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Showing papers by "Greg Fegan published in 2020"

Journal Article•DOI•
Excess mortality among people with podoconiosis: secondary analysis of two Ethiopian cohorts.

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Hannah Masraf1, Temesgen Azemeraw2, Meseret Molla3, Christopher I. Jones1, Stephen Bremner1, Moses Ngari4, James A. Berkley5, James A. Berkley4, Esther Kivaya4, Greg Fegan6, Greg Fegan4, Abreham Tamiru, Abebe Kelemework, Trudie Lang4, Trudie Lang5, Melanie J. Newport1, Gail Davey3, Gail Davey1 •
Brighton and Sussex Medical School1, University of Gondar2, Addis Ababa University3, Wellcome Trust4, University of Oxford5, Swansea University6
16 Dec 2020-Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the age-standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) of two datasets from northern Ethiopia: podoconiosis patients enrolled in a 1-y trial and a Health and Demographic Surveillance System cohort.
Abstract: Background While morbidity attributable to podoconiosis is relatively well studied, its pattern of mortality has not been established. Methods We compared the age-standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) of two datasets from northern Ethiopia: podoconiosis patients enrolled in a 1-y trial and a Health and Demographic Surveillance System cohort. Results The annual crude mortality rate per 1000 population for podoconiosis patients was 28.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.3 to 44.8; n=663) while that of the general population was 2.8 (95% CI 2.3 to 3.4; n=44 095). The overall SMR for the study period was 6.0 (95% CI 3.6 to 9.4). Conclusions Podoconiosis patients experience elevated mortality compared with the general population and further research is required to understand the reasons.

2 citations

Posted Content•DOI•
A new method to triage colorectal cancer referrals using serum Raman spectroscopy and machine learning

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Cerys A Jenkins1, Susan Chandler1, Rhys A Jenkins1, Kym Thorne1, Freya Woods1, Andrew Cunningham1, Kayleigh Nelson1, Rachel Still2, Jenna Walters2, Non Gwynn2, Wilson Chea2, Rachel Harford2, Claire O'Neill1, Julie Hepburn, Ian Hill, Heather Wilkes, Greg Fegan1, P. R. Dunstan1, Dean A. Harris2 •
Swansea University1, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board2
23 May 2020-medRxiv
TL;DR: A blood test utilising high-throughput Raman spectroscopy and machine learning as an accurate triage tool with potential to reduce patient anxiety, accelerate access to treatment and improve outcomes is proposed.
Abstract: Suspected colorectal cancer (CRC) referrals based on non-specific symptoms currently lead to large numbers of patients being referred for invasive investigations and poor yield in cancer detection. Secondary care diagnostics, particularly endoscopy, struggle to meet the ever-increasing demand and patients face lengthy waits from the point of referral. Here we propose a blood test utilising high-throughput Raman spectroscopy and machine learning as an accurate triage tool. We present results from the first mixed methods clinical validation study of its kind, evaluating the ability of the test to perform in its target population of primary care patients, and its acceptability to those administering and receiving the test. The test was able to accurately rule out cancer with a negative predictive value of 98.0%. This performance could reduce the number of invasive diagnostic procedures in the cohort by at least 47%. Collectively, our findings promote a novel, non-invasive solution to triage CRC referrals with potential to reduce patient anxiety, accelerate access to treatment and improve outcomes.

1 citations