegasus School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Several members of the team took part in Science Week with a visit to Pegasus School in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, on 09 March 2020, where they presented a data game to nearly 150 children. This was a valuable opportunity to enhance the National Curriculum learning objective on this topic, and was received positively. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Swindon Festival of Tomorrow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Theme 1: Data Handling Dataland: interactive facilitated skills-built series of hands-on activities to explore the world of data and how we can use data to answer some important questions about health. The activity aimed to introduce school children and families to the research processes of handling data by using LEGO bricks for demonstration. This activity was developed and designed with primary school teachers and pupils in mind, although it is very adaptable to various informal science learning environments and can be used by anyone who wants to engage around the topic of data. It comprises four separate stations on your journey to DataLand: Station 1: What is Data?, Station 2: Collecting Data, Station 3: Showing Data and Station 4: Combining Data. Theme 2: Healthcare research Make Sam Well: A cardboard cut-out of a human body, called Sam was on display. Sam was illustrated with our main organs and arteries. Different sizes and shapes of 'bad' cholesterol were velcro-ed on along Sam's arteries etc. The aim of this activity was for players to remove all the 'bad' cholesterol by answering all their questions correctly. There were different sets of questions depending on the player's age. 8 right answers and Sam was well again and the player won a prize! This activity was primarily designed for children under the age of 11, with questions for ages 5,6,7 (KS1) and 8 - 11 (KS2). There was also a set of questions for adults, so parents/grandparents could play along with their children, or play separately. Don't lose your balls: This was a team activity for adults, or older children (15+) where two teams were asked various questions about living a healthy life and the impact of statin medication in keeping people healthy. Each team could have one-three players and were assigned a set of three coloured buckets (purple or green) and 20 balls. The buckets were labelled A, B, C, representing the three potential answers to the questions. Teams voted for the correct answer(s) by putting their balls in one or more of the buckets. Balls in the incorrect buckets were removed. The aim of the game was for a team to keep as many balls as possible and to have more than the other team at the end of the game. Clinical Trials board: self-taught interactive board where people could open different table doors to discover how research studies called randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses contribute to our knowledge of the safety and efficacy of statin medication. In addition 2 flyers were developed, one in relation to the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration and one in relation to the Dataland activity. The above mentioned activities, mainly focused on engaging the public with our work on statins and their safety as well as ways of living well. They are established activities developed by Oxford Population Health researchers. The team on-site reported >450 meaningful interactions with members of the public. They mostly engaged with family audiences but from the debriefing session, the researchers-facilitators agreed that they managed to in parallel engage with many adults in their mid-40s. The evaluation options included an online evaluation form, an evaluation board, a researcher-facilitator anonymous evaluation form and a debriefing meeting with the researchers-facilitators. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.festivaloftomorrow.com/uploads/Downloadable%20Docs/Festival%20of%20Tomorrow%202024%20Eve... |
| Description | The Maths Festival Cowley Centre, Oxford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The team took their data game to the Maths Festival held in the Cowley Centre in Oxford on 15 February 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Web animation describing CTT muscle results |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The CTT Secretariat in Oxford worked with the NDPH Communications team to provide a patient/public-friendly short animation to describe the CTT findings of the effect of statin therapy on muscle outcomes. Key findings included: - Muscle symptoms such as muscle pain or weakness were common, even in those allocated a placebo (or dummy) tablet. In 19 trials of statin therapy versus placebo, similar numbers of people reported such symptoms (16,835; 27.1%) in the statin group and (16,446; 26.6%) in the placebo group. - Statin treatments marginally increased the frequency of muscle-related symptoms. In those taking statins, about 14 out of 15 reports of muscle symptoms were not attributed to statins, falling to about 9 in 10 for patients taking a high intensity treatment. This means that statins are not the cause of muscle pain in over 90% of people who report symptoms. - Most of the reports of muscle symptoms in those taking statins occurred within the first year of treatment. After the first year of starting treatment, low/moderate intensity statin therapy caused no increase in the frequency of muscle symptoms. The animation is available as a YouTube video on https://www.cttcollaboration.org/news/new-study-muscle-pain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/aVkmxckKW_4 |