Prison primary care and non-communicable diseases: a data-linkage survey of prevalence and associated risk factors.

chronic conditions general practice prevalence primary care prisoners

Journal

BJGP open
ISSN: 2398-3795
Titre abrégé: BJGP Open
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101713531

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Jul 2019
Historique:
received: 13 11 2018
accepted: 03 01 2019
entrez: 2 8 2019
pubmed: 2 8 2019
medline: 2 8 2019
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The size and mean age of the prison population has increased rapidly in recent years. Prisoners are a vulnerable group who, compared with the general population, experience poorer health outcomes. However, there is a dearth of research quantifying the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among prisoner populations. To explore both the prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken that was compared with clinical records in two male prisons in the north of England. Self-report surveys were completed by 199 prisoners to assess sociodemographic characteristics, general health, NCD prevalence, and risk factor prevalence. Data were checked against that retrieved from prison clinical records. It was found that 46% reported at least one NCD and 26% reported at least one physical health NCD. The most common self-reported NCD was 'anxiety and depression' (34%), followed by 'respiratory disease' (17%), and 'hypertension' (10%). Having a physical health NCD was independently associated with increasing age or drug dependence.The level of agreement between clinical records and self-report ranged from 'fair' for alcohol dependence (kappa 0.38; Compared with mainstream populations and despite high prevalence of risk factors for NCDs physical illness NCDs, with the exception of respiratory disease, are less common. However, poor mental health is more common. These differences are possibly owing to the younger average age of prison populations, since prevalence of risk factors was reported as high.Secondary data analysis of clinical records is a more methodologically robust way of monitoring trends in prisoner population disease prevalence.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The size and mean age of the prison population has increased rapidly in recent years. Prisoners are a vulnerable group who, compared with the general population, experience poorer health outcomes. However, there is a dearth of research quantifying the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among prisoner populations.
AIM OBJECTIVE
To explore both the prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors.
DESIGN & SETTING METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was undertaken that was compared with clinical records in two male prisons in the north of England.
METHOD METHODS
Self-report surveys were completed by 199 prisoners to assess sociodemographic characteristics, general health, NCD prevalence, and risk factor prevalence. Data were checked against that retrieved from prison clinical records.
RESULTS RESULTS
It was found that 46% reported at least one NCD and 26% reported at least one physical health NCD. The most common self-reported NCD was 'anxiety and depression' (34%), followed by 'respiratory disease' (17%), and 'hypertension' (10%). Having a physical health NCD was independently associated with increasing age or drug dependence.The level of agreement between clinical records and self-report ranged from 'fair' for alcohol dependence (kappa 0.38;
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Compared with mainstream populations and despite high prevalence of risk factors for NCDs physical illness NCDs, with the exception of respiratory disease, are less common. However, poor mental health is more common. These differences are possibly owing to the younger average age of prison populations, since prevalence of risk factors was reported as high.Secondary data analysis of clinical records is a more methodologically robust way of monitoring trends in prisoner population disease prevalence.

Identifiants

pubmed: 31366674
pii: bjgpopen19X101643
doi: 10.3399/bjgpopen19X101643
pmc: PMC6662881
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2019, The Authors.

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Auteurs

Nat Mj Wright (NM)

Clinical Research Director, Spectrum Community Health CIC, Wakefield, UK nat.wright@spectrum-cic.nhs.uk.

Philippa Hearty (P)

Research Assistant, Spectrum Community Health CIC, Wakefield, UK.

Victoria Allgar (V)

Reader in Medical Statistics, Hull York Medical School / Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.

Classifications MeSH