Mumps used to be a common childhood disease. Then it became a lot less common because of vaccination. But now unfortunately it is becoming more common again. So it is vital that we get the diagnosis, management and prevention of this condition right. To find out more about this condition, please do listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Dr Kristine Macartney, Director of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Australia. For more on mumps, visit BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: none
Pertussis or whooping cough is an acute infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is highly contagious, highly serious, and highly preventable. To find out more about this condition, please do listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and Ashall Professor of Infection and Immunity in Oxford. Competing interests: AP has been chair of JCVI for the past 12 years. For more on pertussis, visit BMJ Best Practice.
Social anxiety disorder is common. The 1-year point prevalence rate is about 7% and the estimated lifetime prevalence about 12%. And social anxiety disorder can have a real effect on a patient’s life. To find out more about this condition, please do listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Professor Craig Sawchuk of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic. Craig is also the author of our BMJ Best Practice topic on this subject. For more on social anxiety disorder, visit BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: None
Measles is a serious disease. Unfortunately, it is making a comeback. So we need to know how to diagnose, manage and prevent it. To find out more about how to do all of this, listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Linda Nield, Professor of Medical Education and Pediatrics at West Virginia University School of Medicine. For more on measles, visit BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: None
Paediatric asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease globally and is a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more, listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast on asthma in children. It features an interview with Helen Brough, Consultant in Paediatric Allergy and Professor in Paediatric Allergy at King’s College London. For more on asthma in children, visit BMJ Best Practice. COI: HB has given speaker talks on food allergy for DBV, Parexel, Stallergenes and Viatris, but these talks were not related to asthma.
It is difficult to say how common factitious disorders are. A review of psychiatric consultations in a tertiary care setting found about 1% of referrals received a diagnosis of factitious disorder. Using an entirely different approach, researchers examined specimens submitted by patients as kidney stones and found that 3.5% were obviously non-physiological. But whatever the prevalence, the consequences can be serious. They include unnecessary diagnostic procedures or interventions and sometimes self-injury. To find out more about this condition, please do listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with James Levenson, Professor of Psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University. And importantly James is author of our BMJ Best Practice topic on factitious disorders. Competing interests: None For more on factitious disorders, visit BMJ Best Practice.
Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability, occurring in 1 in about 800 births worldwide. Children and adults with Down syndrome need high quality care from a wide range of different types of healthcare professionals. To find out more about this condition, listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Kishore Vellody, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Competing interests: None For more on Down Syndrome, visit BMJ Best Practice.
In 2016, the estimated number of people globally with active epilepsy was 45.9 million. For the US in 2015, this figure was around 3.4 million. So epilepsy is common and generalised seizures are a common type of epilepsy. And the consequences can be serious - from medication side effects to status to sudden unexpected death. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Daniel Winkel, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Emory University School of Medicine. For more on generalised seizures, visit BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: DW receives consulting fees from NextSense, Inc.
Measles, mumps and rubella are all serious illnesses. They are also all preventable. Vaccination is safe and effective. But take up of the vaccine is not what it should be. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Helen Bedford, Professor of Children's Health at the UCL Institute of Child Health. For more on these infections, visit BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: None
Hypercholesterolemia is common condition with serious consequences. It is important that we assess, diagnose and manage it appropriately. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Thorsten Leucker, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. For more on hypercholesterolemia, visit BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: TL has received grant funding for his university from Amgen and Merck.
The purpose of BMJ Best Practice is to provide knowledge that will help healthcare professionals deliver better care. In this podcast, Dr Clare Mock explains how you can put evidence based knowledge into practice to ensure that we achieve high quality and safe healthcare. Clare is Clinical Engagement Physician at BMJ and has a great deal of experience in safety, quality improvement and implementation science. Competing interests: CM works for BMJ.
Hyperkalemia is common and can be serious. It can result in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. So it is important that we assess this problem properly, find an underlying diagnosis if there is one, and manage appropriately. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to this BMJ Best Practice podcast interview with Sri Yarlagadda, Associate Professor at The University of Kansas Medical Center. Competing interests: None declared For more on hyperkalemia, visit BMJ Best Practice.
Hypothyroidism is common. The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism in the general population ranges between 0.2 and 5%. And it can cause a range of complications - from heart to brain problems to problems during pregnancy. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, listen to this interview with Dr Wail Malaty who works as a physician in Houston, Texas. Wail is our BMJ Best Practice author on hypothyroidism. Competing interests: None For more on hypothyroidism, visit BMJ Best Practice.
Wrist fractures are common. They can occur in older women with osteoporosis and low-impact injury. Or young men with high-impact injuries. And they can cause complications from malunion to joint stiffness to complex regional pain syndrome. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, listen to this podcast with Michael Barrett, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and BMJ Best Practice author on wrist fracture. For more on wrist fractures, visit the BMJ Best Practice topic. Competing interests: MB is a director of Orthohub.xyz, an online education platform for orthopaedic surgeons. Orthohub.xyz receives sponsorship from the healthcare industry.
Tourette syndrome has a prevalence of 0.6% in children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years, with about half of patients undiagnosed. And Tourette syndrome is associated with distress, substance abuse, and treatment-related side effects. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Marco Grados, Clinical Director and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Division for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins. Marco is the author of our topic on Tourette syndrome on BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: None
Cervical spine injuries result primarily from car accidents, falls, and sports activities (such as rugby or diving into shallow water). They can occur in young and old, and can cause considerable complications - from chronic pain to medication dependence. So what if anything can we do to ensure that it is diagnosed and managed correctly? To answer this and other important questions, please do have a listen to this interview with Muhammad Dherijha, Consultant in Complex Spinal Surgery at the Northern Care Alliance in Manchester. For more on cervical spine injuries, visit BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: none
Comorbidities are common and important in all countries around the world. They have a significant impact on patients and healthcare providers. The BMJ Best Practice Comorbidities Manager has been designed to help healthcare professionals better manage patients with common combinations of comorbidities. This BMJ Best Practice podcast is an interview with Professor Neera Ahuja, Professor of Medicine, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President at Stanford Healthcare. Competing interests: NA has received honoraria for editorial work on BMJ Best Practice
Acute severe asthma is common. The global prevalence, morbidity and mortality, and economic burden caused by asthma have progressively increased over the last few decades. About 300 million people worldwide currently have asthma. About 180,000 deaths annually are caused by asthma. And most asthma deaths are preventable. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Richard Russell, Specialty Registrar in Respiratory Medicine, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK. Richard is one of the authors of our topic on acute asthma on BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: RR has received support from Chiesi.
ST-elevation myocardial infarction is a common and important condition. Myocardial infarction is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality so it is vital that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Mahi Ashwath, Professor of Medicine and Radiology and Inaugural Reuben Jacobs Chair in Internal Medicine at the UHS/UT Heart and Vascular Institute, San Antonio, Texas. Mahi is author of this topic on BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: MA is a consultant for Tersera.
Panic disorder is common. The prevalence of panic disorder is 2% to 3% in adults and adolescents. And panic disorder can cause distress, substance abuse, and treatment related side effects. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Professor Craig Sawchuk of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Craig is the author of our topic on panic disorder on BMJ Best Practice. Competing interests: None
Uterine fibroids are common. They represent the most common solid tumours of the female pelvis and are a leading indication for hysterectomy. And complications are frequent also - from bleeding to obstetric complications. So what can we do to ensure that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right? To answer this and other important questions, please do have a listen to this podcast interview with Professor Ayman Al-Hendy, Tenured Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago. Competing interests: AAH has served on the external advisory boards of Bayer, AbbVie, Myovant, Pfizer, ObsEva and Allergan, and has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health.
The Darzi report states that “a recurring theme is that the recommendations of previous reviews have not been universally adopted.” So can we do better this time? In this podcast, Professor Martyn Patel discusses how healthcare professionals can use BMJ Best Practice to improve care in areas where Darzi says that it needs to improve. In things like comorbidities, cardiovascular care, and emergency medicine. Martyn works for Norwich Medical School, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and is also an expert panel member of BMJ Best Practice.
Among men aged 15 to 44 years, testicular tumours are the most common cancer diagnosed. And testicular cancer can cause considerable morbidity and mortality. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Corbin Eule, Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. And importantly Corbin is BMJ Best Practice author on testicular cancer. Competing interests: None
The prevalence of precocious puberty is difficult to estimate - it is probably between 1 in 500 and 1 in 5000 children. Unfortunately, complications are common - from distress to short stature to psychological problems. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to this podcast interview with Dr Comfort King of BMJ and Dr Talat Mushtaq, Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Competing interests: TM has received support from Novo Nordisk and Pfizer to attend overseas conferences. He has also received honoraria from Kyowa Kirin for lectures and educational events.
Chronic cough is common. And from 10% to 70% of patients with chronic cough may have upper airway cough syndrome. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Professor Fan Chung who is Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Head of Experimental Studies Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London. Competing interests: FC has received remuneration for taking part in advisory board meetings on asthma, COPD, and cough, organised by GSK, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, TEVA, Menlo Therapeutics and 4D pharma. KFC has also been on a speaker's bureau for AstraZeneca and Novartis, and has received educational grants from AstraZeneca, GSK, Bionorica, PGT Healthcare, and Vernalis Therapeutics, for supporting the Ninth London International Cough Symposium held in London in 2016.
Type 2 diabetes is common. It accounts for over 90% of all diabetes, and has a prevalence of 8.5% in the US. And complications are common as well - from blindness to amputation to chronic kidney disease. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to this podcast interview with Gregg Simonson, Director of Professional Training at the International Diabetes Center at Park Nicollet Minneapolis. Competing interests: GS declares that his employer, HealthPartners Institute International Diabetes Center, has organizational interests that include receiving unrestricted educational grants from Abbott Diabetes Care and Sanofi.
Hyperthyroidism The global prevalence of overt hyperthyroidism is between 0.2% to 1%. Graves disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism in most areas of the world but there are other causes including toxic nodular goitre. Complications of hyperthyroidism are common - from bone loss to atrial fibrillation to heart failure. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Dr Salman Razvi, Consultant Endocrinologist and Senior Lecturer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead. Competing interests: SR has received speaker fees from Merck, IBSA and Abbott Pharmaceuticals Ltd and research funding from Merck.
Pre eclampsia Pre-eclampsia is common. It has been reported to affect between 2% and 8% of all pregnancies worldwide. And complications are common as well - from eclampsia to fetal growth restriction to pulmonary oedema. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Emeritus Professor James Walker of the University of Leeds. Please note: Remember to do a FBC, U&E, and LFTs in affected patients. Competing interests: JJW is Honorary President of the Baby Lifeline Training Company and Honorary Medical Director of Action on Pre-eclampsia. He lectures and teaches on pre-eclampsia and maternal safety both nationally and internationally, and is the author of national and local reports into safety investigations for the Healthcare Services Investigation Branch and national and local bodies as Clinical Director.
BMJ Best Practice is freely available in England, Scotland and Wales. And in many other institutions around the world. We want to ensure that it is used. But we want more than just clicks. We want people to use it to improve individual patient care, to improve care processes and quality and safety, to improve education at all levels. So how should we do this? Please do listen to his podcast interview with Dr Dan Bunstone, GP Principal and Clinical Director of Warrington Innovation Network. Competing interests: none
Acute otitis media is common. More than 80% of children experience at least one episode of acute otitis media before the age of 2 years. And complications are common also - from perforated tympanic membrane to otitis media with effusion. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. To find out more about this problem and what we can do about it, please do listen to his podcast interview with Dr. Carlos Armengol of the Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville in the US. Competing interests: none
