Sustaining attention in affective contexts during adolescence: age-related differences and association with elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety

Sustained attention, a key cognitive skill that improves during childhood and adolescence, tends to be worse in some emotional and behavioural disorders. Sustained attention is typically studied in non-affective task contexts; here, we used a novel task to index performance in affective versus neutral contexts across adolescence (N = 465; ages 11-18). We asked whether: (i) performance would be worse in negative versus neutral task contexts; (ii) performance would improve with age; (iii) affective interference would be greater in younger adolescents; (iv) adolescents at risk for depression and higher in anxiety would show overall worse performance; and (v) would show differential performance in negative contexts. Results indicated that participants performed more poorly in negative contexts and showed age-related performance improvements. Those at risk of depression performed more poorly than those at lower risk. However, there was no difference between groups as a result of affective context. For anxiety there was no difference in performance as a function of severity. However, those with higher anxiety showed less variance in their reaction times to negative stimuli than those with lower anxiety. One interpretation is that moderate levels of emotional arousal associated with anxiety make individuals less susceptible to the distracting effects of negative stimuli.

A Structured Intervention to Support Early Palliative Care Conversations for Oncology Patients - A Qualitative Feasibility Study

AIMS

For patients with advanced cancer, early access to palliative care can have numerous psychosocial and disease management benefits. However, it can be difficult for clinicians to initiate these initial conversations about palliative care. The aim of the present study was to beta test an intervention to facilitate timely conversations about palliative care between patients and clinicians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study reported forms one stage of a complex intervention development study following Medical Research Council guidance for developing complex interventions. Feasibility was explored from patient and clinician perspectives in an oncology outpatient setting.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients and 18 clinicians participated. Three phases of the intervention were assessed through patient and clinician interviews. The analysis produced three themes in each phase: (i) Preparation (patient preparedness; healthcare professionals' perspectives on palliative care; administration, data and communication); (ii) STEP consultation (defining perspectives on palliative care; how palliative care fits with the current treatment plan; permission to explore future care); (iii) Outcomes (changes in perspective and approaches to coping; opening the door to future conversations; referrals and involvement of palliative services).

CONCLUSIONS

The STEP intervention generated important early conversations about end-of-life care that may otherwise not have occurred. No patients regretted having the STEP consultation, which resulted in palliative care referrals for some. Others felt better informed about the support services available and better able to have further conversations. Participating clinicians found the structured conversation guide useful, as it acted as a prompt for areas to cover, as well as providing an explicit way to open discussion about difficult topics.

The impact of mindfulness training in early adolescence on affective executive control, and on later mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Previous research suggests that mindfulness training (MT) appears effective at improving mental health in young people. MT is proposed to work through improving executive control in affectively laden contexts. However, it is unclear whether MT improves such control in young people. MT appears to mitigate mental health difficulties during periods of stress, but any mitigating effects against COVID-related difficulties remain unexamined.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether MT (intervention) versus psychoeducation (Psy-Ed; control), implemented in after-school classes: (1) Improves affective executive control; and/or (2) Mitigates negative mental health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A parallel randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted (Registration: https://osf.io/d6y9q/; Funding: Wellcome (WT104908/Z/14/Z, WT107496/Z/15/Z)). 460 students aged 11-16 years were recruited and randomised 1:1 to either MT (N=235) or Psy-Ed (N=225) and assessed preintervention and postintervention on experimental tasks and self-report inventories of affective executive control. The RCT was then extended to evaluate protective functions of MT on mental health assessed after the first UK COVID-19 lockdown.

FINDINGS

Results provided no evidence that the version of MT used here improved affective executive control after training or mitigated negative consequences on mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic relative to Psy-Ed. No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no evidence that MT improves affective control or downstream mental health of young people during stressful periods.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

We need to identify interventions that can enhance affective control and thereby young people's mental health.

670 FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MORTALITY IN MULTI-ETHNIC HOSPITALISED COVID PATIENTS

Introduction

Whilst most patients during the COVID pandemic made an uneventful recovery, there was a significant minority in whom the disease was severe and unfortunately fatal. This survey aims to evaluate independent risk factors for those who died of COVID compared to survivors and to identify any markers for improvement in future management.

Methods

Medical records of all COVID patients admitted to two multi-ethnic, inner city acute district general hospitals over a 6-week period in 2020 were examined. Data collected included demographic details, medical comorbidities, and type of ward where they received care. Multivariable analysis using stepwise backward logistic regression was conducted to examine independent risk factors for those who died from COVID compared to survivors.

Results

Of 951 patients admitted with COVID, 284 died[30%]. Compared to survivors(n = 667), univariate analyses revealed COVID deaths were associated with increasing age[mean(CI): 79.3(77.9–80.7)vs64.7(63.4–66.0);P < 0.001], Black African [16.2%vs11.7%;p < 0.001] & South-Asian [12%vs9.1%;p < 0.001] ethnicity, Hypertension [64.4%vs49.5%;p < 0.001], Chronic Heart Disease(CHD)[40.1%vs20.7%;p < 0.001], Chronic Respiratory Disease [17.6%vs12.0%;p = 0.02] Chronic Kidney Disease [18%vs11.1%;p = 0.004], Chronic Neurological Disease 43.3%vs23.7%;p < 0.001]. Gender, Diabetes, asthma, obesity, Chronic Liver Disease and immunosuppression (disease or treatment related) were not associated with increasing mortality. Death rates between those in general wards vs intensive care were comparable[4.7%vs2.5%;p = 0.1]. Multivariable analyses showed age 60–70 [OR 2.3], age > 70 [OR 6.5], Black Caribbean [OR 1.6], and CHD [1.5] were independent risk factors for COVID deaths.

Discussion

This large multi-ethnic study showed that age > 60, Black Caribbean, and chronic heart disease were independent risk factors for COVID deaths. This study provides valuable information on independent prognostic implications for COVID, which can be used in future interventional studies aiming to improve COVID outcomes or in audits of clinical practice.

Fear of memory loss predicts increased memory failures and lower quality of life in older adults: preliminary findings from a fear-avoidance of memory loss (FAM) scale

BACKGROUND

Few studies have measured the impact of dementia-related fear on daily functioning, despite its clinical relevance. Our aim was to determine the relationship between fear-avoidance of memory loss, perceived memory failures and self-reported quality of life in a community based sample of older adults using a novel fear of memory loss (FAM) scale.

METHODS

Sixty-seven older adults (59-81 years) completed a 23-item self-report scale designed to capture multi-faceted components of fear of memory loss, known as the FAM scale. Perceived memory failures were measured using the Memory Failures Scale (MFS) and quality of life was assessed using the Older Person's Quality of Life scale (OPQOL-35). Participants also completed the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-IV) as a measure of objective memory performance and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) as measures of general anxiety.

RESULTS

The FAM scale demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .82) and concurrent validity with the GAI (r = .47). Three latent factors were observed: (1) fear-avoidance, (2) problematic beliefs and (3) affective resilience. After adjusting for objective memory performance and general anxiety, higher fear-avoidance significantly predicted increased perceived memory failures (p = .014) and reduced quality of life (p = .033).

CONCLUSIONS

Fear of memory loss predicts increased perceived memory failures and lower self-reported quality of life in a community sample of older adults. Based on these findings, we propose a preliminary fear-avoidance model that explains the development and maintenance of dementia-related functional disability in terms of psychological processes.

PAPA-like syndrome with heterozygous mutation in the MEFV gene

A patient presented with a history of recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum, arthritis and extensive acne, prompting a genetic workup for PAPA syndrome. An MEFV mutation was identified and a change in therapeutic strategy from anakinra to colchicine was successful.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of idiopathic frequent premature ventricular complexes with normal ventricular function

Background

The role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remains unclear. Existing data has been predominantly derived from highly selected populations, that may overestimate the true prevalence of abnormal findings on CMR in this patient population.

Purpose

The aim of this study was 2-fold: 1) to establish the prevalence of CMR imaging abnormalities in a cohort with normal LVEF and high PVC burden; 2) to identify predictors of CMR imaging abnormalities in patients with frequent PVCs and normal LVEF.

Methods

In this cohort study, 211 patients (age 53.2±19 years; 41% male) with frequent PVCs (≥5%/24 h), of normal LVEF (≥50% by echocardiography) and no known underlying structural heart disease were prospectively enrolled from 2016–2020. Of these, 166 (79%) patients were symptomatic from their PVCs in the form of palpitations, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, and/or dyspnea. Patients underwent CMR imaging (1.5 Tesla) with a late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) protocol at the time of enrollment for the detection of scarring and/or fibrosis.

Results

Patients had a median baseline echocardiographic LVEF of 60% (± 5%) with 195 (92%) of patients having a normal native QRS morphology. Median PVC burden of the study cohort was 16% (± 14%). CMR LGE abnormalities were found in 19 (9%) patients including 17 scans with non-ischemic LGE and 2 with ischemic LGE. Age >60 (odds ratio [OR]: 3.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–8.51, p=0.020), male sex (OR: 4.67, 95% CI: 1.61–13.50, p=0.004), history of hypertension (OR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.31–8.97, p=0.012), native QRS duration (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.05, p=0.031), and history of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (OR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.03–7.68, p=0.044) were significantly associated with the presence of imaging abnormalities on CMR. Dominant PVC origin from the left ventricle had a positive trend (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 0.99–7.66, p=0.083) to association with CMR imaging abnormalities. On multivariate analysis, male sex (OR: 4.10, 95% CI: 1.40–12.04, p=0.010) and history of hypertension (OR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.08–7.75, p=0.035) remained significantly associated with the presence of CMR abnormalities. There was no association between CMR imaging abnormalities and the burden of PVCs or the number of PVC morphologies.

Conclusion

In this cohort, only 9% of patients with apparently idiopathic frequent PVCs and normal LVEF had concealed myocardial abnormalities on CMR imaging. Male sex and history of hypertension were associated with a higher rate of CMR abnormalities.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

The impact of frailty on the management and outcome of ST-elevation myocardial infarction in older patients

Background

Frailty is a clinical syndrome of increased vulnerability, resulting from age-associated decline in physiological reserve, compromising the ability to cope with acute stressors. Despite an increasing number of older, frail patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), there remains a paucity of guidance on how to approach the management of this complex group.

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of frailty on the management strategy and outcomes in older patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed, using linked patient records in The Nationwide Readmission Database. All patients aged ≥75 years that presented with STEMI (2015 – 2018) were included. International Classification of Disease (10th Edition; ICD-10) codes were used to ascertain exposures and outcomes. Frailty was quantified using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS): an ICD-10-based scoring system that has been validated against established clinical frailty indices. Outcomes included: (i) management strategy (coronary angiography ± percutaneous coronary intervention, vs. conservative management), length of stay and 30-day mortality. Outcomes were modelled using multivariable binary logistic regression. Continuous variables are presented as: mean (standard deviation). Odds ratios (OR) are given with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

From an overall dataset of 57,133,894 admissions, 368,201 patients presenting with STEMI were identified, of which 92,067 were aged ≥75 years. The mean age was 82.4 (5.1) years; 45,768 (49.7%) were female. The mean frailty score was 5.9 (SD 4.9, range 0 - 37.7). Patients were categorised by frailty status: low (HFRS <5; n=46,336 [50.3%]), intermediate (HFRS 5 - 15; n=40,493 [44.0%]) and high risk (HFRS >15; n=5,238 [5.7%]). Characteristics of the cohort are presented in Figure 1. Frail patients were less likely to undergo invasive management: 1,873 (35.5%) of the high risk group underwent coronary angiography vs. 36,888 (79.6%) of the low risk group; OR 0.14 (95% CI 0.13 - 0.15), P<0.001. Length of stay in hospital increased proportionately with frailty: a 2-unit increase in HRFS was associated with one additional day in hospital (p<0.001). 30-day mortality increased non-linearly with increasing HFRS and was markedly higher among patients at high risk for frailty, compared with those at low risk; OR 3.70 (95% CI 3.47 - 3.94; p<0.001). The relationship between frailty score and outcomes is presented in Figure 2. Frailty remained the greatest single predictor of outcome following adjustment for other covariates, including age.

Conclusions

Frail patients presenting with STEMI are less likely to undergo invasive management and more likely to experience adverse outcomes. Quantification of frailty offers an opportunity to identify and address modifiable risk factors to improve post-STEMI outcomes in this vulnerable group.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Whole cycle non-hyperaemic pressure ratios have better stability than diastolic ratios after percutaneous coronary intervention due to changes in diastolic coronary haemodynamics

Background

Post percutaneous intervention (PCI) fractional flow reserve (FFR) value of ≥0.90 is an accepted marker of procedural success, and similarly, a cut-off of ≥0.95 has recently been proposed for post-PCI instantaneous wave free ratio (iFR). However, the stability of non-hyperaemic pressure ratios (NHPRs) and microcirculatory resistance post-PCI, is not well characterised. as submaximal hyperaemia post-PCI may affect them.

Purpose

We performed this study to assess stability and reproducibility of NHPRs measured immediately post-PCI and repeated at 30 minutes post-PCI.

Methods

Seventy-seven patients undergoing pressure wire guided PCI (age 63.77±10.67 years, male 71%,) had haemodynamic assessment done immediately post-PCI and after a recovery period 30 minutes (Figure A, B). Manual offline analysis was performed to derive resting pressure ratios during whole cycle: average ratio of distal coronary pressure to proximal aortic pressure at rest (Pd/Pa) and resting full cycle ratio (RFR); and during diastolic phase: average diastolic pressure ratio (dPR) and mathematically calculated iFRmat, measured by average Pd/Pa during wave free period (WFP) (from 25% into diastole until 5 msec before the end of diastole). We also measured coronary flow velocity by thermo-dilution time (Tmn) and basal microvascular resistance (BMR = Pa × Tmn × [(Pd − Pw) / (Pa − Pw)] baseline) corrected for coronary wedge pressure (Pw). Test-retest statistics was performed between NHPRs values immediately post-PCI and at 30 minutes. Moreover, crossover of NHPRs across the cut-off value of 0.95 was analysed to assess clinical utility of these indices for procedural success. p value of <0.05 was deemed statistically significant.

Results

There were no differences in the baseline characteristics of the study patients. Sub-maximal hyperaemia was demonstrated by Tmn of 0.54 sec (0.32, 0.75) immediately post-PCI which settled by 30 minutes, Tmn of 0.67 sec (0.43, 0.91), p=0.01 (Figure C). The median BMR increased from 49.25 mmHg sec (32.74, 61.61) to 59.60 mmHg sec (39.24, 76.91) at 30 minutes, p=0.04 (Figure D). Despite this, there were no significant differences in the values of resting whole cycle ratios (Pd/Pa and RFR) as well as diastolic ratios (dPR and iFRmat), with whole cardiac cycle NHPRs having best stability post-PCI (Table). Furthermore, crossover above or below the cut-off value of 0.95 occurred in approximately 1 in 5 diastolic NHPRs measurements but was three-fold lower for whole cycle NHPRs.

Conclusion

NHPRs remain stable post-PCI, despite submaximal hyperaemia being detected and may legitimately be used immediately post-PCI to determine procedural success. However, the test-retest reproducibility and clinical utility of diastolic NHPRs (dPR and iFR) was inferior to whole cycle NHPRs (Pd/Pa and RFR).

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): NIHR

456 Palliative Care Interventions for Peripheral Vascular Disease: A Systematic Review

Objective

Identify and evaluate palliative care interventions used in peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Background

PVD encompasses conditions with poor outcome and severe suffering, both mentally and physically, yet utilisation and research into palliative care interventions remain sparse.

Method

A systematic review of all study designs published between January 1991 and January 2020 in which people with PVD received palliative care interventions and at least one patient reported outcome was recorded.

Results

A total of eight studies involving 87037 unique patients met inclusion criteria (four cohort studies and four cross sectional studies). There were no randomised controlled studies; The small number of studies and study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Only two papers recorded patient reported outcomes. Five papers found an association between palliative care and reduction in health care utilisation. Most of the studies reported that palliative care was likely underused. Only two of the studies included non-hospital patients. The methodological quality of the papers ranged from low to moderate.

Conclusions

Despite high mortality and morbidity associated with PVD, evidence of the effectiveness of palliative care in this group of patients is lacking. There are only a handful of papers on palliative care in vascular surgery and the majority are small, methodologically flawed and lack patient reported outcomes. Randomised controlled trials of palliative care interventions in patients with PVD are needed to determine optimal treatment outcomes.

Brain event-related potentials predict individual differences in inhibitory control

Stop-signal reaction time (SSRT), the time needed to cancel an already-initiated motor response, quantifies individual differences in inhibitory control. Electrophysiological correlates of SSRT have primarily focused on late event-related potential (ERP) components over midline scalp regions from successfully inhibited stop trials. SSRT is robustly associated with the P300, there is mixed evidence for N200 involvement, and there is little information on the role of early ERP components. Here, machine learning was first used to interrogate ERPs during both successful and failed stop trials from 64 scalp electrodes at 4 ms resolution (n = 148). The most predictive model included data from both successful and failed stop trials, with a cross-validated Pearson's r of 0.32 between measured and predicted SSRT, significantly higher than null models. From successful stop trials, spatio-temporal features overlapping the N200 in right frontal areas and the P300 in frontocentral areas predicted SSRT, as did early ERP activity (<200 ms). As a demonstration of the reproducibility of these findings, the application of this model to a separate dataset of 97 participants was also significant (r = 0.29). These results show that ERPs during failed stops are relevant to SSRT, and that both early and late ERP activity contribute to individual differences in SSRT. Notably, the right lateralized N200, which predicted SSRT here, is not often observed in neurotypical adults. Both the ascending slope and peak of the P300 component predicted SSRT. These results were replicable, both within the training sample and when applied to ERPs from a separate dataset.

P61 Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and management of acute appendicitis: a single-centre analysis

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the delivery of healthcare. In accordance with the UK Joint Royal Colleges’ advice the management of acute appendicitis (AA) changed with greater consideration for non-operative management (NOM) or open appendicectomy where operative management (OM) s sought. Our aim is to share our experience of the presentation, management and outcomes for patients presenting to our Trust with AA to guide care for future viral pandemics.

Methods

This single-centre retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with AA in March to July 2019 compared with March to July 2020. Medical records were used to evaluate demographics, inflammatory markers, imaging, severity, management, histology, length of stay (LOS), complications and 90-day outcomes.

Results

There were 149 and 125 patients in the 2019 and 2020 cohort, respectively. 14 patients (9.4%) had NOM in 2019 versus 31 patients (24.8%) in 2020 (p = 0.001). In the 2019 OM group 125 patients (92.6%) had laparoscopic appendicectomy versus 69 (73.4%) in 2020. 59 patients (39.6%) had a CT in 2019 versus 70 (56%) in 2020. The median LOS was 4 days (interquartile range (IQR) 3 to 6 days) in 2019 and 3 days (IQR 2 to 5 days) in 2020 (p = 0.03). Two patients in each year who received NOM had treatment failure (14.3% in 2019 and 6.5% in 2020). Three patients in 2019 who had OM had treatment failure (2.2%). Of 95 patients tested for COVID-19 all but one was negative.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic there was no observed increase in severity of AA, patients had a shorter LOS and were more likely to have imaging. NOM proportionally increased with no observed change in outcomes.

Bare necessities? The utility of full skin examination in the COVID-19 era

Full skin examination (FSE) may improve the detection of malignant melanoma (MM). The objective of this study was to assess the safety of targeted lesion examination (TLE) compared with FSE in our Pigmented Lesion Clinic (PLC). Patients attending the PLC were randomized in a 2 : 1 ratio to FSE (intervention) or TLE (standard care). Demographic details and risk factors were documented, and the time taken to perform FSE and TLE was noted. Of 763 participants, 520 were assigned to FSE and 243 were assigned to TLE. On average, FSE took 4.02 min and TLE took 30 s to perform. Of the 520 participants assigned to FSE, 37 (7.1%) had incidental findings, of whom 12 patients (2.3%) had additional lesions biopsied. No additional melanomas were detected that would have been missed by use of the standard protocol. This study suggests that in low-risk patients referred to a PLC with a lesion of concern, the possibility of missing incidental cutaneous malignancies using lesion-directed examination is low.

Pericoronary adipose tissue density is associated with clinical disease activity in Takayasu arteritis and coronary arterial inflammation measured by 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in atherosclerosis

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an under-recognized complication of intense arterial inflammation in Takayasu arteritis (TAK). While pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) density is associated with arterial inflammation in CAD patients, this relationship has not previously been studied in TAK patients, nor directly compared with coronary arterial inflammation measured by 68Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography (PET).

Purpose

To compare PCAT density with clinical, biochemical and molecular imaging markers of inflammation in TAK and CAD patients.

Methods

PCAT density was quantified from computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) around each of the 17 coronary segments in patients with: (1) TAK and CAD, (2) atherosclerotic CAD, and (3) age and gender-matched healthy controls, using semi-automated software (Autoplaque). In TAK patients, PCAT density was compared to the Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score (ITAS) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP). In CAD patients, PCAT density was compared to local arterial inflammation measured by coronary motion-frozen 68Ga-DOTATATE PET using image registration software (FusionQuant), and systemic (aortic) inflammation using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET. Data was acquired either during routine clinical care or prior research that established 68Ga-DOTATATE as an experimental marker of arterial inflammation that binds macrophage somatostatin receptor-2 in atherosclerotic plaques (NCT02021188).

Results

60 patients were included (TAK, n=20; CAD, n=20; healthy, n=20). Non-calcified plaque burden (TAK: 95.2%; CAD: 90.4%, p&lt;0.0001) and CRP (TAK: 25.2 ±SD 16.1 mg/L; CAD: 2.5 ±SD 1.7 mg/L, p=0.04) were greater in TAK than CAD patients.

PCAT density varied significantly among the three groups (median [IQR] TAK: −72.9 [−81.2 to -66.1] Hounsfield unit [HU]; CAD: −79.9 [−88.0 to −72.2]; healthy: −83.8 [−90.1 to −75.8] HU, p&lt;0.0001). Figure: box-plot showing the distribution of PCAT values by group, with corresponding representative multiplanar reconstructed and cross-sectional CTCA images with surrounding PCAT density displayed by color table in left anterior descending arteries.

PCAT density was significantly associated with ITAS (r=0.61, p=0.004) and CRP (r=0.43, p=0.03) in TAK patients, and coronary 68Ga-DOTATATE maximum tissue-to-blood ratio (r=0.31, p&lt;0.001) in CAD patients. PCAT density was not associated with aortic 18F-FDG uptake in CAD patients, nor subcutaneous (pre-sternal) adipose tissue density in either disease group. No significant patient-level confounders were identified using linear mixed-effects regression modelling.

Conclusion

PCAT density measured by CTCA is greater in TAK than CAD patients, and is associated with clinical and biochemical markers of disease activity in TAK, and coronary arterial inflammation measured by 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in CAD. PCAT could be a useful, easy to measure marker of coronary inflammation and disease activity in both TAK and CAD.

PCAT density is greater in TAK than CAD

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Wellcome Trust

Susceptibility to prosocial and antisocial influence in adolescence

Introduction

Adolescents are particularly susceptible to social influence and previous studies have shown that this susceptibility decreases with age. The current study used a cross-sectional experimental paradigm to investigate the effect of age and puberty on susceptibility to both prosocial and antisocial influence.

Methods

Participants (N = 520) aged 11–18 from London and Cambridge (United Kingdom) rated how likely they would be to engage in a prosocial (e.g. “help a classmate with their work”) or antisocial (e.g. “make fun of a classmate”) act. They were then shown the average rating (in fact fictitious) that other adolescents had given to the same question, and were then asked to rate the same behaviour again.

Results

Both prosocial and antisocial influence decreased linearly with age, with younger adolescents being more socially influenced when other adolescents’ ratings were more prosocial and less antisocial than their own initial rating. Both antisocial and prosocial influence significantly decreased across puberty for boys but not girls (independent of age).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that social influence declines with increasing maturity across adolescence. However, the exact relationship between social influence and maturity is dependent on the nature of the social influence and gender. Understanding when adolescents are most susceptible to different types of social influence, and how this might influence their social behaviour, has important implications for understanding adolescent social development.

Development of comparable algorithms to measure primary care indicators using administrative health data across three Canadian provinces

INTRODUCTION

Performance measurement has been recognized as key to transforming primary care (PC). Yet, performance reporting in PC lags behind even though high-performing PC is foundational to an effective and efficient health care system.

OBJECTIVES

We used administrative data from three Canadian provinces, British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia, to: 1) identify and develop a core set of PC performance indicators using administrative data and 2) examine their ability to capture PC performance.

METHODS

Administrative data used included Physician Billings, Discharge Abstract Database, the National Ambulatory Care and Reporting System database, Census and Vital Statistics. Indicators were compiled based on a literature review of PC indicators previously developed with administrative data available in Canada (n=158). We engaged in iterative discussions to assess data conformity, completeness, and plausibility of results in all jurisdictions. Challenges to creating comparable algorithms were examined through content analysis and research team discussions, which included clinicians, analysts, and health services researchers familiar with PC.

RESULTS

Our final list included 21 PC performance indicators pertaining to 1) technical care (n=4), 2) continuity of care (n=6), and 3) health services utilization (n=11). Establishing comparable algorithms across provinces was possible though time intensive. A major challenge was inconsistent data elements. Ease of data access, and a deep understanding of the data and practice context, was essential for selecting the most appropriate data elements.

CONCLUSIONS

This project is unique in creating algorithms to measure PC performance across provinces. It was essential to balance internal validity of the indicators within a province and external validity across provinces. The intuitive desire of having the exact same coding across provinces was infeasible due to lack of standardized PC data. Rather, a context-tailored definition was developed for each jurisdiction. This work serves as an example for developing comparable PC performance indicators across different provincial/territorial jurisdictions.