In the latest episode of Season Two of the Data Malarkey podcast, host Sam Knowles converses with Dr. Tim Jobson, Consultant in Internal Medicine at Predictive Health Intelligence. Dr. Jobson’s extensive academic background includes studies in Natural Sciences at Cambridge, Medicine at Oxford, and a PhD from Nottingham University. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
The role of data in modern medicine
Dr. Jobson discusses the integration of data in diagnosing chronic and acute medical conditions. He emphasises the importance of combining patient narratives with specific tests and biopsies to accumulate evidence, enabling healthcare professionals to assess the probability of particular diseases.
Metabolic syndrome and lifestyle factors
The conversation highlights metabolic syndrome – a cluster of conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Dr. Jobson explains that excessive intake of fructose, especially from high-fructose corn syrup prevalent in modern diets, leads the liver to store fat. This storage, once beneficial during periods of feast and famine, now contributes to metabolic syndrome, affecting at least a third of the Western population.
Addressing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
A significant concern within metabolic syndrome is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), often termed a “silent killer” due to its asymptomatic nature. Dr. Jobson, in collaboration with Predictive Health Intelligence and his local NHS Trust, has developed HepatoSIGHT – a case-finding search engine. This tool analyses historical blood test data to identify patients potentially suffering from NAFLD without their awareness.
The economic and health impact
NAFLD imposes a substantial burden, costing the UK between £7-13 billion annually, causing 30,000 premature deaths, and resulting in the loss of over 100,000 healthy life years each year. Dr. Jobson discusses how tools like HepatoSIGHT can significantly reduce these figures by facilitating early detection and intervention. He also suggests that similar data-driven approaches could be applied to identify other silent yet costly diseases.
Conclusion
This episode underscores the transformative potential of utilising existing health data to shift from reactive to proactive healthcare. By harnessing historical patient data, medical professionals can identify at-risk individuals earlier, leading to timely interventions and improved health outcomes. Dr. Jobson’s work exemplifies how innovative data applications can enhance patient care and alleviate the strain on healthcare systems.
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