Rahul Potluri (born 19 December 1983) is a British physician, researcher and founder of ACALM (Algorithm for Comorbidites, Associations, Length of stay and Mortality) Study Unit, United Kingdom (UK). His clinical epidemiology research unit is one of the first to use big data in healthcare and medical research. His work has shown for the first time a link between high cholesterol and breast cancer. Further research has suggested the role of cholesterol and possibly statins improving the mortality in patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer. Other prominent studies include health services research evaluating differences in death rates from weekend admission and discharge from UK hospitals, ethnic variations and the interplay between cardiovascular disease and mental health.
Rahul Potluri | |
|---|---|
 Rahul Potluri | |
| Born | 19 December 1983 Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Aston Medical School, Aston University, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham |
| Occupation(s) | Doctor, scientific researcher |
| Organizations | ACALM (Algorithm for Comorbidities, Associations, Length of stay and Mortality) Study Unit |
Early life and education
editRahul Potluri was born in India and moved to the UK at the age of eight.[citation needed] He attended King Edwards VI Five Ways School in Birmingham. He undertook medical undergraduate training at the University of Birmingham. His clinical training included medicine and cardiology in London and Manchester.[citation needed] He was appointed as Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Cardiology at Aston University, Birmingham, UK in 2013.[1][2]
ACALM (Algorithm for Comorbidities, Associations, Length of stay and Mortality)
editPotluri developed the ACALM methodology as a medical student and along with Hardeep Uppal founded the ACALM Study Unit in 2013.[1] Research from this unit is performed from a large clinical dataset of over one million patients which is developed using ACALM methodology from anonymous routinely collected data.[2]
Potluri is an expert in big data analytics in medical and healthcare research. He spoke on the topic at the European Society of Cardiology Conference in Rome, Italy, in August 2016 and highlighted potential developments in the field to come.[3]
Research
editCholesterol and Cancer
editPotluri and the ACALM Study Unit showed for the first time in humans, a possible association between high cholesterol and breast cancer. This work was presented at the European Society of Cardiology, Frontiers in Cardiovascular Biology Conference in Barcelona, July 2014 and was widely reported in the global media.[2][4][5][6][7][8][9] Further research presented in 2016 showed the role of high cholesterol and possibly the role of statins improving the mortality and survival of patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer and prostate cancer and strengthening calls for a clinical trial of statins in cancer.[9][10][11]
Weekend effect on hospital care
editPotluri presented research from the ACALM Study Unit at the European Society of Cardiology Conference in London, August 2015, which showed that heart attack patients admitted at the weekend died earlier compared to those admitted during the working week.[12][13] Subsequent research looking at patients discharged from UK hospitals at the weekend had significantly worsened mortality and survival compared to those discharged during the working week.[14][15] This was the first study of its kind from the UK. The significance and implications of these findings for UK are being widely debated.[15][16] Further studies performed in 2016 and presented at the British Cardiovascular Society Conference showed that patients admitted with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation during the weekend had worse mortality and patients with heart failure discharged at the weekend also had a higher risk of death.[17][18]
Ethnic variations in healthcare
editResearch led by Potluri evaluating ethnic group variations in healthcare and particularly length of stay in hospital and mortality has been widely published. His work from the ACALM Study Unit showed that patients of South Asian origin stay in hospital for a shorter period of time compared to other ethnic groups in a variety of conditions such as Myocardial Infarction, Pulmonary Embolism, Stroke, Diabetes Mellitus and Atrial Fibrillation.[19][20][21][22] Other research focusing on young South Asians has shown that they have a higher risk of Diabetes and associated heart disease compared to other ethnic groups.[21][22] In 2010, he presented research at the World Congress of Cardiology in Beijing which showed that Haemorrhagic Stroke is increasing amongst South Asians and was reported in the media.[citation needed]
Cardiovascular disease and mental health
editPotluri's research from 2007 has highlighted and shown the significant effect of mental health conditions on physical health and in particular cardiovascular disease.[23][24][25] A series of publications have led to raised awareness of psychiatric conditions amongst cardiovascular disease in the UK. Specifically research showing for the first time that mental health conditions prolong length of hospital stay in patients with heart failure highlighted significant cost and service provision implications for the United Kingdom National Health Service.[23]
Another important study which was widely reported showed that married people with heart attacks had significantly improved mortality and long-term survival compared to single and divorced patients.[26][27] The implications of these findings were widely debated as Marriage was thought to be a proxy for psychosocial support which is essential for heart attack patient to ensure they take all the prescribed medications which determines long term outcome.[28][29][30]
Awards and prizes
editHe was awarded the Cochrane prize from the Faculty of Public Health, United Kingdom for his research on patients of South Asian origin in 2007.[31] Other international prizes include the Young Investigator Award from the International Atherosclerosis Society at the World Congress of Cardiology, Beijing in 2010, the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (ASCI) Travelling Fellowship from the Hong Kong College of Radiologists in 2011 and the Young Investigator Grant from the European Neurological Society, Milan in 2009. National prizes as a medical student have included the Wellcome Trust Prize in 2007, the Diabetes UK award in 2007 and the Denis Burkitt Award from the British Nutrition Foundation.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Rahul Potluri Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b c Why Statins Could Be the Next Treatment for Breast Cancer. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Big Data in Cardiology: A Paradigm Shift? Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Statins could help reduce women’s risk of breast cancer. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Association found between high cholesterol and breast cancer. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Study links hyperlipidaemia with breast cancer: Interview with Rahul Potluri. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ High cholesterol could put women at risk of breast cancer, study suggests. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Statins could be used to cut risk of breast cancer. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b Cholesterol drugs could be used to fight breast cancer. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Cholesterol levels linked to breast cancer risk? Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Statins linked to dramatically improved mortality rates for cancer patients.] Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Heart attack victims more likely to die if admitted to hospital at weekend. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Weekends Are Not For Heart Attack Victims, Reveals Study. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Patients 'a third more likely' to die if discharged at the weekend. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b Hospital patients far more likely to die if sent home at weekend. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Hospital patients 'a third more likely' to die if discharged at the weekend. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Heart victims more at risk of dying if admitted to hospitals at weekend. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Two U.K studies validate weekend effect among heart patients. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Length of hospital stay is shorter in South Asian patients with ischaemic stroke. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Length of hospital stay is shorter in South Asian patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b Young South Asian people at higher risk of diabetes and associated heart disease. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b A heavy-weight burden for healthcare. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b Research links mental health and heart failure recovery. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ The burden and trends of psychiatric co-morbidities amongst patients with cardiomyopathy. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Potluri, R; Natalwala, A; Uppal, H; Heun, R (2008). "Cardiovascular risk factors in vascular dementia and ischaemic stroke". Neuroepidemiology. 31 (1): 67, discussion 68. doi:10.1159/000140097. PMID 18560245.
- ^ Marriage may improve chances of surviving a heart attack say researchers. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Being married may improve your odds surviving heart attack. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Married people have greater chances of surviving a heart attack. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Scientists say marriage can improve your chances of surviving a heart attack. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Married People Have Higher Chance to Survive a Heart Attack Than Singles and Divorced. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ UK: Faculty of Public Health: Prizes. Retrieved 28 September 2015.