GP records play key role in most popular paper

A database of anonymised GP records was the source for the most popular research paper of 2005 published by the British Medical Journal.

The study, which showed that ibuprofen and other commonly used painkillers could increase the risk of a heart attack, was published in June 2005 in the BMJ. The online version of the BMJ was accessed 42,505 times in the first year after publication, it received 28 rapid responses and was cited 97 times in 2005 and 2006.

Data for the paper came from more than 500 GP practices contributing to QRESEARCH, a database run the Nottingham University’s Primary Care Division in collaboration with GP system supplier Emis.

The research provided to be the most popular study published by the BMJ in 2005 at a time when there was widespread interest in the cardiovascular safety of COX 2 inhibitors after the withdrawal of Vioxx. The results have since been replicated in other countries by other academic teams.

Trish Groves, deputy and senior research editor at the BMJ said: “Most of the papers in the top 10 provided important new evidence on highly controversial questions that mattered then to patients – and still do”.

Groves said several of the top 10 papers were about the safety of effectiveness of widely used treatments for common conditions. She added: “These studies provide a broader kind of evidence: by systematically reviewing and summarising the best data out there, or analysing what really happened to large numbers of people in real life over time.”

Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox from Nottingham University led the study which looked at prescribing patterns for more than 9000 patients aged between 25 and 100 in England, Scotland and Wales.

Professor Hippisley-Cox said: “ This is excellent news, not least for the many thousands of GPs who have contributed to QRESEARCH by freely sharing their data to be used for medical research. We will continue to pioneer research into the real risks and benefits for treatments in primary care to give GPs the best information to improve patient care.”

Dr David Stables, clinical director of Emis, said: “The ethical and non-commercial use of information makes QRESEARCH a worthwhile project that can make a significant difference to healthcare. We are very grateful to the practices who continue to take part in this project.”

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